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