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Ricky Carmichael in the American Suzuki’s Makita-sponsored 2005 Supercross and Motocross team Ricky Carmichael raced to second place at Saturday night's second-round Amp'd Mobile World Supercross Championship GP event at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada after getting held up at the start.
The reigning champion, racing Team Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 was boxed in at the first corner of the 20-lap Main Event and by the time he'd clawed back through the pack mid-race, winner James Stewart (Kawasaki) had moved 12 seconds clear.
The Florida rider did make up some ground late in the race, but Stewart had control, slowing considerably on the last lap to take the chequered flag four seconds ahead.
Carmichael's team mate Ivan Tedesco, raced into fourth position and was the last rider who was not lapped by Stewart.
Paired together in the first Supercross-class heat race of the evening, Carmichael and Tedesco started the night with a bang by taking first and second in the eight-lap heat race. Tedesco led the first few laps before being passed by Carmichael.
He said: "I was a little nervous but I knew Ricky was behind me and wouldn't do anything crazy. When he went by me, I just tried to follow him and learn from him."
In the Main Event, Carmichael and Tedesco both got caught up in a lap-one melee and ended up farther back than they would have liked. "The first turn was kind of tricky," said Carmichael. "A 90-degree turn with a jump and everybody got all balled up. It's crazy back there -- not a place that I want to be."
Tedesco added: "In the main, I had the holeshot at first and then I lost the front end and almost went down. But my Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 saved it and I ended up around 10th on the first lap. But I started picking guys off and got up into fourth. I settled in there and was pretty happy with that."
Although Carmichael struggled at the start, he rode a fast and consistent race. "I had a simple game plan going into the race and I stuck to it," he explained. "I did what I wanted to do but didn't start where I wanted to start. No excuses though - I got beat. I was happy with the way I rode and I put in some good laps. I just tried to learn more about the bike and get ready for Anaheim."
Similarly, Tedesco found racing the Canada Supercross races a good preparation exercise for the upcoming Anaheim Supercross round. "I'm really glad I had the chance to do these two World Supercross GP races," he said. "It's good to know where I'm at so I'll be ready for Anaheim."
The highly anticipated season-opening round of the Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series takes place on January 7th at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
