Carmichael Brings Three-Race Win Streak to Citrus Bowl
AURORA, Ill. (March 14, 2006) - Suzuki's Ricky Carmichael, of
Havana, Fla., moved into the AMA Supercross points lead with his fifth
career win at Daytona International Speedway. This weekend he will try
to give Suzuki their first win in Orlando when racing begins at the
Citrus Bowl this Saturday, March 18.
Press Day will be Thursday, March 16 from Noon-2:00 p.m. at the Citrus
Bowl inside the Home Locker Room. Team Suzuki, featuring Ricky
Carmichael and Ivan Tedesco, Team Kawasaki, featuring James Stewart and
Michael Byrne and Team Pro Circuit, featuring Chris Gosselaar will be
on hand to ride and answer questions from the media.
The most competitive season in years, in which the AMA Supercross
points lead has changed four times, Carmichael now sits in the number 1
position over Yamaha's Chad Reed (215-213). The win last weekend in
Daytona where Carmichael led 18 of 20 laps was his third consecutive
race win and his sixth of the season.
"When I was at the gate I heard the announcer say that the last time
Suzuki won here was in 1981 and I was 2 years old," said Carmichael,
the defending AMA and World Supercross GP champion on his Daytona
race. "I've got to thank Makita Suzuki - it's great to win a race
here on a Suzuki. I'm happy to get the win, but I'm really,
really happy for my Makita Suzuki team."
Reed was in charge of the points lead prior to Daytona by one point
(191-190) over Carmichael. The day before Daytona Reed sustained a
separated right shoulder during a routine practice session but managed
to finish in second place.
"I pretty much owe this one to my trainer, Jeff Spencer," said Reed.
"Jeff knows the limits of my body like no one else and made the proper
suggestions on how, when and where to attack the course, along with
where I should be more cautious. The strategy worked, allowing me to
race a strong and consistent race while not taking any unnecessary
chances. We'll give the shoulder a bit of a break this week and come
back hard at Orlando on Saturday."
Kawasaki's Michael Byrne, who came to the U.S. from Australia, picked
up his second podium finish of his career last weekend in Daytona.
"To get on the podium at Daytona is definitely special," said Byrne.
"It's the toughest race of the year. I don't know why, but it seemed
like it was the easiest I've had so far this year."
Honda's Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., won his third AMA Supercross
Lites race of the season last weekend in Daytona. The 18-year-old has a
23-point lead over Kawasaki's Chris Gosselaar. Honda has five AMA
Supercross
Last year Reed, of Dade City, Fla., won his third World Supercross
GP/AMA Supercross Series race of the season at the Citrus Bowl in front
of 41,969 fans. While riding for Team Suzuki, Davi Millsaps won his
second career 125cc Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Series race.
This weekend's race will air on SPEED on Sunday, March 19, 2006 at 6:00
p.m. EST. A tape-delayed, one-hour television broadcast of the AMA
Supercross Lites racing will air on SPEED on Saturday, March 25, at 6
p.m. EST.
Amp'd Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 242
Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 233
James Stewart, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 231
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 191
Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 179
Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 179
Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio,, Honda, 127
Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda, 123
Ryan Clark, Waddell, Ariz., Honda, 122
