Ricky Carmichael could add yet another mind-boggling record to his
unmatched collection when the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship
presented by FMF comes to Budds Creek (Md.) Motocross Park on June
16-17, for round four the of the 12-event series. Carmichael, the
defending champion from Havana, Fla., looks to earn his 100th combined
AMA Motocross victory.
The race will receive special same day national television coverage on
SPEED.
Carmichael took his 99th AMA Motocross win last weekend in Southwick,
Mass., setting up the possibility of career win number 100 at Budds
Creek. Coming into Sunday’s event Carmichael has 73 AMA Motocross
and 26 AMA Motocross Lites wins for the combined total of 99. If the
Makita Suzuki rider scores win number 100 this weekend it would set
one of the most remarkable records in all of AMA racing history. To
put that number of motocross national wins in perspective, his nearest
rival among active riders is James Stewart, who has tallied 31
combined Motocross national wins.
“It would be sweet to get 100 wins there,” said Carmichael, who
coincidently scored his 100th combined AMA Motocross/Supercross
victory at Budds Creek in 2004. “I know that it is going to be hard
work. James rides well there. I am going to have to ride really
focused and be picture perfect. I will have to rely on speed. We both
want to win every time we get out there.”
Carmichael is undefeated in the premier AMA Motocross class at Budds
Creek. He’s won there for the last seven years running. Carmichael
is halfway through his final AMA Motocross season. He is transitioning
to a career in NASCAR racing. “I’m almost to the end of the road.
I’m sure they’ll be happy to see me out of here,” Carmichael
smiled talking about his fellow competitors. “I’m ready to go to.
A lot of preparations go into these races and they’re still hard for
me.”
James Stewart, the heir apparent to take control of AMA Motocross once
Carmichael exits, would dearly love to beat his rival before
Carmichael retires. His chances are running short and many consider
Budds Creek one of his best opportunities. Stewart is very fast on his
Monster Energy Kawasaki at the Maryland circuit having earned three
national wins at the track in the Lites class.
“Everything was going great at Southwick,” Stewart said after
leading most of the first moto this past Sunday. “I had great lines
through the turns and all of a sudden I switched them up. I don’t
know why. Then Ricky came by me and I had three really bad laps and he
was able to gap me. I then stayed even with him until the end when we
had a little problem with our clutch and I stalled it.”
Yamaha’s Grant Langston emerged as a possible championship contender
with a strong race at Southwick. He passed Stewart in moto two and
held second until near the end when Stewart got back by. He earned his
first podium finish of the year and moved to third in the series
standings.
“I needed this for sure, for myself, for the team, and for
everyone,” said Langston, the 2003 AMA Motocross Lites Champion.
“I think that we put a lot of effort in. Obviously we hit a big
speed bump earlier in the season. I gave it my all today and got a
little tired near the end; but now I know what I need to work on.”
Langston is coming off a shoulder injury he suffered practicing in
January. He went on to say he feels like he’s finally reached the
top of the hill in his climb back to racing condition.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto has yet to win
an AMA Motocross Lites overall this year, yet he still leads the class
by virtue of three consecutive runner-up finishes coming into Budds
Creek. Villopoto, the defending series and Budds Creek Lites winner,
is involved in a great battle with teammate Ben Townley for the
support class title. Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey and Sobe/No Fear
Honda’s Josh Grant are not far behind in a hotly contested
championship.
“I haven’t won an overall yet and it’s kind of disappointing to
me,” Villopoto said. “I’ve been up front a couple motos and
either had a fall or made some mistakes. I’m going to go to Michigan
and ride some different tracks.”
While Villopoto might be getting a little anxious to win his first
race this season, Townley is equally eager to catch his teammate in
the standings. He joked that he might have taken a little different
action last weekend in Southwick had Villopoto not been on the same
squad.
“When he fell down in front of me I could have run over him,”
Townley quipped. “But he’s my teammate and I didn’t want to do
that. Obviously racing against Ryan he’s going to be up there every
race fighting for the lead. I’ve got to be there as well. I want to
be there winning races. I might not be as fast as those guys right in
the beginning. That’s something that I need to work on.”
The Budds Creek event will air on SPEED. The Motocross class can be
seen same day delayed, on Sunday, June 17 at 6:00 pm Eastern. The
Lites class will air on Tuesday, June 26 at 3:00 pm Eastern.
Racer X Illustrated will be providing web coverage including audio and
streaming video at www.motocross.com.
Additional live timing and scoring will be available on www.amamotocross.com.
For ticket information visit the website www.buddscreek.com.
WHAT: Budds Creek Pro Motocross National, round four of the AMA
Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF.
WHERE: Budds Creek is located approximately 1½ hours from Baltimore,
1 hour from downtown Washington, D.C., and approximately 1½ hours
from Richmond, Va., directly off Maryland Highway 234 in scenic
Southern Maryland.
WHEN: June 16-17, 2007.
COURSE: 1.4 miles (approx), hard pack and sandy loam.
2006 WINNERS: AMA Motocross: Ricky Carmichael (Suzuki). AMA
Motocross Lites: Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki).
SCHEDULE: Saturday — Pro timed qualifying, 1:00-4:35 pm., Lites
Consolation Race 4:45 pm; Sunday — Pro Motocross Consolation Race
9:15 am. Qualifying 10:00 am. Opening Ceremonies begin at 12:30 pm
with final events beginning at 1 pm.