Monster Energy’s Ricky Carmichael Wraps Up 2006 Outdoor National MX Title

August 22, 2006, 6:01am

Only thing left for Carmichael this year will be to defend his 2005
Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross title at Steel City (Sept. 3)

CARLSBAD, Calif., (Aug. 21, 2006) – Monster Energy-backed Ricky
Carmichael won his sixth consecutive Motocross/250 class Toyota AMA Motocross Championship title, this past weekend wrapping up the 2006 season’s overall championship two races early at Broome-Tioga Sports Center in Binghamton, N.Y.

Carmichael, who has won ten consecutive titled dating back to his
four 125 class championships, is the sport’s winningest racer of all
time. His ten titles also includes and unprecedented three undefeated
seasons (2002, ’04 and ’05).

“I’d for sure like to thank Monster for being there with me this
year,” said Carmichael. “I’m happy I was able to deliver another
title (along with his AMA Supercross title) to Monster and look
forward now to Steel City and the final round of Monster’s Triple
Crown.” Note: Carmichael won both the High Point and RedBud rounds of the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross and looks to win the $30,000 bonus at Steel City (Sept. 3).

At Binghamton Carmichael made short work of the competition in the
first moto, taking over the premier Motocross class lead on lap two
from Davi Millsaps and putting the hammer down over the next 14 laps to win by nearly 25 seconds over rivals James Stewart and Kevin Windham. In the runaway win Carmichael clocked a lap time that was nearly two second faster than the next closest competitor (Stewart).

In the second moto Carmichael got out early, but Stewart was able to
catch up and lead the middle portion of the race. Carmichael would
keep Stewart in his sights and track down and passed the hyper-fast
fellow Floridian on lap ten and won going away by nearly nine
seconds. With the overall 1-1 performance, Carmichael wrapped up the ’06 title with two races remaining in the season (Steel City and
Glen Helen, Calif.).

Also, making his return to the Nationals after being sidelined with
an injury for much of the season was Ivan Tedesco. The longtime
Monster Energy-backed racer went 7-10 for 9th overall. Monster Energy-backed Makita/Suzuki team rookie Ryan Dungey placed 15th overall, going 13-13 in the two motos.

Next up for Carmichael and Dungey is the Labor Day Weekend running of the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Steel City National in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Steel City event marks the third and final round of the 2006 Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross. Both Carmichael and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto are in the running to capture the overall bonus money as both swept the first two rounds of the Triple Crown at High Point (Pa.) and RedBud (Buchanan, Mich.).