Carmichael Dominates

Is it the bike or the rider? That question could have been asked Sunday at the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championships.

Ricky Carmichael, who won the series the last two years on a Kawasaki, began defense of the title aboard a Honda, and proved similarly dominant in front of more than 20,000 crammed around the 2.25-mile dirt course at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino. Twice in separate motos, Carmichael got the hole shot, and twice Carmichael ran away from the competition.

A one-horse field? Pretty much. Carmichael, of Havana, Fla., beat Team Honda teammate Sebastien Tortelli in the first moto by 25 seconds, and in the second by 30--and that was because he cruised the last lap, losing eight seconds of his lead.

Sure, Tortelli, an outdoor specialist, fell at one point in the second moto, but Carmichael still posted times that showed he pulled away by more than 15 seconds.

“For sure, it’s him,” Yamaha team rider Tim Ferry said. “[Carmichael’s] done the same thing on both bikes, and I don’t think one was any better than the other. He rides hard, gives 100%, and it shows. People who thought he would have a harder time on a Honda are shutting up now.”

Scoring was based on two motos, each lasting 30 minutes plus two laps. The winner received 25 points, second place was worth 22, third place 20 and so on.

Tortelli, a Frenchman who lives in Temecula, followed Carmichael with 44 points and Ferry was third with 40.

Carmichael has won five consecutive motocross titles, including three in the 125cc division.

James Stewart, 16, of Haines City, Fla., became only the fourth rider in AMA history to win his first national event, and the first American as he turned a 1-2 finish into an overall victory in the 125cc race for Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki.

Stewart dominated his first professional moto, winning by 26 seconds over 20-year-old Australian Chad Reed. Stewart took second in the second moto behind defending series champion Mike Brown, who was caught up in a nasty crash in the first moto and had to pass 29 riders to finish 10th.

Stewart had 47 points and was followed by Grant Langston of South Africa with 40, Reed with 37 and Brown with 36.