Amazing Recovery at Seattle Saves Monster Energy’s Carmichael’s SX Title Hopes
Sideways through the air and off the track, RC manages to recover and battle back to podium; now tied at 316s w/ Reed heading to Vegas final
CARLSBAD, Calif., (May 1, 2006) – Monster Energy’s Ricky
Carmichael is certainly making things exciting for the fans
interested in the overall title chase of the Amp’d Mobile AMA
Supercross Series. The legendary Floridian motocross talent was all
over the track at Seattle – literally – and at one point pulled
off a potentially disastrous high speed, airborne recovery that may
very well be looked at as the reason should he be able to win the
2006 Supercross title.
After getting a poor start in the mud (both feet planed in ruts at
one point), Carmichael raced through the pack on the extremely
difficult track, closed in on the top ten – only to make a mistake
and relegate himself back into the pack a few more spots. Ferociously determined, Carmichael roared back yet again and, by lap seven, had worked himself into fourth place. Then, in what will certainly be looked at as the turning point of the ’06 season should Carmichael win the overall title at Vegas next week, he pulled off a near-wreck recovery worthy of his “Greatest Of All Time” moniker.
“I’m just happy to be in this position after the rollercoaster
season I’ve gone through,” said Carmichael of his 316-316 tie with
rival Chad Reed heading into the final round of the series this
weekend in Vegas. “It’s been tough.”
“The Save” occurred above a table top jump section on the Seattle
track. Carmichael sketched on the in-run, then slid up the jump on an
angle and catapulted himself through the air sideways – and landed
that way – shooting his RMZ450 off the track and onto the plywood
surface to the side. Carmichael SOMEHOW managed to keep the bike on two wheels, keep in from stalling in the swamp-like race conditions, got back on the track and raced to a 3rd place overall finish, gaining some highly valuable points in the process.
Said RC on Vegas: “There’s a lot of pressure, for sure. But it’s
fun at the same time. We’re going down to the last race and that’s
what the fans wanted.”
Carmichael’s teammate at Suzuki, Ivan Tedesco, made the main by
virtue of a 3rd place finish in heat No 2. Tedesco ran well enough in
the main under the difficult conditions to score a 7th place overall
finish, losing a little bit of ground on his overall 4th place in the
standings to Nick Wey (241-234), although Tedesco should hold onto
that position in his rookie campaign in the AMA Supercross class.
RC, Tedesco and the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series return to action this weekend for the final round of the 2006 supercross series at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium.
