Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127663
NMA World Mini Grand Prix ahind Carmichael By Tony Alessi .While LAS VEGAS, NY, APR.S-10 most teenagers spent their Easter vacations chewing on candy and hanging out in the, video arcades, 14-year-old Ricky Carmichael had a much more serious agenda. Carmichael traveled across the country from his home in Havana, Florida, to the glittery city of Las Vegas, Nevada, for the 23rd Annual NMA World Mini Grand Prix. Once there, Carmichael proved what he had believed all along that he was the best minicycle pilot in the world. Carmichael raced his Kawasaki Team Green-backed KXBOs to five out of six moto wins, en route to a triple class sweep. The little Floridian topped the 80cc 14-16 year-old Stock and Modified classes, as well as the all-important Super Mini class in which anything goes. This year's event was once again held at Las Vegas MX Park, which is set in the backdrop of Nellis Air Force Base. Over 12,000 entries filled the race rosters, and the riders, spe cta tors and parents, alike, were entertained by fighter jets performing practice drills throughout the weekend . "Th is is the largest tu rnout we've had since 1977," said NMA' s Ron Henricksen. "We doubled the number of support sponsors, and thisis the first year since 1988 that Hond a has been in attendance with their support van." The even t also saw healthy support from numerous indus try names suc h as FMF, Wiseco, Endura and Gatorad e. So, just h ow fas t is th is Carmichael kid, anyw ay? Fas t en oug h t o rid e the wheels off his mo torcycle - literally. The scene was played out du ring the opening Super Min i class rnoto, while h e w as enjoying a 13-second lead over secondplaced Josh Tarantino of the NCY Yamaha team . "1 cased hard over a big double," said Carmichael. "Then 1 felt the bike get all wobbly." "1 saw that 1 was catching him," said Tarantino. "Then when 1 go t close enough, 1 could see his rear wheel flopping all ove r the place. 1 didn't wan t to get too close in case his wheel exploded, 50 1waited for the big double to ma ke my move." ..... ..... l-< ~ 10 With the white flag waving and three turns and a double ju m p betw een Carmichael and the finish, all eyes were on the fast-closing Tarantino. As, expected, Carmichael rolled over the big double, while Tarantino flew over his head and on to the win. Carmichael tried one last-ditch effort to retake the lead, but the damage was too great to be undone. "1 was h op ing that it w oul d st a y together," said Carmichael." "It was all my fault:: sa id Big Rick, Carmichael's father/mechanic. '1 just flat out forgot to tighten the spokes." Ca rmichael r aced b a ck wi th a vengeance in the second moto and scored a runawa y win over runner-up BrockSellards . M ore impo r ta n tly, h owever, Carmichael scored the overall win with his 2-1 showing. "Ricky is really fast: ' said Sellards. "He goes 50 fast because he rides every day. Heck, he lives at a motocros s track!" Sellards, wh o recently turned 16, revealed Ricky Carmichael roosted his way to three overall championships In Las Vegas. '