Stewart & Carmichael Showcase Epic Battle in Orlando
. By Bikeland Staff
Kawasaki's James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., held off the a hard-charging Suzuki of Ricky Carmichael, who hails from Tallahassee, Fla., to win his eighth Amp'd Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series race of the year before 42,991 fans at the Citrus Bowl. Yamaha's Brandon Jesseman, of New Brighton, Pa., won his first AMA Supercross Lites class main event since 2003.
In the AMA Supercross main event, Reed, of Dade City, Fla., won the $1,500 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award with Carmichael on his wheel in second. Stewart started the main event in fourth place and moved into third on the opening lap and began chasing Yamaha's Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., Reed made a mistake on lap three, which allowed Stewart to move into second place.
It wasn't until lap 12 that Stewart made his way past Carmichael and the two traded positions leaving Stewart in the lead. Carmichael fired back on lap 16 and the two engaged in another battle. When Stewart rode off to victory the guard was officially passed as Carmichael retired from supercross racing and will begin a career in stock car racing. Reed finished third.
"That was a ride of a lifetime," said Carmichael. That is why we all race and it was so much fun. I am so happy to go out with such a great ride like this. To be a great motorcycle racer is one thing, but I want to be remembered as a great person.
"That was probably the best race that Ricky and I have ever had," said Stewart. Once I passed Chad (Reed), I knew it was going to be a good one. I had a blast out there tonight."
Honda's Billy Laninovich, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., earned the $1,000 Progressive Direct Holeshot Award with and Robert Kiniry, of LaFayette, N.Y., in second and third respectively. Jesseman, who won the 2003 Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship, moved into the lead on lap five.
Kawasaki's Ben Townley, of Tallahassee, Fla., came into tonight's race with two wins and sat third in points. On lap nine he tangled with Laninovich and crashed.
KTM's Mike Alessi, of Victorville, passed Laninovich for second place on lap 11 but crashed in the turn before the finish line and dropped to fourth place. Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites points leader Ryan Morais, of Temecula, Calif., finished in second. Kawasaki's Darcy Lange, of Hemet, Calif., finished third.
"I am going to go home and work hard, just as I have all year," said Jesseman. "This is a huge win for me and my team. I look forward to next weekend in Indianapolis.
Amp'd Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Orlando
1. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha
2. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha
3. Darcy Lange, Hemet, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
5. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
6. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha
7. Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki
8. Robert Kiniry, LaFayette, N.Y., Kawasaki
9. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
10. Tucker Hibbert, Centerville, Miss., Yamaha
Amp'd Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
1. Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 78
2. Darcy Lange, Hemet, Calif., Kawasaki, 72
3. Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 64
4. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 56
5. Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha, 54
6. Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha, 54
7. Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 52
8. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 50
9. Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 48
10. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Honda, 37
Amp'd Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 172
2. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 135
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 103
4. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 97
5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 92
6. Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 88
7. Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 87
8. Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 86
9. Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 71
10. Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, Yamaha, 66
Tonight's AMA Supercross class race will air on SPEED tomorrow, Sunday, March 18, at 6:00 p.m. The AMA Supercross Lites class race air on SPEED XX. Racing continues next Saturday at Indianapolis' RCA Dome.