Monster Energy's Ricky Carmichael Wins Southwick
June 12, 2007, 5:59am
Come-from-behind win in first moto pumps up Carmichael and he rails to victory in the sands of Southwick in the second moto for the overall
CORONA, Calif., (June 11, 2007) –Monster Energy-backed Ricky Carmichael (Makita/Suzuki) is turning his Outdoor National MX farewell tour into something of a rout as he again dominated the AMA Motocross class motos, going 1-1 for the overall on Sunday in Southwick, Mass., versus the heir apparent to his motocross and supercross titles – Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s James Stewart.
The unique Southwick track, made up entirely of sand, has been the site of some epic Carmichael races in the past. This past weekend was no exception as the all-time winningest motocross racer notched his 99th career win in come-from-behind fashion in the first moto, pursuing Stewart through much of the race before making a late-race (lap 14 of 17) pass for the win.
“Southwick’s always a real test and I think having to come from behind in that first moto to win definitely helped with my confidence when the gate dropped on the second moto,” said Carmichael.
Case-in-point, Carmichael’s pursuit of Stewart in the first moto was highlighted by a lap time that was barely a half second faster than Stewart. Carmichael’s dominant performance on the weekend was even more evident in the second moto as he thoroughly demoralized the rest of the field, topping Stewart by a full second with a Sunday-best 1:54.946 – a time approaching five seconds faster than the fourth fastest overall time in the second moto by Honda’s Davi Millsaps.
Carmichael is undefeated in overall finishes through three rounds of the Nationals, winning all but one moto (five of six). He leads Stewart by 16 points for the overall title, which gives Monster the 1-2 points lead riders in both the AMA Motocross and AMA Motocross Lites standings (Monster/PC/Kawi’s Ryan Villopoto & Ben Townley in the Lites class). But, if things go according to planned in Carmichael’s camp, the next two races – with possibly one more – will be it for Carmichael this summer as he’s now transitioning focus to his auto racing career.
Next up for the Monster Energy’s Carmichael is the June 17th Monster Energy Budds Creek National (Budds Creek, Md.), Round Four of the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship.
CORONA, Calif., (June 11, 2007) –Monster Energy-backed Ricky Carmichael (Makita/Suzuki) is turning his Outdoor National MX farewell tour into something of a rout as he again dominated the AMA Motocross class motos, going 1-1 for the overall on Sunday in Southwick, Mass., versus the heir apparent to his motocross and supercross titles – Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s James Stewart.
The unique Southwick track, made up entirely of sand, has been the site of some epic Carmichael races in the past. This past weekend was no exception as the all-time winningest motocross racer notched his 99th career win in come-from-behind fashion in the first moto, pursuing Stewart through much of the race before making a late-race (lap 14 of 17) pass for the win.
“Southwick’s always a real test and I think having to come from behind in that first moto to win definitely helped with my confidence when the gate dropped on the second moto,” said Carmichael.
Case-in-point, Carmichael’s pursuit of Stewart in the first moto was highlighted by a lap time that was barely a half second faster than Stewart. Carmichael’s dominant performance on the weekend was even more evident in the second moto as he thoroughly demoralized the rest of the field, topping Stewart by a full second with a Sunday-best 1:54.946 – a time approaching five seconds faster than the fourth fastest overall time in the second moto by Honda’s Davi Millsaps.
Carmichael is undefeated in overall finishes through three rounds of the Nationals, winning all but one moto (five of six). He leads Stewart by 16 points for the overall title, which gives Monster the 1-2 points lead riders in both the AMA Motocross and AMA Motocross Lites standings (Monster/PC/Kawi’s Ryan Villopoto & Ben Townley in the Lites class). But, if things go according to planned in Carmichael’s camp, the next two races – with possibly one more – will be it for Carmichael this summer as he’s now transitioning focus to his auto racing career.
Next up for the Monster Energy’s Carmichael is the June 17th Monster Energy Budds Creek National (Budds Creek, Md.), Round Four of the 2007 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship.
