Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

High Poinr Ro.e|cy ,rlounr MoriiE, PA MOTOCROSS Round 2 llioy 28, aOO6 2006 Togota AMA Motocross championship Pr€s€nt€d bg FMF I ames Stewart mav have been the I hoo, rn- on the Jrack at High Point I Raceway. but it was Ricky Carmichael I who came awav with Nvo moto wins ! and the ou.."il ,i.,o.y at rhe 30rh ;! runninS of the High Poinr Narional. Atter clarmrng hrs trrst-ever flotocross- class win at Hangtown the week before - a win that broke Carmichael's 27-race overall win streak - Stewart came into Pennsylvania riding a wave of confidence. The factory Kawasaki rider promptly posted the fastest lap of the day dur- in8 Saturday's practice session and then backed that up with a time near- ly two-and-a-half seconds quicker than anyone else on the track during practice Sunday morning. Then, dur- ing Sunday s first moto. Stewart ran down and passed Carmichael and then laid down rhe fastest lap of the race while tryrng to break away frorn rhe l'4akita Suzuki rider. Stewart seemingly possessed an u nmarched level of speed on the l"lount I!orris course, but, as history has shown, it is not always the fasrest rider who ultimately takes the prize. After successfully fendinS off every- thing that Carmichael threw at him over .ourse of the first l0 laps of the first moto, Stewart crashed heavily on a step- down section while leading with iusr four laps to go. The crash sent the newly crowned World Supercross Chan]pion to the hospital with a mild concussjon and handed Carmichael a clear track to his first overall win of the season- Stcwort (7), Chod Reed (22) ond Corm lounch df rhe slort line in the firrt MX ''l leel bad forJames," Carmichael said. "l know some people say you should take the win no matter how you can get it, but no one wan6 to see a rider crash. lt was a great race. it really was. I thought I was in a great place, based on how I was riding and how my fitness is. lt was kicking in and was right where I wanted it to be, But I got a little Sift and a 8ift is 8ood, but not that kind of 8ift." Chad Reed beneflted from Stewan's misfortune, as well. The Team Yamaha rider took a distant second in each moto for second overall. However, the Florida- based Aussie would have been happier had he been battling for the lead. ''l am happy with second, but I need to find some speed to stay with these guys they are unbelievable," Reed said. "l was a little off this weekend, but it's iust little things I need to work on. I feel like I can step it up; I iust have to do it. James was riding unbelievable, but when you are rid- ing thar pace, rhings happen and they hap- pen fast. " Team Honda s Davi 14illsaps captured his first-ever 450-class podiom by goinS 3-3 on the day. "l wasn t expecting this at all at least noL aL rhe second race maybe larer in the year," l'lillsaps said. ''l am happy to get this over with. lwasn't expecting these guys to be that {ast. I mean, I knew they were fast, but they were really fast! ' Stewam and Carmichael waged a fierce batde over the first l3 laps of che opening moto, a battle that was definitely worthy of being a pan of the 30th anniversar), of 'r

• Cover