Carmichael Gets Edge After Stewart’s Falls

A much-awaited duel between supercross points leaders Ricky Carmichael and James “Bubba” Stewart quickly fizzled at Angel Stadium on Saturday night when Stewart fell twice, allowing Carmichael to score an easy victory.

The two Florida riders, who have dominated the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series so far this year, split the first two races in Anaheim last month and were expected to decide the rubber match before another sellout crowd of 45,050.

But Stewart’s hopes crumbled at the start of the 20-lap main event, as the Kawasaki rider fell while the 20-bike field plowed into the first turn.

Stewart, 20, tried to quickly make up for lost ground, but he tumbled again a few laps later and finished eighth.

Carmichael, a four-time series champion, won by several seconds for Team Makita Suzuki Racing over Yamaha rider Chad Reed. Ivan Tedesco of Murrieta was third aboard a Suzuki.

“It’s a shame James crashed. I think it would have been a great race,” Carmichael said. “I’m just happy to get out of here with a win.”

The victory widened Carmichael’s lead in the standings. He has 117 points, and Reed is second with 104. Stewart fell to third with 103 points.

The win also gave Carmichael his eighth Anaheim victory, tying him with veteran Jeremy McGrath for the most Angel Stadium wins.

Carmichael won the Jan. 21 race at Anaheim, after Stewart took the Angel Stadium opener Jan. 7.

Carmichael, 26, and Stewart served notice in their qualifying runs Saturday that they would again be the riders to beat.

Stewart won his qualifying heat by 12 seconds over runner-up Reed, and Carmichael cruised to a 7.5-second victory over Honda rider Ernesto Fonseca of Murrieta.

The 16-race series moves to San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium next Saturday for its last stop in California. The final event is May 6 in Las Vegas.

In the series’ lower class, called Supercross Lites, the finish was a repeat of the last Anaheim race, with Grant Langston of Clermont, Fla., winning aboard his Kawasaki over Honda rider Andrew Short of Murrieta.