Supercross Heads to Vegas for the Most Anticipated Race in 34 Years

May 3, 2006, 9:59am

Reed: Basically 15 races mean nothing, because Vegas is the one that counts.

AURORA, Ill. (May 2, 2006) – In soggy and less than favorable conditions, Yamaha’s Chad Reed managed to tie Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael in the overall Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series points race when he finished in second place at Seattle’s Qwest Field last Saturday night. Reed’s efforts set up a scenario that has never taken place in the sport’s 34-year history.

After 34 seasons, Amp’d Mobile Supercross has written the perfect script, making this weekend’s race one for the record books. Amplifying the phenomenal season is the 3.5 hour live broadcast of the race on SPEED on May 6, starting at 10:00 p.m. EST.

This Saturday night, 20 laps will determine the 2006 Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP and Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series champions at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium. Carmichael, of Tallahassee, Fla., and Reed, of Dade City, Fla., each share 316 points. Kawasaki ace James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., who is currently in third place, sits just five points out of the lead in AMA Supercross Series standings.

In the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP standings Stewart holds a 12-point lead. The 20-year old passed Carmichael in the points race after his win in Dallas and extended the lead in Seattle.

“All I can do is my best. If I win the Vegas race and the world title I can’t really ask for anything else,” said Stewart.

Carmichael, the four-time AMA Supercross Series champion and reigning World Supercross GP champion, won in Las Vegas in 2001 and 2002, while Reed won Las Vegas in 2003 and 2005. Despite the adverse conditions in Seattle, Carmichael fought back from a 10th-place start to finish third while Stewart walked away with his seventh AMA Supercross Series win of the season.

“The night didn’t go how I wanted it to go,” said Carmichael. “To be honest, I can’t believe I made it up to third. I was so far behind the first two laps. I saw James (Stewart) and he was a half track ahead of me. Then I just tried to pick every guy off one by one because I knew I needed to get on the box.”

“I know I can do it, if I ride the way I know I can ride,” said Reed. “I think it’s going to be a good battle. I just want to ride the way I know how to ride. We all sat at the press conference in Anaheim 1 and we all said we wanted to take it to Vegas. I don’t know if any of us thought it was going to be this close. I think it’s going to be fun and I’m super stoked to have a shot at winning the title.”

AMA Supercross Lites champions Davi Millsaps and Grant Langston will battle with the rest of the field to determine the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout title.

The pre-race press conference will be held on Friday, May 5, in the press box of Sam Boyd Stadium at 9:00 a.m. PST. The featured riders are Carmichael, Reed and Stewart, who will each speak individually to the media (See schedule below). Honda’s Millsaps and Kawasaki’s Langston will represent the AMA Supercross Lites class. Fan can listen to the press conference on Supercross LIVE!, www.supercross.cc.com at 9:00 a.m. PST

Individual Rider Interviews

Ricky Carmichael: 9:00-9:20 a.m.
Chad Reed: 9:20-9:40
James Stewart: 9:40-10:00

Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
1.    James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 355
2.    Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 343
3.    Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 334
4.    Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 276
5.    Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 268
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1.    Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 316
2.    Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 316
3.    James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 311
4.    Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 241
5.    Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 234
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Final Season Standings
1.    Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 161
2.    Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 153
3.    Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 141
4.    Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 129
5.    Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 125
Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Final Season Standings
1.    Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 166
2.    Chris Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 134
3.    Joshua Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 119
4.    Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 102
5.    Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha, 96