Following practice round five of the THQ AMA Supercross Series at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, California, today, Team Makita Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael said he is also ready for the Clear Channel Entertainment-promoted series to head back east. He has been jetting back and forth from his home in Florida to catch the western rounds of the series, and he’s ready for that part of the hectic supercross circus to end.
“The season is so fast, and the trips are so much [time] that when I get time to relax, I just relax at home,” Carmichael said. “Once we get out of here [western swing] it seems like it really flies. Already we only have 11 more races left after tomorrow night. You just have to put your head down and get through that supercross grind.”
Not that Carmichael is complaining. Heading into Anaheim III, Carmichael finds himself right where he was during his 2003 AMA Supercross Championship title run, firmly in the driver’s seat. He currently leads Kevin Windham in the standings, 95-79, and has another 10 points on defending AMA Supercross Champion Chad Reed, who sits third, with 69 points.
“It’s all good, but I’m just looking forward to getting through these next three races and migrating back east and getting into my routine,” Carmichael said. “It’s going to be a battle, a dogfight, and I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m happy with where we are, but you could be gone, so we’re just trying to stay focused, knowing that everyone else is working hard too.”
Still, there’s no place like home, and the closer Carmichael can be to home, and the less traveling he has to do, the happier he is.
“I spend time with my wife and my friends at home,” Carmichael says. “I have some beach properties that I go to and relax, or I’ll take my boat out and do some skiing. I do a lot of things. I have a good life away from racing, but I try not to broadcast it too much. When I get time to relax, I just relax at home.”
Don’t look for Carmichael to do much in the way of relaxing tomorrow night as he shoots for his fourth straight victory in the AMA Series and an even more dominant six of seven in the THQ World Supercross GP. Carmichael looked fast and fluid in practice again today, appearing to struggle simply with the decision of how best to attack the triple jump and subsequent rhythm section jumps that run along the first baseline at Angel Stadium. Even so, Carmichael is the picture of confidence heading into Anaheim III. He still respects his rivals, but he is understandably pleased with the way that the western swing has gone for him.
“I’m way ahead of where I thought I’d be,” Carmichael said. “I have my personal goals, and I have exceeded some of them, but then some of them haven’t really gone how I wanted them to. But I know where I want to be around the halfway mark [in the season], and things are right on schedule.”
In other Team Makita Suzuki news, 125cc Western Region competitor Broc Hepler will not be racing tomorrow night at Anaheim III, after a Monday evaluation of the left arm that he injured at the San Francisco round last weekend did in fact reveal a fracture. There has been no official word as to how long Hepler will be out.
Team Makita Suzuki’s other 250cc rider, Sebastien Tortelli, appeared to come out a little worse for wear after a gnarly crash in the second practice session at Angel Stadium. The Frenchman was attempting to clear a tabletop at the end of the first baseline straightaway when he cased his RM-Z450 and endoed into the following left-hand berm. Tortelli got up immediately, but he appeared to be favoring his back. Tortelli is probable for tomorrow night’s race.