Chad Reed has taken back-to-back AMA Supercross victories after triumphing in Saturday’s nights visit to the Citrus Bowl, Orlando, in which he beat not only runaway points leader Ricky Carmichael but also a returning James ‘Bubba’ Stewart.
Honda’s Kyle Lewis earned the $1,500 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award in the 250cc main event - but was quickly passed by Kawasaki superstar James Stewart, making his much anticipated racing return after an arm injury sustained at round two.
The early laps saw a dream line-up of Stewart, Carmichael and Reed nose-to-tail at the front - but then Suzuki backed Carmichael fell on lap four, dropping him to fifth position.
RC wasn’t alone in making an error as Stewart then dropped his Kawasaki on lap eight, handing Reed the lead and allowing a recovered Ricky to inherit second place - positions each would hold to the chequered flag, despite a determined effort from Bubba to reach Carmichael.
"I rode a mistake-free race and that’s how you win," said Reed after his third victory of the 2005 season. "It was a weird race because there were a lot of crashes, but it was fun."
"I made some mistakes and my chips are down," added Carmichael, who is now 29-points clear of Chad in the AMA battle. "It’s frustrating but that’s racing. I can’t get in the habit of falling but it’s a long season."
In the 125cc East Coast race KTM’s Josh Hansen won the Holeshot Award with title rival Grant Langston in tow. But Langston would be passed by Davi Millsaps before the end of the first lap and the ever improving Suzuki star would snatch the lead from Hansen by the completion of the second.
Langston would also move past Hansen – and go on to challenge Millsaps – but couldn’t quite get his Kawasaki in front.
"I was riding tight out there in the early part of the race but found my groove," said Millsaps. "I look forward to having the next weekend off and then getting ready for the next race."
The next race takes place Saturday, April 2, at Dallas’ Texas Stadium.
Results - 250cc AMA Supercross/World SX GP:
1. Chad Reed - Yamaha
2. Ricky Carmichael - Suzuki
3. James Stewart - Kawasaki
4. Kevin Windham - Honda
5. David Vuillemin - Yamaha
6. Sebastien Tortelli - Suzuki
7. Andrew Short - Suzuki
8. Ernesto Fonseca - Honda
9. Mike LaRocco - Honda
10. Tim Ferry - Yamaha
