Monster Energy’s Ricky Carmichael ‘Wows ‘Em’ @ US Open

October 17, 2006, 8:18am

The all-time ‘winningest’ racer at the ROCKSTAR US Open comes from dead last to 2nd on Friday, crashes into rival Stewart in lead battle on Saturday

CARLSBAD, Calif., (Oct. 16, 2006) – A wild weekend of racing at
Vegas’ US Open had the spotlight on Monster Energy’s NASCAR-bound Ricky Carmichael as the fast Floridian put up about as exciting of a battle one could expect without winning the overall.

Carmichael’s 2-2 performance in the main events on Friday and
Saturday night earned him 2nd overall, just a click behind the heir-
apparent to his MX throne – James Stewart.

“James stalled it and I had nowhere to go and I went down,” said
Carmichael, quoted in a release by event promoter Live Nation, of his
crash on Saturday while trying to pass race leader Stewart. “I was
just trying to put myself in a good position, but things happen. I
had to take it easy on some of the left hand turns because of my
shoulder. I am proud of how I cam back from last night (Friday).”

For his part Carmichael had Stewart covered all weekend, but the
tight racing quarters in the MGM Grand made it tricky to pass and RC
wrecked both nights while trying.

Prior to the racing, at the US Open’s press conference on Thursday,
Carmichael confirmed some long-standing MX industry rumors that he was going to race NASCAR. Carmichael will be contesting a number of race series with Bobby Ginn’s MB2 team in order to get him up to speed for the Nextel Cup cars. Carmichael also noted that he’ll continue to race some select supercross and Outdoor National
motocross events.

Carmichael’s Makita/Suzuki teammate, Ivan Tedesco, would wind up 7th overall at the US Open, going 4-8 on Friday and Saturday nights,
respectively.

Also running real well was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s
Chris Gosselaar who finished 3rd overall in the Lites class racing
and teammate Ben Townley who finished 6th overall.