RC sweeps Southwick, Anderson takes 125 overall!

Ricky Carmichael remained unbeaten this season in AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship competition by winning the fourth round of the 12-round 250cc series on Sunday in the deep sand of Southwick, while Craig Anderson (pictured) shocked by claiming his first overall in the 125cc category after an Aussie one-two!

The victory pushes the 23-year-old's AMA record winning streak to 16, dating back to the first race in 2002. Carmichael has now won four straight years on the Southwick Motocross 338 circuit, tying Jeff Stanton's Southwick win-streak record set at the track from 1989 to 1992.

Kevin Windham finished second overall on a Factory Connection Honda. Local favorite John Dowd, of nearby Chicopee, rode his Cernics KTM to third.

Carmichael took over the lead on the third lap of the first moto from teammate Nathan Ramsey. He then sprinted away to a 25-second margin of victory over Dowd, who passed Tim Ferry with two laps to go.

In the second moto Kevin Windham led the first lap before Carmichael passed to take over the top spot. The 19,000 partisan fans cheered when Dowd gave chase to Carmichael and appeared to be closing on him at one point.

In the end Carmichael was simply too strong and went on to another convincing moto win, this time by 13 seconds. Dowd ran second until late in the race when Windham moved past him. Dowd finished third.

"I was definitely paying attention to where Dowd was in that second moto," Carmichael said of the local ace. "He's a phenomenal rider everywhere, but especially here. I was fortunate to have such a strong race. I knew this weekend would be good for me since I enjoy racing at Southwick so much."

Doug Henry, the semi-retired former AMA Motocross Champion, ran as high as fourth in the first 250cc moto, but crashed in the second moto and finished 14th overall.

Carmichael extended his series lead to a healthy 44-point margin over Windham, who jumped from fourth to second in the title chase after his Southwick result. Aussie Chad Reed dropped to third in the standings with a sixth overall today.

Australian Craig Anderson shocked the 125cc division with a 2-1 moto finish on a Boost Mobile Yamaha over fellow Aussie Michael Byrne and his Factory Connection Honda. Byrne won the first 125cc moto, but crashed in the second race ruining his chances to win his first AMA national.

Sunday marked Anderson's first AMA national victory. The 25-year-old is a multi-time Australian Motocross National Champion. This is his first year in AMA competition.

Brock Sellards finished third, scoring a 9-2.

Series leader Mike Brown had a sub par outing finishing tenth overall in the 125 class. Fortunately for the Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider his archrival Ryan Hughes also suffered a bad day in the sand and finished a lowly 13th on his Red Bull KTM.

Brown now holds a five-point lead over Hughes in the standings.

Race results - Southwick:

250cc:

1.Ricky Carmichael Honda (1-1)
2.John Dowd KTM (2-3)
3. Kevin Windham Honda (4-2)
4.Tim Ferry Yamaha (3-6)
5. Mike LaRocco Honda (5-4)
6.Chad Reed Yamaha (7-5)
7.Ernesto Fonseca Honda (8-7)
8.Nate Ramsey Honda (9-10)
9.Larry Ward Honda (13-9)
10. Ezra Lusk Kawasaki (11-12)

125cc:

1.Craig Anderson Yamaha (2-1)
2.Michael Byrne Honda (1-4)
3.Brock Sellards Yamaha (9-2)
4.Andrew Short Suzuki (7-5)
5.Ryan Mills Honda (3-12)
6.Kelly Smith Yamaha (5-13)
7.Tony LaRusso Suzuki (8-11)
8.Stephane Roncada Suzuki (6-14)
9.Michael Brandes Yamaha (4-18)
10.Mike Brown Kawasaki (22-3)

Points Standings after round four:

250cc:

1.Ricky Carmichael Honda (197)
2.Kevin Windham Honda (153)
3.Chad Reed Yamaha (150)
4.Tim Ferry Yamaha (149)
5.Mike LaRocco Honda (124)
6.Ezra Lusk Kawasaki (97)
7.John Dowd KTM (89)
8.Larry Ward Honda (87)
9. David Vuillemin Yamaha (80)
10. Ernesto Fonseca Honda (78)

125cc:

1.Mike Brown Kawasaki (156)
2. Ryan Hughes KTM (151)
3. Grant Langston KTM (131)
4. Eric Sorby Kawasaki (116)
5.Brock Sellards Yamaha (100)
6.Michael Byrne Honda (93)
7. Michael Brandes Yamaha (90)
8. Craig Anderson Yamaha (87)
9. Stephane Roncada Suzuki (77)
10. Steve Boniface KTM (72)