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/127991
think I'll be better," he said. "I've had some unfortunate luck. [ think once 1 can get a podium position or get my confidence rolling, I'll be all right." The closest he came was in Tampa, where, after his three-week layoff due to an injury, he led for the first 12 laps before tiring. "I'm just not in shape from not racing," he laments. "[n Atlanta, I caught up from way back, I was in third place, and then I cra hed in the whoops. Ever since Atlanta, I've kind of had some bum luck. I did really well at Daytona; 1 got fourth." Carmichael admits that the transition to the bigger, mO,re powerful Kawasaki KX250 wasn't a problem at first, but once he got hurt in San Diego, it accentuated the difficulty of changing classes. "I just kind of hit a rut and my leg flew off and it sent !TIe sideways and my footpeg went into my hip and all kinds of good stuff," Carmichael said of his San Diego crash. "1 had a big old gash. It was kind of downhill from there. 1 didn't race for three weeks, and [ was back at Tampa. A week and a half, two weeks, [ had to sit. Couldn't do nothing. It's definitely hard, especially when these guys are riding and racing every weekend." Once he was able to start riding again, he realized how hard he'd have to work to get back on top. "When 1 missed three races, it was hard," Car.michael said. "It was physically' hard." And it wasn't from lack of experience. "1 ride the 250 all during the week," he said. The bigger issue is the competition. The AMA Supercross Series brings together the best of the best on a weekly basis. Most of the riders have been at it for a few years and didn't achieve instant success. "There's so many fast guys out there that it's tough," Carmichael said. Tops among them is McGrath. What would it take for him to beat McGrath? "For me, experience, 1 think, and just confidence," Carmichael said. "He's really good and he's fast. You need the speed - definitely you need the speed. He's perfect for 20 laps. He can be beat, but he's a really good rider. If I knew what it took to beat him, I'd be beating him. For ,me, confidence. I was riding really well at the beginning of the year, and I just need to turn it around and do now as 1was doing then." Carmichael's team manager, Bruce Stjernstrom, is happy with Carmichael's progress and isn't worried about the future. "We have goals and we have to stick with them," he said of Carmichael's first season in the 250cc class. "Our goal was to finish in the top five as much as possible, and we've done that." Carmichael and Stjernstrom's goal is a realistic one, and it's a good starting point for the still-learning Carmichael. "We can't expect to start winning right away, but it will come," Stjernstrom said. There was a time when it was acceptable for "rookies" to not start winning right away, because no one really did until, that is, McGrath advanced to the 250cc class in 1993 and starting winning race after race and proved that it could, in fact, be done. As a result, McGrath set a new standard that's tough for other riders to match - even for the incredible Ricky Carmichael. But there's no rush. After all, Cafrnichael's just 19. Time is definitely eN on his side. @k ...Takes The 1999 NMA WORLD MINI GP BY STORM! ~£'I.nrq place Class Rider Jonathan Shimp Johnny Marley Michael Blose Sean Collier Glen Commans 125 B-STK 125 Open 125 B-STK 125 Open 8014-16 MOD Supermini 8012-13 STK 8012-13 MOD +30B 1st 1st '2nd 5th 2nd 3rd 2nd 5th 2nd THOUSAND OAKS YAMAHA·KAWASAKI·KTM (80S) 497-3765 Class Rider Randy Commans +30B 609-11 MOD Mike Alessi 609-11 STK 809-11 MOD Race of Champions 609-11 STK Jeff Alessi Dylan Lord 8014-16 STK 8014-16 MOD Billy Payne 125A MOD 250ASTK ~ __ :t,Z,> place 3rd 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st 4th 2nd 4th I .. a! ~ ~ 0 . g ... as N -- £LZ:2 «?ZY& #' -.:: Q. 2388 E. Thou....d Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 « 1-800-311-7'223 39