The second round of the AMA Supercross championship may have provided the first dry race of the season, but fans were still deprived of the much anticipated Chad Reed vs. Ricky Carmichael vs. James Stewart clash after Bubba was forced to withdraw from the event.
Stewart suffered a fractured left forearm during the second practice session at the Bank One Ballpark circuit. The Kawasaki star had been the fastest rider on track before his fall and it is not known how long his injuries will take to heal.
In his absence, Carmichael dominated the main event to claim his first AMA victory with Suzuki. RC took the holeshot and would lead from start to finish, while Hondas Kevin Windham, winner of the wet Anaheim season opener, continued his impressive form by providing an early challenge on his way to second ahead of reigning champion Reed.
"There has been a lot of talk coming into this season about me riding for a new team, and tonight I proved that I can win," said Carmichael. "I need to get a couple more wins under my belt and get the points lead before we leave the west coast."
In the 125cc main event, Ryan Sipes earned the Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award but was quickly passed by the fellow Suzuki of Broc Hepler. Anaheim winner, Nathan Ramsey, finished lap 1 in fourth, while reigning champion Ivan Tedesco started near the middle of the pack, but took over fourth on lap 6.
Kawasaki mounted Tedesco eventually finished second and Sipes third, for his first-career podium finish. On lap 12 Ramsey crashed and fell to the back of the pack costing him the points lead.
"I needed to get out in front tonight and thats what I did," said Hepler. "My start was almost perfect and it was all over from there."
Racing moves back to Anaheim next Saturday for round three of the AMA Supercross championship and round five of the World Supercross series.
Results - 250cc AMA Supercross series:
1. Ricky Carmichael - Suzuki
2. Kevin Windham - Honda
3. Chad Reed - Yamaha
4. Ernesto Fonseca - Honda
5. Heath Voss - Yamaha
6. Sebastien Tortelli - Suzuki
7. Nick Wey - Honda
8. David Vuillemin - Yamaha
9. Jeremy McGrath - Honda
10. Damon Huffman - Honda
250cc AMA Supercross standings:
1. Kevin Windham - Honda, 47
2. Ricky Carmichael - Suzuki, 45
3. Sebastien Tortelli - Suzuki, 33
4. Ernesto Fonseca - Honda, 30
5. Nick Wey - Honda, 29
6. Mike LaRocco - Honda, 28
7. David Vuillemin - Yamaha, 27
8. Heath Voss - Yamaha, 26
9. Chad Reed - Yamaha, 25
10. Michael Byrne - Kawasaki, 18
World Supercross GP standings:
1. Ricky Carmichael - Suzuki, 97
2. Mike LaRocco - Honda, 77
3. Nick Wey - Honda, 76
4. Heath Voss - Yamaha, 69
5. Damon Huffman - Honda, 60
6. Tyler Evans - Suzuki, 51
7. Kyle Lewis - Honda, 44
8. Sebastien Tortelli - Suzuki, 42
9. Tim Ferry - Yamaha, 39
10. Erick Vallejo - Yamaha, 35
Results - 125cc West AMA Supercross series:
1. Broc Hepler - Suzuki
2. Ivan Tedesco - Kawasaki
3. Ryan Sipes - Suzuki
4. Turbo Reif - Honda
5. Danny Smith - Yamaha
6. Thomas Hahn - Honda
7. Jesse Casillas - Honda
8. Jay Marmont - KTM
9. Christopher Gosselaar - Suzuki
10. Andrew Short - Honda
125cc West AMA Supercross standings:
1. Ivan Tedesco - Kawasaki, 35
2. Ryan Sipes - Suzuki, 35
3. Thomas Hahn - Honda, 33
4. Danny Smith - Yamaha, 30
5. Broc Hepler - Suzuki, 28
6. Nathan Ramsey - KTM, 25
7. Josh Woods - Honda, 22
8. Akira Narita - Honda, 20
9. Jesse Casillas - Honda, 20
10. Turbo Reif - Honda, 18
