Carmichael Is Still the King of Glen Helen

Stepping up from the 125cc motocross class to the heavier, more powerful 250cc motorcycles didn’t bother Ricky Carmichael at all.

Carmichael, a winner at Glen Helen Raceway Park’s hillside course the last three years on a Kawasaki 125, swept both 250cc motos Sunday in the Ocelot Helmets Championship, the opening round of the AMA Chevy Trucks national outdoor series.

“It’s always a great feeling to start the season with a win,” said the 5-foot-4, 165-pound rider from Havana, Fla. “I hope this one ends up the same way the others did.”

After winning season openers at Glen Helen, Carmichael won three consecutive 125cc championships. In eight motos here, two 125s in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and two 250s in 2000, he has never lost.

Second in both motos before a wildly cheering crowd estimated at 19,500--many of whom were clinging to the steep hills--was Sebastien Tortelli, last year’s Glen Helen winner from France.

“I could feel him behind me in the second moto,” Carmichael said. “With two laps left, I kept digging because I knew if he got by me I’d never get it back. Winning overall means a lot to Kawasaki, and to me financially.”

Had Tortelli won the second moto, the Frenchman would have been the overall winner because second moto finishes are the tie-breakers.

“I think I do so well here because I’m so focused for the season to start,” Carmichael said. “I quit training for Supercross about a month ago to get ready for today.”

He finished fifth in Supercross standings, with one win, at Daytona Beach, Fla.

“I like Glen Helen because it fits my style,” Tortelli said. “It’s wide and it’s rough, and it has more fast lines. It’s a fun course.”

In the first moto, 30 minutes plus two laps, Carmichael was sixth off the line. Kevin Windham jumped out to a good-sized lead and held it for the first 12 minutes before World Supercross champion David Vuillemin of France forged in front. Carmichael had tailed the Frenchman moving toward the front and when Vuillemin slipped and fell in a hairpin turn, Carmichael took over and was never challenged.

On the last lap of the twisting course with its 400-foot climb and equally steep decent, Carmichael was so far in front that he waved to the crowd over every jump.

The second moto was almost wire-to-wire. Tortelli got a hole-shot, followed by Windham and Carmichael, but before the first lap was over, Carmichael had passed Windham at the top of the steep mountain incline and Tortelli on the back straight.

Third overall was Vuillemin with a pair of fourth-place finishes. Greg Albertyn, the defending series champion from South Africa, was fourth, followed by Windham. It was a fine outing for Albertyn, who missed most of the Supercross season because of a broken thighbone and had been training for only a short time.

Jeremy McGrath, the Supercross superstar from Encinitas, finished fifth and seventh in a pair of cameo appearances. The seven-time stadium champion said before the event that this would be his only outdoor competition.

“I need some time off and by not riding in the outdoor series, I’ll be more refreshed for the world championships in the fall and next year’s Supercross,” he said.

Most of the riders complained about the rough track, particularly in the second motos after the two 40-rider fields had chewed it up. A brisk breeze kept spectators from baking, but it also covered them with a fine film of dust.

With Carmichael no longer in the 125cc class, the support motos were wide open.

Stephane Roncada, a French rider who now lives in Murrieta, captured overall honors on a Yamaha with a first and a second in the two motos. Tallon Vohland, after taking fifth in the first moto, won the second. Steve Lamson, an independent rider from Riverside, was third overall.