Monday, January 28

Carmichael Perfect In Phoenix SX

By B.J. Smith

PHOENIX, AZ (January 26) - Ricky Carmichael's early season struggle has come to an end. At the same venue where he started his 13-race win streak last season, Carmichael got his first EA Sports Supercross win of 2002. The victory wasn't a runaway though, as Jeremy McGrath made an appearance at the front of the pack as well as Ernesto Fonseca, Travis Pastrana and points leader, David Vuillemin. James Stewart showed the 125cc class the fast line around the track, leading every lap of his main.

At the Phoenix Supercross, Ricky Carmichael scored his first win of 2002 and the first EA Sports Supercross victory for Honda in nearly three years.

250cc:

McGrath, the seven-time Supercross champion, made it to the front for the first time this year when he took the POWERade holeshot followed by Fonseca, Pastrana and Vuillemin. Fonseca immediately stole the lead but MC bounced right back. McGrath looked strong and led the first six laps of the race before Carmichael moved through the pack to take the lead on lap seven. McGrath's spark seemed to fizzle when he was passed by Pastrana, then Vuillemin, Fonseca, Ramsey and Mike LaRocco.

Up front, Carmichael enjoyed a comfortable but small lead over Pastrana, who was distancing himself from Vuillemin. LaRocco moved into fourth and Ramsey took over the fifth spot.

At the end they remained in that order, Carmichael winning with a three-second edge over Pastrana. McGrath, still fighting arm pump, rebounded slightly to finish sixth.

"At least this week I feel like I can ride the bike and it's not riding me," McGrath said. "I'm having trouble with arm pump. I went to a chiropractor, and I've got some pinched nerves in there and I've been dealing with it for a while. I'm getting better each week and hopefully I'll be right up there with those guys soon."

Carmichael, finally back in his familiar winning territory was pleased to give Team American Honda their first 250cc win since 1999.

"It was a good race, I got a good start and I got a lot of confidence back," Carmichael said. "The rest of the guys were giving me heat out there for sure. Everyone has stepped up their game from last year. It's going to be a long series, but I rode smooth tonight and hopefully I can keep this up for the rest of the season.

125cc:

The action from the 125cc class wasn't nearly as hot as the 250cc but James "Bubba" Stewart still put on a good show even if he won without contest.

Yamaha-backed Casey Lytle earned the $1,000 POWERade Holeshot Award and was immediately passed by Stewart, who went on to crush his competition. Following Stewart out of the gate were Honda's Travis Preston and Rodrig Thain. On lap eight, Stewart went down after the triple; yet, his cushioned lead held off Preston, Stewart went on to win, Preston was second and Thain third.

"I started making mistakes when I was out front, " said Stewart. "Once the race started out, I calmed down a bit and things worked out."

Big bummers for the night included David Pingree, last week's 125cc winner. Pingree crashed during his heat race after his bike broke apart at the front end. Newly signed Husqvarna rider, Tyler Evans suffered a broken collarbone, Yamaha's Tim Ferry crashed out his heat race and the evening program and Thain, who finished third in the 125cc main, will have shoulder surgery this Tuesday to repair damage from a practice crash.

250cc Main Event:

1. Ricky Carmichael - HON
2. Travis Pastrana - SUZ
3. David Vuillemin - YAM
4. Mike LaRocco - HON
5. Nathan Ramsey - HON
6. Jeremy McGrath - YAM
7. Ernesto Fonseca - HON
8. Michael Byrne - HON
9. Ezra Lusk - KAW
10. Stephane Roncada - KAW
11. Nick Wey - YAM
12. Heath Voss - HON
13. Damon Huffman - SUZ
14. Kevin Windham - SUZ
15. Kyle Lewis - HON
16. Jean Sebastien Roy - HON
17 James Povolny - HON
18. Ryan Clark - YAM
19 Ted Campbell - SUZ
20. Ryan Terlecki - SUZ

250cc EA SPORTS Supercross Season Standings:

1. David Vuillemin, France, Yamaha 93 pts
2. Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda, 85 pts
3. Travis Pastrana, Annapolis, Md., Suzuki, 66 pts
4. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda, 62 pts
5. Ezra Lusk, Acworth, Ga., Kawasaki, 57 pts
6. Nathan Ramsey, Corona, Calif., Honda, 49 pts
7. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Suzuki, 46 pts
8. Jeremy McGrath, Encionitas, Calif., Yamaha 46
9. Chad Reed, Australia, Yamaha, 44 pts
10. Michael Byrne, Australia, Honda, 43 pts

125cc Main Event:

1. James Stewart - KAW
2. Travis Preston - HON
3. Rodrig Thain - YAM
4. Chris Gosselaar - HON
5. Brock Sellards - KTM
6. Ivan Tedesco - YAM
7. Michael Brandes - SUZ
8. Craig Decker - YAM
9. Erick Vallejo - SUZ
10. Travis Elliott - HON
11. Joseph Oehlhof - YAM
12 Kevin Johnson - YAM
13. Shane Bess - SUZ
14. Keith Johnson - YAM
15. Billy Laninovich - KTM
16. Turbo Reif - SUZ
17. Danny Smith - SUZ
18. Michael Young - YAM
19. Josh Coppins - HON
20. Justin Buckelew - SUZ

125cc Western regional Supercross Season Standings:

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki 94 pts
2. Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 69 pts
3. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 67 pts
4. Rodrig Thain, France, Yamaha, 64 pts
5. David Pingree, Temecula, Calif., KTM, 58 pts
6. Christopher Gosselaar, Juniper Hills, Calif., Honda, 54 pts
7. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, KTM, 52 pts
8. Travis Elliot, Alvin, Texas, Honda, 50 pts
9. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 45 pts
10. Craig Decker, Palm Desert, Calif.