PHOENIX (January 15, 2005) - Ricky Carmichael, of Havana, Fla., won the 250cc THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series race in front of a sold out Bank One Ballpark. Suzuki’s Broc Hepler, of Kittanning, Pa., won his first ever 125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series race with 49, 822 fans on hand.
Carmichael put his Suzuki in the number one position on lap 1 winning the $1,500 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award. Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., trailed Carmichael early in the race but was unable to make a pass. Windham finished second and reigning THQ AMA Supercross Series champion Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., was third.
"There has been a lot of talk coming into this season about me riding for a new team, and tonight I proved that I can win," said Carmichael. "I need to get a couple more wins under my belt and get the points lead before we leave the west coast."
Kawasaki’s teenage prodigy James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., missed tonight’s race after suffering a fractured left forearm during a practice crash prior to the main event.
In the 125cc main event, Suzuki’s Ryan Sipes, of Vine Grove, Kan., earned the $1,000 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award but was quickly passed by Hepler. Last week’s winner, Nathan Ramsey, finished lap 1 in fourth place and reigning champion Ivan Tedesco started near the middle of the pack and took over fourth place on lap 6. Tedesco finished second and Sipes finished third, his first-career podium finish. On lap 12 Ramsey crashed and fell to the back of the pack.
"I needed to get out in front tonight and that’s what I did," said Hepler. "My start was almost perfect and it was all over from there."
Racing moves back to Anaheim, Calif., at Angel Stadium of Anaheim next Saturday, January 22nd. Tonight’s race airs on ESPN2 tomorrow, Sunday, January 16th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. EST.
KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
1. Drake Dunlap, Dallas, KTM
2. Haley Grana, Belvidere, Ill., KTM
3. Nathan Hamlin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
4. Ben Richards, Haleyville, Ala., KTM
5. Chauncy Mathis, Phoenix, KTM
6. Collin Whitney, Orangevale, Calif., KTM
7. Bryce Durbin, Globe, Ariz., KTM
8. Joey Cattabiani, Gilbert, Ariz., KTM
9. Carlos Rios III, Downey, Calif., KTM
10. Shane Hazard, Newhall, Calif., KTM
11. Jacob Romero Eugene, Ore., KTM
12. Kaden Weidler, Arroyo Grande, Calif., KTM
13. Seth Burnett, Tucson, Ariz., KTM
14. Austin Lowe, Chandler, Ariz., KTM
15. Banyon Bachman, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 97
2. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 77
3. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 76
4. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 69
5. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Honda, 60
6. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 51
7. Kyle Lewis, Henderson, Nev., Honda, 44
8. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 42
9. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Yamaha, 39
10. Erick Vallejo, Garland, Texas, 35
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
2. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda
3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
4. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Heath Voss, Mico Texas, Yamaha
6. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
7. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda
8. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
9. Jeremy McGrath, Encinitas, Calif., Honda
10. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Honda
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda, 47
2. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 45
3. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 33
4. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 30
5. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 29
6. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 28
7. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 27
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 26
9. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 25
10. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 18
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Suzuki
2. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Suzuki
4. Turbo Reif, Atascadero, Calif., Honda
5. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha
6. Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda
7. Jesse Casillas, Jamul, Calif., Honda
8. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
9. Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Suzuki
10. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 35
2. Ryan Sipes, Nine Grove, Ken., Suzuki, 35
3. Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda, 33
4. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha, 30
5. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Suzuki, 28
6. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 25
7. Josh Woods, Flint, Mich., Honda, 22
8. Akira Narita, Corona, Calif., Honda, 20
9. Jesse Casillas, Jamul, Calif., Honda, 20
10. Turbo Reif, Atascadero, Calif., Honda, 18
Supercross LIVE!, the only place on the planet to catch THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series live at home, is available for fans at every race, starting at 7:00 p.m. local time at supercross.cc.com. Listen as Supercross LIVE! hosts Jim Holley and Jason Wiegandt capture the live race call, a pre-race show, a post-race show, post-race press conference, on-air industry guests and celebrities, in-depth interviews, promotions, call-ins and more. In 2003-2004, more than a half-million listeners logged on to Supercross LIVE!
The two international races coupled with the 15 domestic races (excluding the Daytona Supercross) comprise the 17-round THQ World Supercross GP. Last season Heath Voss, of Mico, Texas piloted his Mach 1 Yamaha to the THQ World Supercross GP championship, earning top honors and giving Yamaha its second world championship in as many seasons.
About THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series
THQ World Supercross GP is a 17-round global series that is produced and promoted by Clear Channel Entertainment and Dorna Off Road S.L. Riders must compete in the international rounds to be eligible to win the world championship. In 2004-2005, the 17-event THQ World Supercross GP will be comprised of two international events and 15 of the 16 events that are conducted in major cities throughout the United States as a part of the THQ AMA Supercross Series. The other THQ AMA Supercross Series event held in Daytona Beach, Fla., is independently produced by the International Speedway Corporation and is not a part of the THQ World Supercross GP. A THQ AMA Supercross Series rider will be crowned as the national champion for the series of events conducted in the United States only.
Clear Channel Entertainment is the largest promoter and producer of live events in the world, with a broad based tradition in the promotion and production of motorcycle racing events. The FIM, Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme, is the body that globally governs motorcycle sport at the world level. Among other matters, the FIM groups together 85 affiliated National Federations relating to the sport of motorcycle racing. AMA Pro Racing is the National Federation representative that sanctions motorcycle-racing events in the United States. Dorna Off Road S.L. is an internationally recognized sports management group established in 1988 with an emphasis on major international motor sports events. Dorna is headquartered in Madrid, Spain with branch offices in Barcelona, London and Tokyo. In addition to its involvement with THQ World Supercross GP, Dorna manages the rights to MotoGP. For more information on THQ World Supercross GP and the THQ AMA Supercross Series, log on to www.supercross.cc.com.
About AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the THQ AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Motocross Championship, the AMA Superbike Championship, the AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com
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