Carmichael continues unbeaten in AMA.

Ricky Carmichael kept his perfect 2004 record intact Sunday by winning round nine of AMA Chevrolet 250 Motocross Championship race in front of a packed house of 20,523 at Spring Creek Motocross Park.

The Honda rider, now needs only to win the remaining three AMA nationals to complete the second perfect season of his career.

In 2002 Carmichael became the first rider in AMA Motocross history to go unbeaten for an entire season.

Carmichael passed early leader Chad Reed on lap four of the first moto and pulled away to a 15.782secs margin of victory over Reed. In the second moto Carmichael led every lap.

"I was able to catch Chad pretty quickly," Carmichael said of the first moto. "I got by him then he went back underneath me, so I decided to wait to pass him in a place where I knew I could get away from him. Fortunately it worked and I opened up a good lead."

Fellow Honda rider Kevin Windham, took second overall and Frenchman Sebastien Tortelli was third on a Suzuki.

Reed crashed in the second moto and was hit by Sean Hamblin as he tried to re-enter the race. His second moto DNF helped Windham close to within seven points in the hotly contested battle for apparent runner-up to Carmichael in the championship.

The highly anticipated pro debut of AMA Horizon Award winner Mike Alessi turned out to be a bust for the most part. He finished 31st overall with a 27-25 moto finish.

Alessi lost control early in the first moto and crashed into Suzuki's Sean Hamblin. Both riders fell. In the second moto Alessi ran as high as fourth in moto two, but his bike began seizing and he pulled off the course late in the race.

James Stewart, won the 125cc class on a Kawasaki. His victory moved him into tie with Motorcycle Hall of Famer Mark Barnett for second on the all-time AMA 125cc Motocross wins list. Stewart has the chance to tie Ricky Carmichael atop the list next Sunday in Binghamton, N.Y.

"Tying Mark is a real honor for me," said Stewart. "He helps build the supercross tracks and I teased him a lot about getting his record this winter. I like my chances of tying Ricky next week. I make no secret that I'd like to become the all-time wins leader so it's definitely a goal of mine."

Suzuki's Broc Hepler moved past Mike Brown for second in the 125 standings with a second overall at Millville. Matt Walker took third on the Pro Circuit Kawasaki. It was Walker's third podium of the year and moved him from sixth to fifth in the championship.