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/128395
Briefly... ver since Ricky Carmichael started winning AMA outdoor National titles back in 1998, not once has he had to go to the last race of the season to secure an overall title. Steel City 'OS would be no different. With yet another performance worthy of the moniker "Greatest of All Time," Team Makita Suzuki's Carmichael and his cannonball starts laid waste to the rest of the 250cc class field with a I-I performance to solidify the Steel City overail, as well as the 2005 AMA Motocross Championship title - Carmichael's sixth consecutive 250cc crown. In addition, Carmichael also won the Monster Energy Drink Triple Crown of Motocross - a $25,000 bonus for sweeping the High Point, Red Bud and Steel City rounds of the 2005 AMA Motocross Championship. "It was a great weekend for me," Carmichael said. "I got killer starts, which I've never had here before, for some reason. I took pretty much the same lines. I thought they did a great job on the track. If you needed to pass, you could; it all didn't funnel down into one turn. I'm pumped on the promoters, and anytime they can make an improvement, I'm glad to see them put something back into the E course." Carmichael admitted that prior to the start of the season, he had some doubts Carmichael hoists the championship trophy over his head on the Steel City podium. about the new program with Suzuki and how it was going to work outdoors. But with hard work from a highly qualified team, things soon fell into place, and he was off on another storybook racing season. "I was really scared coming into the season, because we had problems in testing - running out of fuel, [a bike] that wouldn't run well when it got hot," Carmichael said. "Seemed like the week of Sacramento [HangtownJ, we kind of got things together. Sacramento went good, and we continued to make improvements throughout the first half of the series. So I think I'm happier for Suzuki than I am for myself. They really deserve it. They're a good team, with a bunch of good guys around. So I think I've answered a lot of questions and given the team a lot of credibility for the future. And I'd like to see some more good riders come there." Not only was this Carmichael's sixth 250cc title, it was also his 13th overall National title: six in the 250cc MX class, three in the 12Scc MX class, and four in Supercross. The title was Suzuki's first AMA National since 1999, when Greg A1bertyn did it, and Carmichael is one win away from what could be his third undefeated (overall) season. Again this past weekend, as it has been the three prior weeks, Carmichael was joined on the podium by Amsoil/Factory Connection/Chaparral/Honda's Kevin Windham and factory Honda racer Ernesto Fonseca in second and third, respectively. Josh Grant banged up his knee while practicing earlier in the week at Glen Helen. The Amsoil/Factory Connection/Chaparral/ Honda rider still made it to Steel City in time for the first practice session, where he found that the pain was just too intense to continue. Grant was fourth in the 12Scc-c1ass points standings when the injury occurred. After Steel City. he slipped back to seventh. WBRlSuzuki team consultant David Bailey was a first-time visitor to Steel City. The former champ was floored when he saw the natural stadium-like setting for which Steel City is famous. "Not since my injury have I ever had the urge to get back and ride - until now," Bailey said. "Spectators can see it all, dirt is the best we've had all season, the right amount of lumps and off-eamber turns - what more could you ask for? This is definitely my favorite track on the National circuit." Though cutting a day off their amateur program to keep the track in good shape for the National affected the overall attendance (which was down from roughly 18,000 in previous years to a click under 16,000 this year), NPG member Racer Productions did a marvelous job tending to the track all weekend. The AMA gave the promoters the green light to basically let the track stand the way it was after the amateurs, so the pros were greeted by some gnarly speed bumps and cupped-out faces on some of the tabletops for Saturday's practice. And though some of the new-school guys griped a bit, Suzuki's Roger DeCoster said that the Steel City track was about the best condition he's ever seen for an American track. Fans at the Glen Helen National will be able to see what the U.S. Motocross Des Nations team will be wearing in France later this month. Ricky Cannichael, Kevin Windham and Ivan Tedesco will wear their redwhite-and-blue, Troy Lee-painted helmets at - - - - . . . . . . . Glen Helen. In addition, the American team Kevin Windham charaed up will run the numbers that they've been given through the pack Ie by the FIM: Cannichael- 101, Tedesco - 102 ond __ again. and Windham - 103. However, there seems to be a bit of a question as to what will happen if Sebastien Tonelli. who wears the number 103, returns to action at Glen Helen. "'1Ih _- Amsoil/Factory Connection/Chaparral/ Honda's Joaquim Rodrigues got a pretty good deal for the MX Des Nations. The Portuguese Motorcycle Federation kicked in 10 grand to send Joaquim, his bike and mechanic over to France to race the Des Nations. There was talk in the pits about a new team that is expected to form next year, with Rock Star energy drink as the main sponsor. The team appears to be made up of Nick Wey, Sean Hamblin and Jason lawrence. Florida's Troy Adams was at Steel City, site of his first National podium finish last year. Adams, who had reconstructive knee surgery (ACL and meniscus), just got back on a bike and is looking forvvard to returning to action soon - possibly for the Bercy (France) Supercross this fall. Jeff Cemic had a stable full of thoroughbreds for his hometown race. Running the Cernic's Suzukis along with Jason lawrence were Florida's Shaun Skinner, who was making his debut at the Nationals. as was Continued on page 19 CYCLE NEWS. SEPTEMBER 14,2005 17