Monday, March 18

Carmichael Wins Again

By B.J. Smith

NEW ORLEANS, (March 16) - For the fourth race in a row, Ricky Carmichael made winning look effortless. Though RC started the race off a little slow, fallen riders all but handed him the win. David Vuillemin came back, shoulder injury and all, to post a third place finish, keeping his championship hopes alive. Chad Reed won his fifth race in as many rounds in the 125 Eastern Regional series.

Ricky Carmichael wins his sixth race of the season at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, LA.

Tim Ferry pulled the POWERade holeshot and led the pack for several laps before laying it down and falling back to mid-pack. Behind Ferry out of the gate was a pack of Hondas, Nathan Ramsey, Ernesto Fonseca and Carmichael. Ramsey and Fonseca both hit the dirt, handing their positions to Carmichael.

After Ferry's mishap, RC took over the lead and motored to the win for the fourth week in a row. Vuillemin, despite the pain of a severe shoulder injury rode solid in second but dropped back to third, 20 seconds off the pace. The only rider to keep Carmichael in sight was second place finisher, Stephane Roncada, who actually put time on the leader in the waning laps, but ran out of time.

RC won his sixth race this season, Roncada added another podium to his season and Vuillemin drops another five points in the standings with his third place finish. Jeremy McGrath took fourth, 25 seconds off the pace of the leader.

In the 125cc race, Kelly Smith nailed the holeshot but crashed after crossing the white line. Reed took over the lead and it looked like another run away until Grant Langston put in a ride the fans have been waiting for. Langston pulled up and passed Reed, and led him for much of the race. A bobble late in the event gave Reed the momentum to pass and take the win. Langston finished a close second and Larry Ward rebounded from his Daytona DNF to take his first podium finish of the year.

Main Event: 250cc

1. Ricky Carmichael - Hon
2. Stephane Roncada - Kaw
3. David Vuillemin - Yam
4. Jeremy McGrath - Yam
5. Ezra Lusk - Kaw
6. Nathan Ramsey - Hon
7. Heath Voss - Hon
8. Nick Wey - Yam
9. Ernesto Fonseca - Hon
10. Tim Ferry - Yam
11. Keith Johnson - Yam
12. Jason Thomas - Yam
13. James Povolny - Hon
14. Isaiah Johnson - Yam
15. Joseph Oehlhof - Hon
16. Ted Campbell - Suz
17. Brian Mason - Kaw
18. Tyler Evans - Hus
19. Jeff Gibson - Yam

Point Standings: 250cc

1. Carmichael - 209
2. Vuillemin - 199
3. Lusk - 148
4. Roncada - 148
5. McGrath - 144
6. LaRocco - 120
7. Ramsey - 117
8. Fonseca - 107
9. Nick Wey - 104
10. Heath Voss - 104

Main Event: 125cc

1. Chad Reed - Yam
2. Grant Langston - KTM
3. Larry Ward - Yam
4. Mike Brown - Kaw
5. Greg Schnell - Yam
6. Branden Jesseman - Suz
7. Steve Boniface - KTM
8. Jeff Gibson - Yam
9. Andrew Short - Suz
10. John Dowd - KTM
11. Buddy Antunez - Suz
12. Justin Buckelew - Suz
13. Ryan Clark - Yam
14. Kelly Smith - Yam
15. Michael Blose - Suz
16. Johnny Marley - Hon
17. Barry Carsten - Suz
18. Steve Andrich - Yam
19. Robbie Horton - Hon
20. Erick Vallejo - Suz
21. Josh Woods - Suz

Point Standings: 125cc

1. Reed - 125
2. Brown - 102
3. Boniface - 76
4. Antunez - 69
5. Langston - 69
6. Ward - 68
7. Jesseman - 61
8. Schnell - 61
9. Dowd - 58
10. Smith - 57