Carmichael Wins 48th Career SX

AURORA, Ill.  (March 6, 2007) – Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael returned to St. Louis’ Edward Jones Dome Saturday night and pulled off his third Amp’d Mobile Supercross win of the season in front of 58,131 fans.

Carmichael, 27, of Tallahassee, Fla., overcame a poor start and moved into the lead on lap four.

Yamaha’s Chad Reed, of Tampa Fla., moved to the lead heading into turn one and earned the $1,500 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award. In a controversial move to protect his lead position, Reed clipped James Stewart’s front wheel, causing both riders to go down on the opening lap.

“Every week I’m getting pushed around,” said Reed on the incident. “It’s racing, but he (Stewart) thinks he can walk all over me, and I’m gonna put an end to that. Every time he passes me, he has to bump me. Tonight I bumped back. We will do it again next week if that is what it takes.”

Carmichael’s Amp’d Mobile Supercross season is coming to an end with Daytona and Orlando as his last two races of his career before pursuing a career in stock car racing. His win in St. Louis helped add another page to the storybook ending of his Amp’d Mobile Supercross career.

“I don’t know if I would have caught them after spotting them all those positions,” said Carmichael, referring to his poor start. “I saw Chad and James go down, so that helped, but I saw Chad get back up right behind me. I got into the lead but I was looking forward to racing them. I was in my zone tonight but I got a gift. My bike came alive in the main event. It was a wild night, and this is what the sport needs. There is a lot of tension between James and Chad, and I am glad I am not a part of it.”

In the AMA Supercross Lites class, Kawasaki’s Ben Townley, of Tallahassee, Fla., earned the first win of his career. After taking the $1,000 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award, he engaged in a three-way battle for the lead with last week’s winner Ryan Dungy, of Bellle Plaine, Minn., and his teammate Darcy Lange, of Hemet, Calif. While attempting a pass for the lead Dungey crashed and finished in 18th place.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Townley. “I hope this win is a way that I can pay back the team for all of their hard work. I could not have done this without the support of my parents; they have been behind me from the start.”

Lange also made a move for the lead but it was short lived as Townley struck back. Lange’s hope for a win ended on the last lap when he crashed in the same location as Dungey.

Townley went on to take the win, followed by Yamaha’s Ryan Morais, of Temecula, Calif., and Matt Goerke, of Lake Helen, Fla. The win put Townley in seventh place with 25 points and Dungey, who came into the weekend leading the points race, dropped back to fourth place with 28 points. Suzuki’s Ryan Morais is the current points leader with 40.

“I have been working so hard this year, and it is finally paying off,” said Morais. “I have come into this season more prepared than ever, and when everything is working together, good things happen.

This weekend racing takes place at Daytona International Raceway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Results From St. Louis

KTM Junior Supercross Challenge

Grayson Graham, Bainbridge, Ga., KTM
Tristan Lewis, Locust Grove, Ga., KTM
Chase Haley, Dickson, Tenn., KTM
Daniel Ross, Candler, N.C., KTM
Blaze Turner, Gillsville, Ga., KTM
Ridge Penn, Brandon, Miss., KTM
Jonathan Royster, Jefferson City, Tenn., KTM
Devin Milkovich, Ballwin, Mo., KTM
Cory Carsten, Bayville, N.J., KTM
Cameron Kothman, Adkins, Tex., KTM
Ryan Herling, Belleville, Ill., KTM
Justin Covarrubias, Canyon Country, Calif., KTM
Weston Overturf, Brighton, Mo., KTM
Logan Rich, Festus, Mo., KTM
Benjamin Cousins, Killeen, Tex., KTM
 

Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings

James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 254
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 236
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 186
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 163
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 144
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 137
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 127
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 122
Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki, 119
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 112
 

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, St. Louis

Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda
Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
Eric Sorby, Lake Elsinore, Kawasaki
Cole Siebler, Emmett, Idaho., Honda
 

Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings

James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 210
Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 191
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 149
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 137
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 116
Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 114
Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 107
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 103
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 101
Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 97
 

Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, St. Louis

Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki
Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha
Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
Broc Tickle, Cary, N.C., Yamaha
Darcy Lange, Hemet, Calif., Kawasaki
Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Honda
Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., KTM
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha
 

Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings

Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 40
Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha, 40
Darcy Lange, Hemet, Calif., Kawasaki, 37
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 28
Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 26
Zach Osborne, Abingdon, Va., KTM, 26
Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 25
Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Honda, 25
Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 22
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 18
 

Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings

Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 172
Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 135
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 103
Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 97
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 92
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 88
Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 87
Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 86
Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 71
Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, Yamaha, 66