Reed earned the $1,500 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award with Mike LaRocco, of Corona, Calif., and Carmichael in tow. Carmichael settled into second place on lap 2 and followed Reed until lap 8 where he passed the reigning THQ AMA Supercross Series champion. Once in the lead, Carmichael pulled away from Reed, who finished second and LaRocco, who finished third.
“This is what the fans wanted to see,â€? said Carmichael. “I had to chase Chad (Reed) and earn the win tonight, and I am very happy with my performance. It’s a long series, so I can’t get too excited. I need to keep my head on and finish the season strong.â€?
Yamaha’s Danny Smith, of Middleton, Idaho, earned the $1,000 Butterfinger Holeshot Award but Laninovich moved into the lead. Season points leader Ivan Tedesco started near the back of the pack and was able to move into third place late in the race. Honda’s Andrew Short, of Colorado Springs, Colo., moved his Honda into second place but was unable to pass Laninovich.
“This is the first win of my career, so I can’t even explain how happy I am,â€? said Laninovich. “I hope this is the first of many. I had a little battle with Danny Smith on lap 1, but I was able to move into the lead and ride smart.â€?
In the eighth-annual Suzuki Crossover Challenge mountain biker Brian Lopes, who came into the race as an odds-on favorite, led the first three laps with jet skier Victor Sheldon on his back wheel. Mid-way through the whoop section Lopes lost control and crashed, allowing Sheldon to move into the lead and get the win.
Racing returns to Angel Stadium of Anaheim next Saturday, February 5. Tonight’s race airs on ESPN2 tomorrow, Sunday, January 30 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 147
2. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 121
3. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 116
4. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 103
5. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 80
6. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 75
7. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Honda, 74
8. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Yamaha, 54
9. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda, 53
10. Jeff Gibson, Westerville, Ohio, 53
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda
4. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
5. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
6. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda
7. Heath Voss, Mico Texas, Yamaha
8. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda
10. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 95
2. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda, 79
3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 69
4. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 66
5. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 59
6. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 58
7. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 57
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 51
9. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 49
10. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 44
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
2. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
3. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Ryan Morais, Canyon Lake, Calif., Suzuki
5. Bret Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
6. Bryan Johnson, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
7. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Suzuki
8. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha
9. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
10. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 80
2. Ryan Sipes, Nine Grove, Kan., Suzuki, 67
3. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha, 58
4. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 56
5. Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda, 49
6. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 46
7. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 42
8. Bret Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 41
9. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 39
10. Jesse Casillas, Jamul, Calif., Honda, 35
MX notes leading up to Anaheim three this weekend:
· Carmichael now has three consecutive wins on a Suzuki, tying Mark Barnett’s record set in ’81.
· No Suzuki rider has ever won four consecutive 250cc main events.
· In ’81 Suzuki won 7 consecutive main events with three riders: Barnett; Shultz; Howerton.
· Mark Barnett leads Suzuki’s all-time win list with 16.
· This is the 38th time the gate will drop in Anaheim.
· LaRocco now has 79 career podiums.
· Carmichael now has 36 THQ AMA Supercross Series wins; that’s half of what McGrath has (72)
· Windham’s podium streak ended last weekend. He had six consecutive podium finishes and 18 consecutive top 5 finishes.
· Vuillemin earned his best finish of the season with a 4th.
· Carmichael and Suzuki each have 36 250cc main event wins.
· No rider has ever swept all three races in Anaheim. Carmichael, McGrath and Reed have each won 2 of 3 in a season.
· McGrath has 8 wins in Anaheim; Carmichael has 5.
· Going back to ’03, Carmichael has 18 consecutive podiums. He has not finished out of the top 5 since the opening race since ’02; that’s 35 straight races with a top 5 finish.
· Carmichael has a total 111 250cc motocross/supercross wins.
· Carmichael has 80 250cc supercross starts and 54 podiums.
· The first rider to win 4 main events has gone on to win the championship 23 times in 31 seasons.
125cc Notes:
· There have been four different winners this season.
· Ivan Tedesco won all three races in Anaheim last year, can he get 2 of 3 this year?
· Billy Laninovich scored his first 125cc supercross win in San Francisco.
· 20 riders in the history of 125cc supercross have only earned 1 victory.
Venues that have held the most races
· Pontiac: 46
· Houston: 39
· Anaheim: 38
· Daytona: 35
· Seattle: 33
Team Suzuki’s all-time 250cc supercross win list
· Barnett: 16
· Howerton: 5
· Shultz: 3
· L. Ward: 3
· Carmichael: 3
· DiStefano: 2
· McGrath: 2
· LaRocco: 1
· Albertyn: 1
Team Suzuki Overview:
· Suzuki has 13 seasons with at least 1 win.
· Barnett won their only 250cc supercross championship in ’81.
· Suzuki has had 5 riders finish the season in second place.
· In ’81, Suzuki has their best season ever; they had 10 wins and the title.
Denny Hartwig, Public Relations Manager
Clear Channel Entertainment -- Motor Sports
495 North Commons Drive Suite 200
Aurora, IL 60564
630-566-6305
THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 147
2. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 121
3. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 116
4. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 103
5. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 80
6. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 75
7. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Honda, 74
8. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Yamaha, 54
9. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda, 53
10. Jeff Gibson, Westerville, Ohio, 53
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda
4. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
5. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
6. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda
7. Heath Voss, Mico Texas, Yamaha
8. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda
10. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 95
2. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda, 79
3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 69
4. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 66
5. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 59
6. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 58
7. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 57
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 51
9. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 49
10. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 44
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
2. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
3. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Ryan Morais, Canyon Lake, Calif., Suzuki
5. Bret Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
6. Bryan Johnson, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
7. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Suzuki
8. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha
9. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
10. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 80
2. Ryan Sipes, Nine Grove, Kan., Suzuki, 67
3. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha, 58
4. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 56
5. Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda, 49
6. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 46
7. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 42
8. Bret Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 41
9. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 39
10. Jesse Casillas, Jamul, Calif., Honda, 35
MX notes leading up to Anaheim three this weekend:
· Carmichael now has three consecutive wins on a Suzuki, tying Mark Barnett’s record set in ’81.
· No Suzuki rider has ever won four consecutive 250cc main events.
· In ’81 Suzuki won 7 consecutive main events with three riders: Barnett; Shultz; Howerton.
· Mark Barnett leads Suzuki’s all-time win list with 16.
· This is the 38th time the gate will drop in Anaheim.
· LaRocco now has 79 career podiums.
· Carmichael now has 36 THQ AMA Supercross Series wins; that’s half of what McGrath has (72)
· Windham’s podium streak ended last weekend. He had six consecutive podium finishes and 18 consecutive top 5 finishes.
· Vuillemin earned his best finish of the season with a 4th.
· Carmichael and Suzuki each have 36 250cc main event wins.
· No rider has ever swept all three races in Anaheim. Carmichael, McGrath and Reed have each won 2 of 3 in a season.
· McGrath has 8 wins in Anaheim; Carmichael has 5.
· Going back to ’03, Carmichael has 18 consecutive podiums. He has not finished out of the top 5 since the opening race since ’02; that’s 35 straight races with a top 5 finish.
· Carmichael has a total 111 250cc motocross/supercross wins.
· Carmichael has 80 250cc supercross starts and 54 podiums.
· The first rider to win 4 main events has gone on to win the championship 23 times in 31 seasons.
125cc Notes:
· There have been four different winners this season.
· Ivan Tedesco won all three races in Anaheim last year, can he get 2 of 3 this year?
· Billy Laninovich scored his first 125cc supercross win in San Francisco.
· 20 riders in the history of 125cc supercross have only earned 1 victory.
Venues that have held the most races
· Pontiac: 46
· Houston: 39
· Anaheim: 38
· Daytona: 35
· Seattle: 33
Team Suzuki’s all-time 250cc supercross win list
· Barnett: 16
· Howerton: 5
· Shultz: 3
· L. Ward: 3
· Carmichael: 3
· DiStefano: 2
· McGrath: 2
· LaRocco: 1
· Albertyn: 1
Team Suzuki Overview:
· Suzuki has 13 seasons with at least 1 win.
· Barnett won their only 250cc supercross championship in ’81.
· Suzuki has had 5 riders finish the season in second place.
· In ’81, Suzuki has their best season ever; they had 10 wins and the title.
Denny Hartwig, Public Relations Manager
Clear Channel Entertainment -- Motor Sports
495 North Commons Drive Suite 200
Aurora, IL 60564
630-566-6305
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