Monday, July 30

Windham Goes 1-1 at Washougal

By B.J. Smith

WASHOUGAL WASH. - Kevin Windham got his first win on Suzuki today with a two moto sweep over Ricky Carmichael. Windham, who's second in points, ended Carmichael's five race win streak and got the race he's been waiting for all season - a one on one fight with the defending champion. Windham was able to catch and pass Carmichael in both motos to take the win. Carmichael was forced to settle for two close seconds and Tim Ferry rode solo in third for both motos.

Moto One:

Who else but John Dowd on the KTM 520cc with the holeshot with Carmichael, Windham and Ferry right there with him. RC wasted no time jumping into the lead and Windham latched right onto him. K-Dub in on RC after just a few laps and made his pass through the whoops.

After losing the lead to Carmichael several times this year, Windham stayed solid for the entire race but RC kept him in sight. Late in the race Carmichael pulled to the back wheel of Windham but he didn’t have enough. Windham won his second moto of the year and defeated the defending champion hands down.

Ferry moved into third and went no further. Ahead and behind, Ferry was all alone, sporting a new goggleless style.

Ezra Lusk, Stephane Roncada and Mike LaRocco had a great battle for fourth and Ezra had one of his strongest national races of the season to come out on top of that pack. Roncada and LaRocco finished fifth and sixth respectively.

Moto Two:

Ferry pulled the holeshot with Carmichael hot on his heels. After a few laps were in the books, it was the same scenario as the first moto. Windham was the cat and RC was the mouse but Carmichael vowed he wouldn’t go down easy. The two went back and forth before Windham was able to make a pass stick. A late race bobble almost cost Kevin the overall and a few lappers infuriated Carmichael on the last lap, but in the end it was Windham with the moto win and the overall.

Ferry did third place again all by himself but a solid ride indeed. David Vuillemin charged all the way to fourth and LaRocco finished fifth.

Sebastien Tortelli was cleared to race Washougal and finished 15th for the day with a 10/37 score. Ryan Hughes injured himself in a practice crash earlier in the week and decided to sit out for Round 9. Hughes will be back ready to race for the Millville National on August 19.

Overall:

1. Kevin Windham – 1-1
2. Ricky Carmichael – 2-2
3. Tim Ferry – 3-3
4. Ezra Lusk – 4-6
5. David Vuillemin – 7-4
6. Mike LaRocco – 6-5
7. Stephane Roncada – 5-7
8. Robbie Reynard – 8-8
9. John Dowd – 9-9
10. Kyle Lewis – 11-11
11. Travis Preston – 14-10
12. Spud Walters – 13-12
13. Yoshitaka Atsuta – 12-13
14. Jason Thomas – 15-14
15. Sebastien Tortelli – 10-37
16. Kohji Ohkawara – 17-17
17. Thomas Hofmaster – 29-15
18. Ryan Terlecki – 18-18
19. Jason McCormick – 25-16
20. Paul Carpenter – 16-22

Point Standings (After 9 of 12 rounds):

1. Carmichael – 390
2. Windham – 348
3. Ferry – 317
4. LaRocco – 307
5. Tortelli – 286
6. Vuillemin – 250
7. Dowd – 239
8. Roncada – 226
9. Ryan Hughes – 195
10. Lewis – 174
11. Lusk – 172
12. Reynard – 159
13. Preston – 147
14. Thomas – 96
15. Carpenter – 66
16. Atsuta – 40
17. Jean Sebastien Roy – 38
18. Scott Carter – 37
19. Walters – 36
20. Kevin Crine - 35