Carmichael Aiming for Sixth Straight Red Bud National Victory
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 27, 2006) -- Six-time and defending AMA
Motocross Champion Ricky Carmichael comes to The Monster
Energy/Kawasaki Red Bud National Presented by Concept Haulers National,
in Buchanan, Mich., this Sunday, July 2, round five of the AMA Toyota
Motocross Championship presented by FMF, seeking his sixth straight
victory in the popular event. Carmichael leads the AMA Motocross
Championship with three victories in the first four rounds.
Carmichael, who rides for Makita Suzuki, has opened a 20-point lead on
Yamaha’s Chad Reed, of Australia. Even though Carmichael won the last
round in Budds Creek, MD., on June 18, with convincing 1-1 moto
finishes, he said he sees improvement in Reed.
“I have to hand it to Chad, he’s really stepping up his game,”
Carmichael said after trailing Reed in the first three laps of the
second moto in Maryland. “I’m going to have to stay sharp. I see us
having some more good battles this season.”
Reed said his incentive to improve is trying to match the rider he considers the best of all time.
“I’m motivated by the challenge of trying to get closer each week to
Ricky,” Reed said. “They don’t call him the GOAT [greatest of all time]
for nothing. I’m working my hardest to be able to run with him.
Sometimes I get frustrated because I’m riding my best and I still have
a long way to go. For the first time in a long time I feel like I’m
actually closing the gap a bit. If I can keep improving maybe I can
challenge him sometime soon.”
Kawasaki’s James Stewart, winner of the opening round this year, is
slated to return to action at Red Bud after missing the most recent
round recovering from a knee injury. If healthy, Stewart could be a
threat to end Carmichael’s winning streak. Stewart won Red Bud in the
Lites class (then called 125 class) in 2002 and 2003.
Michigan’s own Nick Wey, from Dewitt, is having one of his best seasons
ever. Wey is third in the standings coming into Red Bud, having ridden
his MDK/Motosport Honda to a pair of top five finishes so far this year.
The championship chase is heating up in the Lites class. Red Bull KTM’s
Mike Alessi leads the standings, but Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash.,
who rides for Monster Energy Drink/Pro Circuit Kawasaki, has closed to
within seven points of the series lead after winning two of the last
three rounds, including the most recent race in Maryland.
Alessi and Villopoto collided in the second moto at Budds Creek,
resulting in Alessi crashing. Villopoto called the contact a “love tap”
and claimed it was just a normal racing incident. Look for the love to
continue between Alessi and Villopoto at Red Bud.
Broc Hepler proved he is fully healthy and ready to go for wins once
again after returning to action for the first time in nearly 10 months
and scoring a second overall at Budds Creek. The Makita Suzuki rider is
hoping to run near the front at Red Bud.
Honda riders Andrew Short and Josh Grant are tied for third in the
Motocross Lites class standings coming into Red Bud. Short lost second
place in the series after suffering a crash in the last round. He’ll be
looking to rally. As for Grant, he is training with former AMA
Motocross standout Ryan Hughes and hoping his work with Hughes will pay
dividends as the series enters the heart of the summer heat.
Last year’s Red Bud Lites winner Grant Langston aggravated an injured
wrist in the last race and is questionable for this Sunday’s race.
Red Bud has been a fixture in AMA Motocross for over 30 years. The Red
Bud National traditionally runs during the July 4th weekend and the
track puts on a spectacular fireworks show on Saturday night, as well
as hosting a popular Celebrity Minibike Race.
Major portions of the track have been redesigned for this year’s race giving fans better vantage points.
The race will be nationally televised on OLN on Sunday, July 9 at 5:00 pm eastern.
For additional info visit the website www.redbudmx.com.
WHAT: The Monster Energy/Kawasaki Red Bud National Presented by
Concept Haulers National, round five of the AMA Toyota Motocross
Championship presented by FMF.
WHERE: Red Bud is located a few miles north of Buchanan, Mich., on Red Bud Trail.
WHEN: July 1-2, 2006
COURSE: 1.75 miles (approx), hard pack and soft dirt.
2005 WINNERS: AMA Motocross: Ricky Carmichael (Suzuki). AMA Motocross Lites: Grant Langston (Kawasaki).
SCHEDULE: Saturday (July 1) - Pro practice, 1:00-3:25 pm.,
Pre-qualifiers 4:05 pm.; Sunday (July 2) - Practice, 9:00-10:30 am.
Qualifying, 10:45 am. Opening Ceremonies, 12:30 pm. Final events start
at 1:00 pm with two 30-minute, plus two lap motos for each class.
TICKETS: Fri, Sat, & Sun. - Adults - $50. Children 6-12 - $25.
Under 6 – No Charge; Sat & Sun - Adult - $40. Children 6-12 - $20.
Under 6 – No Charge; Sunday Only - Adult - $30. Children 6-12 - $10. 6
and under – No Charge; Pit passes – Saturday, $10. Sunday – $15.
Reserved Grandstand seats are available for Sunday. You can reserve
them in advance by calling our 269-695-6405. Visa and MasterCard
accepted. The last day to reserve seats is Friday, June 23, no
exceptions. Reserved seats will go on sale at 7:30 am at the
grandstands (near the announcer’s tower). $20 for top row seats, just
$5 for all others! Kids under 6 are free with an adult (except in the
top row). These seats are yours for the day; you can wander around and
return to your seat whenever you'd like.