Suzuki’s Carmichael Takes Back-to-Back Wins and Moves Into Points Lead

Tedesco Picks Up First Race Win of the Season

ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 22, 2005) - Ricky Carmichael, of Havana, Fla., rode to his second consecutive THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series win in front of a sold out crowd at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The win moved Carmichael into the THQ AMA Supercross Series points lead. Kawasaki’s Ivan Tedesco, of Murrieta, Calif., won his first 125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series race of the season.

Tonight’s sell out marks the third sell out this season for THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series.

Carmichael gained the lead early by winning the $1,500 Butterfinger Holeshot Award and holding off reigning THQ AMA Supercross Series champion Chad Reed.  On lap 6, the Yamaha rider crashed, allowing Carmichael to extend his lead. Seven-time supercross champion Jeremy McGrath rallied to third place on lap 7 but finished the race in fifth place. Honda’s Kevin Windham, who came into this race with the THQ AMA Supercross Series points lead, moved into third place late in the race. Reed finished second.

“I was ready to do battle tonight, “ said Carmichael. “I know that this isn’t the way I like to win, but after that first race in Anaheim, this city owes me one. I have to keep on this roll and continue to stretch out my points lead.”

Suzuki’s Ryan Sipes, of Vine Grove, Ken., won the $1,000 Butterfinger Holeshot Award with KTM’s jay Marmont in tow. Last week’s winner, Broc Hepler, moved into second place on lap 3 but crashed quickly after pursuing Sipes. Honda’s Andrew Short, of Colorado Springs, Colo., moved into the lead on lap six. Reigning champion Tedesco shot past Short on lap 10 and held on for his first win of the season.

Honda’s Thomas Hahn was assessed a :05 penalty for jumping a double under the red caution flag. He was moved from fourth place to fifth place.

“It feels like my first race win because it has been a tough season so far,” said Tedesco. “My starts have been horrible all year and tonight was no different. I had to ride through the pack but it all worked out.”

Racing moves back to San Francisco’s SBC Park next Saturday, January 29. Tonight’s race airs on ESPN2 tomorrow, Sunday, January 23 at 10:00 p.m. EST.

KTM Junior Supercross Challenge

1.      Punky Jones, Moreno Valley, Calif., KTM
2.      J.T. Blattman, Pleasant Grove, Calif., KTM
3.      Wyatt James, Puyallup, Calif., KTM
4.      Jake Caddell, Scottsdale, Ariz., KTM
5.      Austin Anderson, El Cajon, Calif., KTM
6.      Kyle Lester, Corona, Calif., KTM
7.      Clyde McCoy, Bishop, Calif., KTM
8.      Sam Franklin, Atascadero, Calif., KTM
9.      Arie Ammann, Newport Coast, Calif., KTM
10.     Logan Kerkhoff, Council Bluffs, Iowa, KTM
11.     Keenen Musgrave, Logansport, Ind., KTM
12.     Austin Murray, Menifee, Calif., KTM
13.     Brandi Archer, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM
14.     Nick Burnett, Hickory Creek, Calif., KTM
15.     Eric Schleiger, Chula Vista, Calif., KTM

 THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings

1.      Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 122
2.      Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 99
3.      Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 96
4.      Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 85
5.      Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Honda, 74
6.      Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 64
7.      Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 60
8.      Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Yamaha, 54
9.      Erick Vallejo, Garland, Texas, 45
10.     Kyle Lewis, Henderson, Nev., Honda, 44

250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results

1.      Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
2.      Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
3.      Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda
4.      Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda
5.      Jeremy McGrath, Encinitas, Calif., Honda
6.      Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda
7.      Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
8.      Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
9.      Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
10.     Heath Voss, Mico Texas, Yamaha

250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings

1.      Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 70
2.      Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda, 67
3.      Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 47
4.      Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 47
5.      Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 46
6.      Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 44
7.      Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 42
8.      Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 37
9.      David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 31
10.     Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 31

125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results

1.      Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
2.      Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
3.      Nathan Ramsey, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
4.      Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Suzuki
5.      Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda
6.      Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha
7.      Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
8.      Bret Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
9.      Richie Owens, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki
10.     Steve Lamson, Camino, Calif., Honda

125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings

1.      Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 60
2.      Ryan Sipes, Nine Grove, Ken., Suzuki, 53
3.      Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda, 49
4.      Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 45
5.      Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha, 45
6.      Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 34
7.      Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Suzuki, 28
8.      Richie Owens, Wildomar, Calif., Suzuki, 28
9.      Steve Lamson, Camino, Calif., Honda, 27
10.     Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 27

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.

For more information, please log on to www.supercross.cc.com.  For tickets log onto www.supercross.cc.com, www.ticketmaster.com, www.tickets.com (San Francisco only) or www.unlvtickets.com (Las Vegas only). Media requests please contact Denny Hartwig at 630-566-6305 or email at dennyhartwig@clearchannel.com.

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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