Ricky Carmichael returns to his winning ways at Hangtown
t's obviously way too early in the outdoor National
series to start talking about another Ricky
Carmichael perfect season, but it's hard not to at
least think about it when you consider how well
the Team Makita Suzuki rider rode, and how he
dominated the outdoor series opener in Sacramento,
California. Carmichael certainly picked up where he left
off from last year's outdoor series, winning both motos
going away on a challenging and rough Hangtown track,
and on what was a rather hot and sunny day.
"We've got one other element in there this year with
I
16 JUNE 1,2005 • CYCLE NEWS
Bubba Uames Stewart], so that's just going to make the
percentage rate a little less of me doing it [having a third
perfect season]," Carmichael said. "But when I did it the
first time, I said no way could it be done again, especially
with the level of talent. You can never say never. I'm not
counting on it; I just want to have the approach I had with
Supercross - be consistent and not play the games with
the boys in practice, and do my best. I feel that's what I
know how to do best. I think 24 and 0 is going to be hard
to reach, but you can do it, I guess. But there are so many
variables in the equation."
