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/128215
AMAIChevy Trucks U.S. MX Championship Series Round 1 : Glen Helen Raceway By KIT PALMER PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN SAN BERNARDINO, CA, MAY 11 or many, the opening round of the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. MX Championship Series meant a fresh start. Most of those who got injured during the just-concluded Supercross Series made their return this Mother's Day at Glen Helen Raceway, but even though there were many new - or returning - faces, there was one very familiar face grinning proudly on the top step of the 250cc podium when all was said and done - Ricky Carmichael's. The recently crowned supercross champ returned to his winning ways at Glen Helen, keeping his perfect win streak intact. When it comes to the Outdoor Nationals, Carmichael, on his Mike Gosselaar-tuned factory Honda CR250R, continued where he left off last year and the year before winning both motos. Carmichael now has won 26 straight 250cc moto victories and, once again, appears to be the rider to beat in this year's National MX Series. Even Yamaha's Chad Reed, who got the better of Carmichael in the second half of the Supercross Series, was no match for the outdoor ace who went 1- 1 on the day. Reed did, however, place second overall with a steady 2-3 moto showing, making a statement that he's ready to challenge Carmichael again - outdoors. Reed's teammate Timmy Ferry, a former Glen Helen winner, also put himself up front at the start of the series by making the podium in third place with a 3-5 tally. Fourth overall, with a 5-4, was Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ezra Lusk, who was one of those many riders returning to action after getting dinged up in supercross. But the rider who stole everyone's hearts at Glen Helen was Kevin Windham, who was making his return to racing after a year-and-a-half absence. And he certainly announced his return in a big way. Windham was flat-out hauling on the Factory Connection/Honda/No Fear-backed CRF450R, setting the fastest lap times of the day and leading a good chunk of both motos. But a minor crash in the first mota while leading ended any hopes he had of making his debut a winning one. He still went 14-2 on the day for a very respectable fifth overall. "It definitely feels great: Windham said. "But the one thing I've got to change is to keep it on two wheels. I was very disappointed to crash. All in all it was a great day. I made it through it; I got 11 more to go." Carmichael certainly dodged a bullet when Windham crashed in the first moto. In that mota, Windham got out in front early and immediately opened up a huge lead, while Carmichael, who started off fifth behind Windham, David Vuillemin, Sean Hamblin and Ferry, had to work his way to the front. Carmichael made quick work of those directly in front of him, but by the time he got into second, all he could see was some residual dust kicked up by Windham's thumper. As the race neared the halfway 10 MAY 21,2003' e y e I n F ... Carmichael resumes his National-winning streak with another perfect ride e vv s point, it appeared that Carmichael's National-win streak was about to come to an end. The defending champ just could not put a dent into Windham's eight-second lead. Suddenly, Windham, who had been riding extremely smoothly and seemingly flawlessly, went down. He got crossed up jumping a step-up tabletop and went down in what was a relatively minor-looking fall. David Vuillemin (12) got the 2003 outdoor National started with the hole.hot In the first 250cc mota at Glen Helen. His sore back that he injured at the Daytona Supercross prevented him from staying up front. "It's really shiny on the face [of the tabletop]. and coming down that straightaway you're in ruts the whole way down," Windham said of the crash. "I got into a rut that was unfa-