Carmichael, Windham renew battle at Washougal.

Ricky Carmichael and Kevin Windham have a history at Washougal Motocross Park, and the two AMA Chevy Trucks US Motocross Championship riders will renew their rivalry at the scenic circuit on Sunday [27 July].

Windham defeated Carmichael in the 250 class at Washougal in 2001 and, amazingly, that was the last time Carmichael was beaten in an AMA Motocross until last week - when Windham won in New Berlin to end RC's AMA record winning streak at 18-straight in the 250 class. Both Carmichael and Windham are looking forward to racing this weekend - Carmichael seeking revenge for his loss to Windham two years ago, and Windham hoping to confirm that his victory over the champ last week at Unadilla was not a fluke.

Carmichael comes to Washougal hoping to become the first rider to win three 250-class races at the track. The 23-year old Floridian, who rides for Honda, is well on his way to becoming the first four-time champion in the history of AMA 250 Motocross but, while a victory at Washougal could almost seal the title, a loss to Windham could make for a very close battle for the championship.

"I'm looking forward to racing at Washougal," Carmichael said, "Kevin has definitely stepped it up and it should make things interesting for the fans. I'd like to get him back for beating me there a few years ago, so I have a lot of incentive to say the least."

Windham returned from semi-retirement this year and has been the only rider to consistently challenge Carmichael. He'd beaten Carmichael in a moto earlier in the season, but wasn't able to earn an overall victory until last weekend. Now Windham will go down in history as the rider to stop the longest winning streak in AMA Motocross history, but he doesn't want to stop there.

"I'd love to put a little pressure on Ricky for the championship," said the Factory Connection Honda rider, "Realistically, it's going to be tough to catch him, but I feel really good about my riding right now and at the very least we should give everybody good races to watch during the second half of the season."

Mike LaRocco is another former 250 winner at Washougal. The Hoosier native is ranked fifth coming into this Sunday's race, and has twice won the race, the last time in 1996.

Washougal fans, as always, will be rooting on favourite son Larry Ward. Ward, who was born in nearby Everett and thrilled the circuit faithful last year when he won the first 125 moto, before losing out to James Stewart in a great second-heat battle. Ward is riding in the 250 class this year with Honda backing, and the 17-year motocross veteran, currently ranked tenth in the series standings, will be looking to move up the rankings at his home track.

Another rider to watch Sunday could be Kyle Lewis. The Moto-XXX Honda rider earned a podium finish in the 250 race at Washougal last year. He finds himself ranked 13th in the series this year, after finishing a very strong fifth in the standings last year, but has had improved results in recent rounds and hopes to use Washougal as a springboard to the top ten.

Mike Brown leads the AMA 125 Motocross Championship with Pro Circuit Kawasaki, but Red Bull KTM's Grant Langston has pulled to within a single point in the championship chase. Brown admitted to riding tight while trying to preserve his series lead last weekend.

"I'm going to quit worrying about the championship and start worrying about winning races again," Brown declared after last week's race in New York.

While Brown and Langston engage in a heated battle for the series lead, Kawasaki's James Stewart is rocketing up the rankings after missing the first four rounds of the series. Since returning to the championship from a collarbone break suffered in the last AMA Supercross race in May, Stewart has been perfect and moved from 17th to twelfth and, now, sixth in the standings in just three races back. Even though it's a long shot, many are saying that Stewart could challenge for the championship by season's end. If he manages that feat, it would go down as the greatest comeback in series history.

Suzuki's Branden Jesseman is another 125 rider looking forward to the return to Washougal. Like Stewart, he missed much of the season recovering from injury and has looked strong in his return. He finished 2-2 for third overall in last year's 125 race.