On Sunday at Glen Helen Raceway, reigning AMA Motocross champion Ricky completed the impossible – for the second time: RC won both motos at the Californian season finale to complete a 100% win record and so repeat the perfect season, consisting of no less than 24 moto wins, that he first achieved in 2002.
"This is unbelievable," said Ricky after his final race with Honda. "I really want to dedicate this to all the crew at Honda. We had a great relationship and set a lot of records together."
Carmichael has signed to ride for Suzuki next season and rode with the #1 plate, instead of his usual #4, to mark the occasion. RC would win both motos with ease, while Yamaha’s Chad Reed finished a distant second in both races – enough to give the Australian second place in the championship standings.
Suzuki’s Sebastian Tortelli continued his strong comeback from injury for 3-3 finishes, and would end the year eighth despite missing the first four rounds of the series while he recovered from injury.
In the 125cc class, the already crowned James Stewart lined up at the start gate on a 250F four-stroke Kawasaki so the first time, having previously campaigned a 125cc two-stroke.
If anything, the change in machinery helped Stewart on the circuit’s steep uphills and he cruised to a double moto victory – and his first victory on a four-stroke.
"Man that thing (the KX250F) made it easy on me," smiled Stewart, who reportedly had just over a week’s practice on the bike before racing it. "Maybe I should have been riding the four-stroke all along."
Although overshadowed by RC’s achievement, Bubba won all but one moto of the 2004 125cc season and set a new single-season class win record of 11 overall victories: Stewart is sure to provide one of Carmichael’s greatest challenges when he graduates to the premier 250cc class next season.
Meanwhile, Christopher Gosselaar rode his Amsoil Chaparral Honda to his first AMA national podium finish ever, earning second overall at Gelen Helen with 4-3 moto finishes.
