Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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James Stewart returned at Red Bud after missing the Budds Creek round two weeks earlier due to two huge get-offs at Southwick and High Point. He rode to two solid seconds and briefly challenged Ricky Carmichael in the second moto when Carmichael fell. Stewart did not reveal much about the condition of his knee, but he did say, "I'm having fun out here and I'm doing it for the crowd." Ben Townley had made a major move in the off season, emigrating from the Euro- pean GP scene and a spot on the factory KTM team to the United States and a ride with Mitch Payton's Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team. But a major knee injury during Supercross testing has kept him off of the racetrack until now, although he's glad the team hasn't put any pressure on him. "I feel no pressure what- soever," Townley said. "Mitch has been great, he knows I haven't raced in nine months since the des Nations, so they know it will take some time for me to be 100 percent. I feel fit, I just have to get used to the intensity here in the first few laps. But that kind of intensity at the begin- ning really suits my style, though, but that was always a key strong point for me in Europe, trying to be one of the most intense riders during the first few laps." Townley is training with Aldon Baker, who is best known as Ricky Carmichael's trainer. "I don't know if the training is more intense than what I did in Europe, but it's a lot more specific having a one- on-one situation like this," Townley said. Eric Sorby was watching from behind the fences at Red Bud, as he had a falling out of sorts with Maestro Suzuki and is no longer with the team. Sorby did not get into details, but said that he is headed back to Europe in a few weeks to race some Supercrosses and plans on being back in the states by November. The Yamaha 450s of Chad Reed and Motoworld/PPG's David Vuillemin's were fitted with larger aluminum gas tanks at Red Bud. It was reported that the modi- fied tanks were used for increased gas vol- ume for the longer and rougher laps of the outdoor tracks. Briefly... Continued on page 19 RICKY CARMICHAEL WINS HIS FOURTH STRAIGHT AND TAKES HIS EIGHTH OVERALL VICTORY AT RED BUD head down so he wouldn't get away." Stewart actually led for two laps until Carmichael passed him back in the mechanics' turn, and then he went on and pulled out a 20-second-plus lead en route to the victory. "It was some good, clean racing today, and I need to give it up for the team," Carmichael said. "I love Red Bud and I will definitely be back here next year!" Carmichael also took home $1500 from Monster Energy for the win, and if he can win at Steel City later this sum- mer, he will collect a $30,000 check from Monster Energy, as well, for win- ning the Triple- CYCLE NEWS • JULY 12, 2006 17 Carmichael padded his points lead with his fourth win in a row. Chad Reed went 3-3 for third.