Yamaha’s Chad Reed won his second supercross in a row at the firstrace at Houston’s new reliant stadium. The Houston supercross was one of themost exciting of the year, despite worries that too many riders out due toinjury are making the series a Carmichael/Reed 2-man show. If you could havewritten a script to make such a race interesting, you would probably haveCarmichael starting from the back and Reed in the middle and see what happens. Thatis about how it went.
In the first turn Carmichael found himself picking up his bike andReed was mid pack. Moto XXX’s Larry Ward led the first lap, and his teammateClark Stiles was in second. After him the running order was Ernesto Fonseca,Tyler Evans, Casey Lytle, and leading privateer Keith Johnson. The lead packlooked more like a semi-qualifer than a main, but it made for very excitingracing.
Reed took the lead from Ward at the halfway point, and then Wardwould slip to fourth. Carmichael was the runner up for the second half of therace, but he just didn’t catch Reed fast enough to pass him. The final two lapsbrought loud shouts of approval from the crowd.
Fonseca stayed in third just about the whole race. "I got offto a pretty good start" he said, "Travis Preston fell right in frontof me. It seems like I was not really off the pace. Chad and Ricky are ridingreally good. These guys are a little bit further ahead than everyone else. Thisfinish helps a lot. My bike is working great."
"I fell in the first turn so it made the nightinteresting," said Carmichael, "Coming from behind makes it tough. Ijust kept trying 100% every lap and tried to pass every bike. I started to cutaway at Chad’s lead but I wasn’t fast enough. I caught him but didn’t pass. Irode my butt off here. When you are out there to win titles every lap counts. Iam pissed. The championship is still good. I would like to win the rest of theraces. I just need to get good starts and stay out of trouble."
"For me it was a good race," said Reed, "I startedpretty much the same as Ricky did but I didn’t go down. I think I am lucky I ama little taller than he is. Everyone was bumping and all of a sudden he was onthe ground. There were definitely a lot of people in the main event I am notused to racing with. I tried to get in the lead as soon as possible. I waswatching Ricky. I knew where he was. I was just trying to get the whoopsbetter. One time one of the lapped riders pushed me over there. I think it wasmeant to happen because I finally found a good line. I liked this track a lot. Iwas excited to be here and hoped to get another win. It is unfortunate Rickywent down again."
250cc THQ World Supercross GP/AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Chad Reed, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
2. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda
3. Ernesto Fonseca, Canyon Lake, Calif., Honda
4. Larry Ward, Florence, S.C., Honda
5. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha
6. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
7. Greg Schnell, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Yamaha
8. Clark Stiles, Athens, Ala., Honda
9. Sean Hamblin, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki
10. Ryan Clark, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
250cc AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda, 279
2. Chad Reed, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 260
3. David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 169
4. Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 163
5. Ezra Lusk, Bainbridge, Ga., Kawasaki, 149
6. Ernesto Fonseca, Canyon Lake, Calif., 145
7. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha, 138
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 123
9. Larry Ward, Florence, S.C. Honda, 111
10. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 101
250cc THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. Chad Reed, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 301
2. David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 238
3. Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 216
4. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 181
5. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 175
6. Ryan Clark, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha, 165
7. Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda, 136
8. Damon Huffman, Canyon Country, Calif., Honda, 124
9. Sebastien Tortelli, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 121
10. Grant Langston, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 76
125 Class
Yamaha of Troy’s Brock Sellards started a perfect night for Yamahaat the new Reliant Dome in Houston. Sellards won the 125 main on his YZ250F,even though he had a bent shifter that interfered with his footpeg and a fastteammate, Ivan Tedesco, breathing down his neck.
The holeshot went to 3D Racing’s Tiger Lacey, who rode a good pacefor a couple of laps ahead of Sellards, Kelly Smith, Bret Metcalf, Jeff Gibson,and Tommy Hoffmaster.
Series leader Branden Jesseman was close in third for just one lapbut fell, and had to catch up from 12th. With just one race left in the eastregion, next weekend’s at Pontiac, Jesseman has a 12-point advantage afterHouston since he caught up to 4th, and his closest rival Mike Brown finishedbehind him in 5th.
Sellards led every lap starting on lap three, and he held off histeammate Ivan Tedesco, who charged up from outside the top ten to finishsecond. Taking third for his first podium was KTM’s Bret Metcalf.
"I got off to a pretty good start," said Jesseman,"I got out there a bit and was just sitting back waiting to see what wasgoing to happen. I went inside of Brock and fell. After I recouped from that Igot back up and rode pretty well. I learned from my mistakes. I was trying tobe a little too patient in the beginning I think. (For next week) I will bedoing the same things I have been doing."
Australian Bret Metcalf is new to American racing, but he hasshown speed ever since the east series began. "This is my first podium inAmerica," he said, "I am happy to finally get up here and prove tomyself that I can run with these guys. I was injured a little at the start ofthe series. I hadn’t raced since May last year. I was a little nervous cominginto the season. I am getting there. Tonight I tried to ride as hard as Icould, as always."
"The season hadn’t gone that good so far," said Tedesco,"I had an injury earlier in the year. I had a concussion at Atlanta. AtDaytona I hurt my ribs. I am just glad to be back on the bike and get on thepodium. Early in the season I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to winthe championship and things didn’t turn out so well. I just want to get a winbefore the end of this season and carry that into the outdoors."
Sellards knew his teammate had speed but held on for the win. "Thisyear at the Yamaha test track Ivan had faster lap times so I was feeling alittle pressure," he said, "It feels great to win a race but at thesame time I am kind of bummed out because when things start going your way andthat falls a way, and all you have to do is win (individual) races, thechampionship is pretty much gone and that is what I have been working for. Thistrack tonight was a great track. I really liked it. It was one of the funnestsupercross track I have ever ridden. The dirt is good, the track layout was reallygood. It seems like they had a track that was a little bit challenging to yourbike which is where the YZ250F pays off."
125cc Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, Yamaha
2. Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
3. Bret Metcalf, Australia, KTM
4. Branden Jesseman, Fombell, Pa., Suzuki
5. Mike Brown, Piney Flats, Tenn., Kawasaki
6. Ryan Mills, Clintondale, N.Y., Honda
7. Steve Boniface, Temecula, Calif., KTM
8. Tiger Lacey, Wolf Creek, Ore., Yamaha
9. Jeff Gibson, Thornville, Ohio, Suzuki
10. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Yamaha
125cc Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Branden Jesseman, Fombell, Pa., Suzuki, 135
2. Mike Brown, Piney Flats, Tenn., Kawasaki, 123
3. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, Yamaha, 118
4. Brett Metcalf, Australia, KTM, 85
5. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Yamaha, 83
6. Steve Boniface, Temecula, Calif., KTM, 72
7. Erick Vallejo, Mexico, NL, Yamaha, 71
8. Mattieu Lalloz, France, Suzuki, 67
9. Ryan Mills, Clintondale, N.Y., Honda, 63
10. Michael Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Yamaha, 47
