Monday, February 4

Carmichael Wins

By B.J. Smith

ANAHEIM, CA (February 2) - Could this be the start to another streak? In Déjà vu-like round five of the EA Sports Supercross Series, Ricky Carmichael ran down Jeremy McGrath, passed him when he missed a triple, and motored on to the win -- just like one year ago at Anaheim III. KTM's Brock Sellards took his first 125cc Supercross win since his Honda days while 125cc points leader James Stewart struggled with the slick track.

Ricky Carmichael is back. The defending champion recorded his second win of the year and looks to be on a roll.

250cc:

For the second week in a row, McGrath, the seven-time Supercross champion collected the $1,500 PowerAde Holeshot Award while Travis Pastrana and Stephane Roncada followed suit. McGrath, who has been dealing with compartment syndrome all season, looked at his best tonight, especially after his close heat race with defending champion, Carmichael.

After the pack sorted out, McGrath was still in the lead, followed by Roncada, Pastrana and Carmichael. Pastrana took a header in the whoops on lap four, leaving the door wide open for RC. Kawasaki's Roncada, looking very impressive, didn't give up second place easily. The former teammates banged bars and it took RC several attempts to make a move stick. Once Carmichael had clearance, he set his sights on the number one spot.

At the halfway point, McGrath put up a good fight, his best of the year, but a bobble forced him to miss a triple and gave Carmichael an easy opportunity to take the lead. Carmichael set an unmatched pace, while McGrath started to backpedal - and eventually ended up in sixth.

Roncada stayed strong for the best 250cc finish of his career in second place, while David Vuillemin and Mike LaRocco charged to third and fourth respectively. Nathan Ramsey rounded out the top five.

Roncada was visibly pleased with his first podium finish.

"The racing was great, lots of passing," Roncada said. "Ricky came from the back and rode really good. My confidence is way up there, and I'm not taking any crap from anyone."

McGrath, feeling better each week, was happy to stay strong for half the race.

"My arms are a little bit better this week," he said. We're chipping away at it. I had a good rhythm going. I started getting tight halfway and I almost went down in the whoops there. That scared me a little bit. Everything is working well and I'll keep working at it."

As for Carmichael, he's back.

"I feel like I'm getting back in my groove," he said. "Everyone is riding really good right now. With the pace, you have to be up front right away. Last year was great, but everyone has stepped it up. I'll be happy to get back on my home turf next week. I get to go home to my own practice track on the east coast."

125cc:

Team Red Bull/KTM's Brock Sellards blitzed through the first turn, earning the 1,000 PowerAde Holeshot Award in the 125cc Western Regional Supercross championship, with Danny Smith and James Stewart in tow. Smith went down three turns later, collecting Stewart and others in the crash. The incident left Stewart, who leads the circuit in points, in 21st place. By lap four he had moved into 10th place.

Out front, Honda's Chris Gosselaar and Red Bull/KTM rider Billy Laninovich were chasing Sellards. On lap nine, while riding in fifth place, Stewart went down again in a corner and ended all hopes of picking up his third win on the season. Sellards held on for the win, the second of his career. Gosselaar was second and Billy Laninovich was third. Stewart was 11th, his worst finish of the year.

"Last week I was riding good and (James) Stewart took me out, which was frustrating, but this weekend I turned it around and won my first event," Sellards said. "I could hear everyone cheering out there, even though it may not have been for me."

250cc EA SPORTS Supercross Overall:

1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda
2. Stephane Roncada, Menifee, Kawasaki
3. David Vuillemin, France, Yamaha
4. Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda
5. Nathan Ramsey, Corona, Calif., Honda
6. Jeremy McGrath, Encinitas, Calif., Yamaha
7. Travis Pastrana, Annapolis, Md., Suzuki
8. Michael Byrne, Australia, Honda
9. Ernesto Fonseca, Costa Rica, Honda
10. Ezra Lusk, Acworth, Ga., Kawasaki

250cc EA SPORTS Supercross Season Point Standings:

1. David Vuillemin, France, Yamaha 112 pts
2. Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda, 103 pts
3. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda, 87 pts
4. Travis Pastrana, Annapolis, Md., Suzuki, 80 pts
5. Ezra Lusk, Acworth, Ga., Kawasaki, 68 pts
6. Nathan Ramsey, Corona, Calif., Honda, 65 pts
7. Stephane Roncada, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki, 63
8. Jeremy McGrath, Encinitas, Calif., Yamaha 61
9. Michael Byrne, Australia, Honda, 56 pts
10. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Suzuki, 48 pts

125cc Western Regional Supercross Overall:

1. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, KTM
2. Christopher Gosselaar, Juniper Hills, Calif., Honda
3. Billy Laninovich, Ramona, Calif., KTM
4. Kevin Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
5. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda
6. Joseph Oehlhof, Wapakoneta, Ohio, Yamaha
7. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
8. Travis Elliot, Alvin, Texas, Honda
9. Justin Buckelew, Albuquerque, N.M., KTM
10. Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha

125cc Western Regional Supercross Season Point Standings:

1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 104 pts
2. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 83 pts
3. Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 82 pts
4. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, KTM, 77 pts
5. Christopher Gosselaar, Juniper Hills, Calif., Honda, 76 pts
6. Rodrig Thain, France, Yamaha, 64 pts
7. David Pingree, Temecula, Calif., KTM, 62 pts
8. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 59 pts
9. Travis Elliot, Alvin, Texas, Honda, 55 pts
10. Craig Decker, Palm Desert, Calif., 48 pts