Monday, April 29

It's All Over

By B.J. Smith
Motoworld.com

Ricky Carmichael has defended another title, which is also another quirky record he holds for never failing to lose a title he already had. On a soft, rain-soaked track, still threatened by storms even during the main event, RC took his tenth win, becoming the second rider ever to have back to back double-digit win seasons. As expected, in the 125cc Western Region, Travis Preston played it safe, followed James Stewart across the line, and won the title.

In the 250cc main, Ricky Carmichael took the POWERade Holeshot money, but David Vuillemin had his line shortly after. Vuillemin had to put three points on RC to keep his own title hopes alive and with that in mind he took the lead. Carmichael kept the Cobra close and when the Yamaha rider made a mistake RC took control. After having the toughest title defense of his career, Carmichael knew what needed to be done and immediately put several seconds on second place Vuillemin.

Jeremy McGrath was third for most of the race, but Sebastien Tortelli caught and passed the seven-time champ. Tortelli ended the race third, well behind the leaders, for his first podium finish this year. Ernesto Fonseca also passed McGrath for fourth. MC finished fifth.

At the front and in the waning laps, Vuillemin was reeling in Carmichael at a half-second a lap, but it wasn't enough as RC took his second EA Sports Supercross Championship in a row.

"It feels good, it was a rough road there at the beginning," Carmichael said after the race. "I thought the series was over after Anaheim and I had to work for this one. It was a good season but it was the toughest, physically."

For Vuillemin, at the halfway point, it was his title to lose, but in his words, "I'll be back."

"I had a great season," Vuillemin said. "I got hurt and that's part of racing. I'm ready to come back next season."

In the 125 Western Region, Travis Preston needed a fifth or lower to win the title with a James Stewart win. Stewart's nightmare ride in Dallas helped pave the way for the title for Preston and in Salt Lake City, Preston put it all together. Stewart clearly had the speed, pulled the holeshot and won the main event by 15 seconds over Preston.

250cc Main Event:

1. Ricky Carmichael
2. David Vuillemin
3. Sebastien Tortelli
4. Ernesto Fonseca
5. Jeremy McGrath
6. Ezra Lusk
7. Nathan Ramsey
8. Stephane Roncada
9. Jean Sebastien-Roy
10. Nick Wey
11. Tim Ferry
12. Damon Huffman
13. K. Johnson
14. Ryan Clark
15. James Povolny

125cc Main Event:

1. James Stewart
2. Travis Preston
3. Danny Smith
4. Matt Walker
5. David Pingree
6. Ivan Tedesco
7. Chris Gosselaar
8. Eric Sorby
9. Travis Elliott
10. K. Johnson

250cc EA SPORTS Supercross Season Points Standings:

1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda, 331 pts
2. David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 301 pts
3. Jeremy McGrath, Encinitas, Calif., Yamaha, 234 pts
4. Ezra Lusk, Acworth Ga., Kawasaki, 223 pts
5. Stephane Roncada, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki, 218 pts
6. Nathan Ramsey, Corona, Calif., Honda, 211 pts
7. Ernesto Fonseca, Costa Rica, Honda, 177 pts
8. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha, 160 pts
9. Heath Voss, Mica, Texas, Honda, 148 pts
10. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Suzuki, 142 pts

125cc Western Regional Supercross Season Standings:

1. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 152 pts
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 145 pts
3. Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 130 pts
4. Christopher Gosselaar, Juniper Hills, Calif., Honda, 128 pts
5. Travis Elliot, Alvin, Texas, Honda, 100 pts
6. David Pingree, Temecula, Calif., KTM, 80 pts
7. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 80 pts
8. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, KTM, 91 pts
9. Craig Decker, Palm Desert, Calif., Yamaha, 70 pts
10. Matt Walker, McRae, Ga., Kawasaki