Chad Reed has finally broken Ricky Carmichael’s stranglehold on the 2005 AMA Supercross championship by taking a knife-edge victory over the Floridian on Saturday night at a damp San Diego.
Carmichael came into the event having won the last five races in a row and having lost only the wet Anaheim I season opener – and it looked like the Suzuki rider would extend his win streak to six as he passed main event hole shot winner Jeremy McGrath before the end of lap one.
RC then led the next 19 laps, but defending AMA champion Reed was constantly closing and passed the Floridian on the last lap. Carmichael then crashed moments later as he attempted to retake the lead from Reed.
"Chad (Reed) kicked my butt tonight," said Carmichael. "I am not one to make excuses. I went for it on the last lap and things didn’t work out."
"It was amazing out there tonight," smiled Reed. "I was able to get by him very late in the race, but I want to race with him for 20 laps. He has been on a roll this season, and it was hard for me to bounce back after losing so much."
In the 125cc West race, Honda’s Billy Laninovich claimed the $1,000 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award before Kawasaki’s Tedesco, the reigning champion, moved into the lead on lap three - but was in turn passed on lap seven by Ramsey.
Ramsey, who won the opening race of the 125cc season in Anaheim, went on to take his second victory of the season and was joined on the podium by Tedesco and Honda’s Andrew Short.
"I kept pushing myself out there tonight," said Ramsey. "I knew that Ivan (Tedesco) wasn’t going to let me get by him easily. I just rode hard and picked up my second win of the season."
Racing moves to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome next Saturday, February 26.
Results - 250cc AMA Supercross/World SX GP:
1. Chad Reed - Yamaha
2. Ricky Carmichael - Suzuki
3. Mike LaRocco - Honda
4. David Vuillemin - Yamaha
5. Kevin Windham - Honda
6. Sebastien Tortelli - Suzuki
7. Michael Byrne - Kawasaki
8. Heath Voss - Yamaha
9. Travis Preston - Honda
10. Jeremy McGrath - Honda
