RC wins final US SX title

Ricky Carmichael won his fifth AMA Supercross series title on Sunday, May 7, 2006, despite a strong challenge by James Stewart, who clinched the World Supercross championship. Carmichael then announced plans to reduce his racing commitments in 2007.

In the main event at the final round in Las Vegas, it was Stewart who took the win, and sealing his World Supercross title by 15 points from Carmichael and Chad Reed. Carmichael finished second, which was enough to maintin his AMA series lead from Stewart and Reed, by just two points.

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“We’ve had a lot of adversity this year, but we overcame it,” said Carmichael. “We pulled together and it’s been an incredible year. I knew going into this weekend that I had to get this title. The team worked too hard for me not to get this.”

And Carmichael celebrated his win by re-signing with the Makita Suzuki team for three more years. His current total of five AMA Supercross titles and nine AMA Motocross titles is more than any other rider in history, and he’ll be back to defend his AMA Motocross title later this year, before racing select Supercross events in 2007. After that he will race select events as he focuses on mentoring Makita Suzuki’s up-and-coming riders and develop the RM and RM-Z bikes.

“Now I’m moving to the end of my racing careeer, I look forward to doing races that i enjoy most,” said Carmichael. “At the same time, I’m excited about helping Makita Suzuki’s youg racers with bike testing and development.”

Las Vegas final results:

1. James Stewart (Kawasaki)

2. Ricky Carmichael (Suzuki)

3. Chad Reed (Yamaha).

4. Kevin Windham (Honda)

5. Travis Preston (Honda)

6. Nick Wey (Honda).

7. Ivan Tedesco (Suzuki)

8. Jeff Demuth (Honda)

9. Broc Sellards (Honda)

10. Heath Voss (Yamaha)

AMA Supercross final results: 1. Carmichael 338. 2. Stewart 336. 3. Reed 336. 4. Tedesco 255. 5. Wey 249. 6. Byrne 228. 7. Preston 207. 8. Fonseca 125. 9 Clark 118. 10. LaRocco 108.

World Supercross final results: 1. Stewart 380. 2. Carmichael 365. 3. Reed 354. 4. Tedesco 255. 5. Wey 249. 6. Byrne 228. 7. Thomas 193. 8. Gibson 188. 9. Clark 185. 10. Evans.