Newly crowned champ Ricky Carmichael comes to San Bernardino, California's Glen Helen Raceway on Sunday, September 11, for the final round of the 2005 AMA Motocross Championship presented by FMF seeking his
third undefeated season!
But while Carmichael is hoping to add another chapter to the record books, Monster Energy Drink Kawasaki's Ivan Tedesco and
Red Bull KTM's Mike Alessi will settle the season-long battle for this year's AMA 125 Motocross Championship at Glen Helen.
Prior to 2002 no one seriously considered the possibility of an AMA motocross racer going unbeaten for an entire season. Even as Carmichael closed in on that record during that historic campaign three-years ago he doubted that it could ever be accomplished.
"Too many things have to come together perfectly for an entire season," Carmichael argued. "I seriously doubt anyone will ever have a perfect season..." That year Ricky went on to become the first rider in AMA Motocross history to win every moto and every overall event. For good measure he duplicated the feat last year.
Once again a major task faced Carmichael as the 2005 AMA Motocross Championship began at the Hangtown National in May. He was now riding for Suzuki, a team that had such tough luck in AMA Motocross for so long that whenever something bad happened to one of the team's riders it was famously dubbed the 'Suzuki Curse'.
Carmichael obviously was not superstitious. He was also to finally face James Stewart, the Kawasaki phenom who had broken most of Carmichael's records in the 125 class.
As the series comes to a conclusion Sunday at Glen Helen, Carmichael is on the verge of turning in yet another undefeated season, making a feat once considered impossible seem almost routine. The Suzuki Curse and challenge from Stewart both fell to the wayside.
