Bench Racing Ammo: Points A.D.

March 14, 2006, 12:48pm

Last week’s Daytona Supercross by Honda was the 10^th round of the 2006 Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series. With six races to go, this part of the season is when the true title contenders become a little more visible. (Although throughout ’06, the Big Three are readily visible—usually all together on the podium.)

Damon Bradshaw surveys the starting line of the 1992 Daytona Supercross

photo: Fran Kuhn

We’re a little past the halfway part of the season and it’s a safe bet that whoever is in the points lead after Daytona is comfortable with their setup and knows what to do to win races and finish on the podium. And as we’ve heard before, Ricky Carmichael’s goal every year is to be in the driver’s seat for the championship after Daytona – and right now he is.

We’re curious how many times in the recent past that the points leader after Daytona has gone on to win the championship. So let’s take a look back.

Year	Point leader A.D.	Champion
2006	Ricky Carmichael	?
2005	Ricky Carmichael	Ricky Carmichael
2004	Chad Reed	Chad Reed
2003	Ricky Carmichael	Ricky Carmichael
2002	Ricky Carmichael	Ricky Carmichael
2001	Ricky Carmichael	Ricky Carmichael
2000	Jeremy McGrath	Jeremy McGrath
1999	Jeremy McGrath	Jeremy McGrath
1998	Jeremy McGrath	Jeremy McGrath
1997	Jeff Emig	Jeff Emig
1996	Jeremy McGrath	Jeremy McGrath
1995	Jeremy McGrath	Jeremy McGrath
1994	Jeremy McGrath	Jeremy McGrath
1993	Jeremy McGrath	Jeremy McGrath
1992	Damon Bradshaw	Jeff Stanton

MC's 1998 Daytona SX victory helped him to his fifth 250cc SX championship

photo: Chris Hultner

Wow! That’s tight: For the past 13 years, whoever was leading the points after Daytona went on to win the championship. Fourteen years ago, however, young Damon Bradshaw was in the driver’s seat for his first 250cc championship after Daytona, but unfortunately, he faltered at the final round of the series, handing the championship to Team Honda’s Jeff Stanton.

Carmichael’s two-point lead leaving Daytona Beach may not seem like a lot, but it sure has meant a lot in the past!

RC's 2002 win here was the first for Honda since McGrath's in '96

photo: Simon Cudby