Carmichael wins 2005 AMA Supercross title.

Suzuki's Ricky Carmichael has won his fourth 250cc AMA Supercross championship - his 12th AMA National title - after finishing third at Reliant Stadium, Houston, on Saturday night.

Honda's Kyle Lewis picked up yet another Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award, but was passed in the first lap by Kawasaki's James Stewart - the AMA man of the moment, who missed most of the season through injury, then disappearing into the distance for his third victory of his rookie premier-class season so far.

Meanwhile, the battle for second between defending AMA champion Chad Reed and Carmichael ran hot right early on. The pair passed Lewis on lap 2, and then swapped positions during lap 3, before Yamaha rider Reed was able to seal second position in the race and the championship.
But third for Carmichael was enough to give Suzuki their first 250cc AMA championship since 1981.

"I can't believe it. I don't think anyone thought I would be up here, but it's good to prove them wrong. I don't care how many races I've won, I earned the number 1 plate," claimed Carmichael, who now holds an unstoppable 28-point lead over Reed.

Carmichael recently clinched the THQ World Supercross GP championship making him the first rider ever to hold both the World SX GP and AMA Supercross titles.

In the 125cc West Coast class, Honda's Andrew Short took victory after leading from gate to flag - and despite a last lap attack from Suzuki's Broc Hepler. Hepler fell in his attempt to lead, dropping him to third behind Honda's Billy Laninovich.

"I was just trying to get through all the lappers. I really wanted to win real bad and I just did whatever it took," said Short.

Kawasaki's Ivan Tedesco, who clinched the championship last week in Seattle, crashed in the first turn and started in last place. He would finish eighth.

The final race of the season takes place next weekend at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium, Saturday, May 7.

Results - 250cc AMA Supercross/World SX GP:
1. James Stewart - Kawasaki
2. Chad Reed - Yamaha
3. Ricky Carmichael - Suzuki
4. Kevin Windham - Honda
5. David Vuillemin - Yamaha
6. Ernesto Fonseca - Honda
7. Jason Thomas - Honda
8. Tim Ferry - Yamaha
9. Kyle Lewis - Honda
10. Ryan Clark - Honda

250cc AMA Supercross standings:
Ricky Carmichael - Suzuki, 345
2. Chad Reed - Yamaha, 317
3. Kevin Windham - Honda, 264
4. Mike LaRocco - Honda, 229
5. David Vuillemin - Yamaha, 227
6. Ernesto Fonseca - Honda, 190
7. Sebastien Tortelli - Suzuki, 176
8. Heath Voss - Yamaha, 144
9. James Stewart - Kawasaki, 129
10. Tyler Evans - Suzuki, 125

250cc World Supercross GP standings:
1. Ricky Carmichael - Suzuki, 397
2. Mike LaRocco - Honda, 311
3. Sebastien Tortelli - Suzuki, 248
4. Heath Voss - Yamaha, 237
5. Tyler Evans - Suzuki, 228
6. Damon Huffman - Honda, 201
7. Jason Thomas - Honda, 187
8. Tim Ferry - Yamaha, 175
9. Joe Oehlhof - Honda, 138
10. Nick Wey - Honda, 136

Results - 125cc West AMA Supercross:
1. Andrew Short - Honda
2. Billy Laninovich - Honda
3. Broc Hepler - Suzuki
4. Jay Marmont - KTM
5. Josh Summey - Honda
6. Nathan Ramsey - KTM
7. Paul Carpenter - Kawasaki
8. Ivan Tedesco - Kawasaki
9. Brett Metcalfe - Yamaha
10. Ryan Morais - Suzuki

125cc West AMA Supercross standings:
1. Ivan Tedesco - Kawasaki, 160
2. Nathan Ramsey - KTM, 131
3. Andrew Short - Honda, 126
4. Billy Laninovich - Honda, 119
5. Jay Marmont - KTM, 98
6. Brett Metcalfe - Yamaha, 94
7. Danny Smith - Yamaha, 77
8. Ryan Sipes - Suzuki, 67
9. Broc Hepler - Suzuki, 66
10. Thomas Hahn - Honda, 65