Carmichael brings record win streak to Binghamton.

Fans coming to Broome-Tioga Sports Center this Sunday, August 21, for the AMA Motocross Championship presented by FMF have the opportunity to witness Ricky Carmichael build on the longest winning streak in the history of AMA Motocross.

Carmichael, the 25-year-old five-time AMA 250 Motocross Champion, extended his unbeaten streak to 24 consecutive national wins last week with his victory in Millville. This weekend in rural Binghamton, most expect Carmichael to make it 25.

Incredibly, it's been over two years since Carmichael lost an AMA Motocross race. It's a winning streak that many thought would be impossible this season with Carmichael riding the untested new Suzuki RM-Z450, not to mention the arrival of James Stewart to the 250 class after breaking many of Carmichael's records in the 125 class.

But after nine nationals the Suzuki has proven to be a fast and reliable machine, Stewart has suffered a shaky start in the premier motocross class, but most of all Ricky has been Ricky - a rider who trains relentlessly and continues to find the motivation week after week to set the bar even higher.

The inability to stop Carmichael's streak shows in the resigned statements of his competitors.

"Every time I find a second (of time on the track), Ricky clicks it up another notch," said Kevin Windham, currently second in the championship and the last rider to beat Carmichael. "Racing for second place every week gets kind of boring. I just find myself racing against the clock. I'm doing the best I can and that's all I can do." Windham was the 250 class winner at Binghamton in 1999.

But Carmichael comes to Binghamton undefeated in the 250 class at that track - he's won every Binghamton 250 National since coming to the class in 2000 and will have the opportunity to make it six straight this weekend.

Windham has kept plugging away and been runner-up to Carmichael five straight times. If RC does happen to slip up, Windham is most likely to be there to take advantage. Meanwhile, fellow Honda rider Ernesto Fonseca has come on strong of late, earning his first and second career 250 podiums in the last two rounds.

By contrast, Kawasaki's young sensation Stewart has sat out injured since crashing when the series last visited New York a month ago. 'Bubba' was set to return last week in Minnesota, but suffered another injury in a practice crash in California. His status for this weekend is again uncertain.

While Carmichael is almost a sure bet in the 250 class, the 125 class has been a little more unpredictable.

Monster Energy Drink Kawasaki's Ivan Tedesco has shed his Supercross specialist tag and built a solid 51-point lead after nine of 12 rounds. Tedesco has scored outside the top five only twice and has taken two wins to build his lead.

'Hot Sauce' as Tedesco is nicknamed, is one of six riders to win in the 125 class this year. Honda's Andrew Short broke through to win his first national last week in Minnesota. Short jumped from fifth to second in the standings with the victory.

Mike Alessi, who's in his first full season of AMA Motocross racing, is third in the 125 standings. The Red Bull KTM rider summed up the 125 championship:

"If Tedesco doesn't have a DNF, there's probably no way we're going to catch him," Alessi said. "But all the top riders, except Tedesco, has had a DNF, so in racing you never know."