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/128214
THQ World Supercross GP SeriesiAMA Supercross Series Final Round: Sam Boyd Stadium 9 of 11 ain't bad: Of the 11 AMA National Championships Ricky Cannichael has competed in, he's won nine - a record. The only two he lost were his first two in 2S0cc supercross in 1999 and 2000. The BeSI wins, but Ricky Carmichael's champ of champs with his ninth National title By STEVE Cox PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN ~S , 22 MAY 14, 2003' c: Y c: I e n e _ s VEGAS, NV, MAY 3 eremy McGrath was 28 when he won his eighth AMA NatIonal Championship. Ricky Carmichael, at 23 years of age, now has nine and sits all alone atop the list of the most National Championships won by any individual rider, and believe it or not, this is the first time in his career that he didn't clinch his title early. In order to clinch said title, Carmichael had to do what some thought he may not be able to - he had to show the wherewithal and maturity to race a main event not of pride, but rather of purpose. "I had to ride a mature race tonight," Carmichael said. "I tell you what, my hat's off to Chad he rode really, really good throughout the year, especially the last half, and he straight up beat me. I didn't have nothing for him, but I was lucky enough to get a big enough points gap at the beginning of the season and kind of ride it out there while my team, they stuck it out behind me 100 percent. Even when my setup wasn't right, they kept with me to get me to do it better. I tell you what, I'm so glad that it's over - I'll be able to sleep tonight." Chad Reed's hot streak continued in Las Vegas as he won his sixth race in a row and his eighth of the season, giving him bragging rights of sorts, but it's pretty likely that Honda's Jeff Stanton had a thing or two to say to Carmichael regarding the importance of having the most wins on the season in comparison to that of becoming the champion, as the 1992 season saw Stanton win only three races to Damon Bradshaw's then-record nine but still clinch the title with his final-round victory in Los Angeles. Today, when you look at the record books, there is no footnote saying that Bradshaw won three times the number of races as Stanton did during the season, it just says that Jeff Stanton was the champion - for the fifth time in his MX and SX career. "I just had to do the best I can, and I didn't have any control over it," Reed said. "I want to dedicate this win to Bubba Stewart. It was a real shame to see him go out like that [see story on page 271. and the kid's a real champ, and it's a bummer to see him get hurt... I finished the season out really strong, and that's all I can do. I made some rookie mistakes, and it didn't help me in the championship, but you've got to be in there, and Ricky's the best." "I feel that I was the smartest rider - maybe not always the fastest, but the smartest, and that's what it takes to win these things," Carmichael said. Reed grabbed the final SXGP.com Holeshot Award of the year at the start of the season's last 20-lap main event, followed by returning rider Kyle Lewis, Heath Voss, Carmichael, Larry Ward, Josh Demuth, Ernesto Fonseca and Sean Hamblin. Hamblin pulled off on the first lap, favoring his right arm. "Somebody landed right on my arm," Hamblin said. "I felt his fork