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/128362
FIM THO World Supercross Grand Prix Series/AMA THO Supercross Series By SCOTT ROUSSEAU PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN ne dry spell ended ~ dry spell durIng round two of the AMA THQ Supercross Series at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona. With no rain in the forecast and the added insurance of a roofed stadium, three-time former AMA Supercross Champion Ricky Carmichael put forth a championship-style effort to earn his first AMA Supercross victory In nearly two years and quench a six-year AMA Supercross victory drought for the Suzuki brand In the 250cc class. Carmichael became the first Suzuki pilot to win an AMA 250cc Supercross since larry Ward won the Seattle Supercross on January 30, 1999. Carmichael's Phoenix win was the l09th AMA National win of his career and his 34th In AMA 250cc It also marked Supercross. Carmichael's third win at the BOB, aboard a third different brand of motorcycle. Carmichael said that he couldn't be happier with the W2'f Phoenix went, especially for Team Suzuki, which didn't enjoy even a single 250cc podium finish In the 2004 AMA Supercross Series. "It has been awhde: Carmichael said. referring to his last AMA Supercross victory, the Daytona Supercross on March 8, 2003. "I'm happy for Suzuki. I'm happy for myself. but I'm really happy for them. They deseNe it. They have a bunch of good guys over there. I'm just really happy, so we'll lust take this momentum and go on to next weekend." Carmip,ael was fast all night aboard his Mike Gosselaar-prepared Team Makita Suzuki RM250, easily winning the fi rst of the 250cc heat races and posting the faster time of the two eight.1ap heats, a time of 6 minutes, 5 1.76JJ seconds. That time was almost two seconds faster than the winning time posted by the reigning AMA THQ Supercross Champion, Team O Yamaha's Chad Reed, over Anaheim I winner Kevin Windham on the Amsoll/ChaparraVNapster Honda CRF4S0R In heat two. In the main event, Carmichael delIIt with early pressure from Windham and then checked out on the field to win the race with 10,420 seconds in hand. Windham was second, with Reed third, another 4.250 seconds behind Windham. Carmichael lapped the field up to 10th place during the race. Carmichael's win, combined with a win by Team Makita Suzuki's Broc Hepler In the 12Scc Western Region main event at Phoenix, gave Suzuki its first ever sweep of an AMA Supercross Series round. "I told my wife - she's from Arizona - that there's something special about this place: Carmichael said. "I got my first 250cc podium here, and I was looking forward to it. Me and K·Dub reeling off some good laps, and I think Chad [Reed) got off to a bad start. I'm just really happy for Suzuki. There has been a iot of talk and this and thal, but that team is really good. and I'm really comfortable with my bike. I'm happier for them more than I am for myself." The winner at the 2004 Phoenix round, Windham appeared content to leave Phoenix the same way that he had entered it - with a lot of confidence and the series points lead. -Every race, every one of us wants to win it, and it doesn't matter what Mother Nature or Dirt Wurx wants to throw at us," Windham said. "We have to go out and do the best we can. I was happy with my riding [at Anaheim I), and I wanted to back it up [at Phoenix). I felt good early in the main. I was staying with Ricky, and then he started getting through the second section of whoops really well and started inching away from me little by little. I rode a good race. I didn't win, but he never just gapped me by a long ways. I was happy with my _re