Defending AMA Supercross champion Chad Reed has won his second event of the season after beating runaway points leader Ricky Carmichael in Friday night's
Daytona Supercross.
Of the nine rounds leading up to the event, Carmichael had won seven - with one win apiece for Reed and Kevin Windham - but Chad prevented Ricky extending his title advantage, and claiming a new Daytona record, by leading every lap at the famous Floridian circuit.
Reed grabbed the holeshot in the 20-lap main, but Carmichael was soon all over the Yamaha star's rear wheel - and would remain within striking distance until making a mistake, and crashing off track, on lap 17.
The Suzuki rider quickly remounted, but was slowed by trackside banners in his rear wheel. Nevertheless, he would cross the line in second place while Honda's Mike LaRocco claimed third, with Reed's team-mate David Vuillemin fourth.
Despite Reed's victory, Carmichael still holds a commanding 32-point lead in the championship. Daytona did not count towards the World Supercross GP championship.
Meanwhile, the 125cc East main event saw Honda's Josh Grant grab the holeshot and lead almost the entire race until being caught by KTM's Josh Hansen in the closing stages.
The drama then increased as the pair took each other out on the final lap, with Hansen taking the win after being the quickest to recover. Hondas Troy Adams completed the podium.
With the likes of Grant Langston (15th) and Davi Millsaps (18th) finishing well down the order after accidents, Hansen now also finds himself in the championship lead.
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. Travis Preston Honda
7. Ernesto Fonseca Honda
8. Andrew Short Honda
9. Tim Ferry Yamaha
10. Sean Hamblin Kawasaki
250cc AMA Supercross standings:
1. Ricky Carmichael Suzuki, 239
2. Chad Reed Yamaha, 207
3. Kevin Windham Honda, 172
4. Mike LaRocco Honda, 169
5. David Vuillemin Yamaha, 150
6. Ernesto Fonseca Honda, 137
7. Sebastien Tortelli Suzuki, 129
8. Michael Byrne Kawasaki, 103
9. Heath Voss Yamaha, 95
10. Tyler Evans Suzuki, 81
