Short Wins First 125cc Race of the Season
HOUSTON (April 30, 2005) - In front of 43,445 fans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Suzuki's Ricky Carmichael, of Havana, Fla. won his fourth 250cc AMA supercross championship, making this his 12th AMA National Title overall. Honda's Andrew Short, of Murrieta, Calif., won his first 125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series race, leading all 15 laps in the main event.
Honda's Kyle Lewis, of Henderson, NV, picked up the $1500 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award but was passed in the first lap by Kawasaki's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla. While Stewart maintained the lead in the 20-lap race, the battle for second between Yamaha's Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., and Carmichael heated up early on. Reed and Carmichael passed Lewis in lap 2 and changed positions through lap 3 where Reed was able to retain the 2nd place position for the remainder of the race.
The 250cc AMA championship is the first for Suzuki since 1981. Carmichael won 28 points ahead of Reed in the title chase. "I can't believe it. I don't think anyone thought I would be up here, but it's good to prove them wrong. I don't care how many races I've won, I earned the number 1 plate," Carmichael said of winning the championship.
Carmichael recently clinched the THQ World Supercross GP championship making him the first rider ever to hold both the THQ World Supercross GP and THQ AMA Supercross series title championships.
In the 125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series main event, Short earned the $1,000 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award. Kawasaki's Ivan Tedesco, who clinched the championship last week in Seattle, crashed in the first turn and started in last place. On lap 2 Suzuki's Broc Hepler, of Kittanning, Pa., moved into second place.
Hepler made a move for the lead on the last lap and crashed, causing him to finish in third. Honda's Billy Laninovich, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., finished second. "I was just trying to get through all the lappers. I really wanted to win real bad and I just did whatever it took," said Short of his win.
The final race of the season takes place next weekend at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium, Saturday, May 7. Tonight's race airs on ESPN 2 Sunday, May 1 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
1. Cade Moore, Colleyville, Texas, KTM
2. Patrick Lods, Mobile, Ala., KTM
3. Logan Johnson, Utica, Ken., KTM
4. Ty Rogers, Raceland, La., KTM
5. David Hall, Houston, KTM
6. Nolan Heppner, Woodbury, Minn., KTM
7. Derek McConnell, Quartz Hill, Calif., KTM
8. Hunter Richardson, Olathe, Kan., KTM
9. Danni Williams, Clovis, N.M., KTM
10. Jeremy Mairose, Santa Clarita, Calif., KTM
11. Kaitlyn Morrow, Houston, KTM
12. Cristian Acuna, Oceanside, Calif., KTM
13. Harley Landry, Pearland, Texas, KTM
14. Trey Cheramie, Golden Meadow, La., KTM
15. Matthew Coffey, Tyler, Texas, KTM
THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 397
2. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 311
3. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 248
4. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 237
5. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 228
6. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Honda, 201
7. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda, 187
8. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Yamaha, 175
9. Joe Oehlhof, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 138
10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 136
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
4. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
5. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
6. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
7. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda
8. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Yamaha
9. Kyle Lewis, Henderson, NV, Honda
10. Ryan Clark, Waddell, AZ, Honda
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 325
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 295
3. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda, 246
4. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 229
5. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 211
6. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 175
7. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 169
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 134
9. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 119
10. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 113
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
2. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
3. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Suzuki
4. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
5. Josh Summey, Allen, Texas, Honda
6. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM
7. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, New York, Kawasaki
8. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
10. Ryan Morais, Canyon Lake, Calif., Suzuki
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 160
2. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 131
3. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 126
4. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 119
5. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 98
6. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 94
7. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha, 77
8. Ryan Sipes, Nine Grove, Kan., Suzuki, 67
9. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Suzuki, 66
10. Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda, 65
125cc Eastern Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 143
2. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., KTM, 143
3. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki, 137
4. Steve Boniface, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 97
5. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Yamaha, 96
6. Troy Adams, Brooksville, Fla., Honda, 78
7. Matt Walker, McDonough, Ga., Kawasaki, 77
8. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 71
9. Joaquim Rodrigues, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 65
10. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, Yamaha, 64
Supercross LIVE!, the only place on the planet to catch THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series live at home, is available for fans at every race, starting at 7:00 p.m. local time at supercross.cc.com. Listen as Supercross LIVE! hosts Jim Holley and Jason Wiegandt capture the live race call, a pre-race show, a post-race show, post-race press conference, on-air industry guests and celebrities, in-depth interviews, promotions, call-ins and more. In 2003-2004, more than a half-million listeners logged on to Supercross LIVE!
The two international races coupled with the 15 domestic races (excluding the Daytona Supercross) comprise the 17-round THQ World Supercross GP. Last season Heath Voss, of Mico, Texas piloted his Mach 1 Yamaha to the THQ World Supercross GP championship, earning top honors and giving Yamaha its second world championship in as many seasons.
Source: Clear Channel Entertainment -- Motor Sports