by Davey Coombs
40 Day Countdown To AMA Motocross Opener: 2006
Monday, May 16, 2011 | 5:20 PM
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The 40th season for the American Motocross tour is almost here, with the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship rolling into Hangtown this Saturday morning! You can watch that races live on FUEL TV and Alli Sports, and later motos on SPEED and NBC. American Motocross has never been so completely covered as you will see in 2011! As we count down the days to the 40th Annual Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship right here, Racer X Online is all the way up to 2006.
Pastrana on the cover of the June issue of Racer X.
Check out the revamped facebook page facebook.com/AmericanMotocross or visit www.allisports.com to follow the series.
Carmichael made a big mistake at Hangtown handing the win to Stewart.
Photo: Paul Buckley (Buckleyphotos.com)
It ended with a simple trip. Ricky Carmichael, the Suzuki factory rider who had not lost an outdoor national since July 2003 holeshot the first moto of the first national of 2006 at Hangtown, seemed to trip over the chalk line and promptly crashed all by himself when he started out front! Carmichael, who had last lost an outdoor overall to Kevin Windham way back at Washougal '03, back when he was on a two-stroke Honda CR250 and Windhham was still getting used to his CRF450, went from first to last faster than you can say “holeshot bonus!” He battled back hard, all the way from last to third, but by the time he caught James Stewart, the leader on his factory Kawasaki, Carmichael was out of tear-offs. Together they caught Yamaha rider Chad Reed on the very last lap, and Stewart found his way around for what was the first 450 AMA Motocross moto win of his career, while Carmichael could not get past Reed.
The second moto marked history, because while Ricky just plain took off with the win, that third-place finish in the first moto, combined with Stewie's runner-up ride, gave Carmichael his first outdoor overall loss in nearly three years. It also gave Stewart, the all-time best 125cc rider AMA Motocross and AMA Supercross history, his first outdoor win on a big bike.
Carmichael and Stewart battled throughout the '06 season.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Carmichael would crash again at Southwick, losing a moto there to Stewart but not the overall. And then he absolutely, incredibly threw it away all by himself on the big infield jump at Washougal, throwing a sure overall win away and going into a rage like we haven't seen the once-hot-tempered Carmichael go into for some years. The crash photo was caught by our longtime contributor Tony Scavo, and it's certainly one of the lowlights in RC's otherwise ridiculous motocross reign.
Finally, at the end of his full-time career—his last national as a pure motorcycle racer—Carmichael was leading at Glen Helen and crashed in the first moto, injuring his shoulder and pulling out of the race with no points for the one and only time in his entire career. The recipient of the win there? Stewart again—third time, in fact. RC didn't need the points though, as he had already clinched the title. Again.
Carmichael taking a big spill at Washougal.
Photo: Tony Scavo
Add it all up, and Carmichael won his tenth AMA Motocross title in ten consecutive years, clinching all ten before the last round. That surely ranks as the most unbreakable record in the entire sport. He also won his fifth and final AMA Supercross title that year, edging out Stewart and Reed in one of the sport's all-time great title bouts. All told, Ricky won 15 major titles in AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross—almost twice as many as the next closest champion in the books!
In the 250 class, many had pegged Mike Alessi to be the man to beat following the unfortunate ending of the previous season's title chase at Glen Helen (see 2005). The KTM-mounted Alessi started out strong, going 1-1 at Hangtown on the #800, with a slew of blue behind him: Yamaha of Troy teammates Brett Metcalfe and the late Andrew McFarlane. But not far off the pace was the #51 of Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto, who was in his first full season on the tour. And at the second round of the series, which was the High Point National, Alessi won the first moto, giving many the impression that he was going to run off and hide with the points lead.
Villopoto caught fire in '06 and took over the 250 class.
Photo: Simon Cudby
But then Villopoto, who hails from Poulsbo, Washington, absolutely caught fire. He won the second moto and the overall at High Point, and basically took over the class. While riders like Alessi and Team Honda's Andrew Short, or Team Suzuki's Broc Hepler (who missed the first half of the season with an injury) would come along to gather wins, it was Villopoto who eased away from everyone for the title with strong, consistent finishes. It was the beginning of a dynasty of sorts in the class, as Villopoto would win his first of three AMA Motocross titles in the 250 class.
Meanwhile, Stewart was poised to take over the reins of the world's preeminent motocross rider, but no one told that other King of Motocross, the great Belgian hero Stefan Everts. Having planned to end his career with one last battle with Carmichael at the 2006 Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin in England, Everts was disappointed to hear that Carmichael had to scratch due to his should injury. He would be replaced by his Suzuki teammate Ivan Tedesco, with Stewart on the 450 (MX1) and Villopoto on the 250 (MX3). In what seemed an upset to many on this side of the Atlantic Ocean to be an epic upset, Everts simply outclassed Stewart in both motos together. While James helped lead Team USA to another win, it was Stefan Everts who rode off the stage as the hero of the day.
Villopoto celebrating his first career MX title.
Photo: Simon Cudby
5/21 Sacramento, CA James Stewart, Haines, City, FL Kaw
5/28 Mt. Morris, PA Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz
6/11 Southwick, MA Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz
6/18 Budds Creek, MD Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz
7/2 Buchanan, MI Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz
7/16 New Berlin, NY Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz
7/23 Lakewood, CO Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz
7/30 Washougal, WA James Stewart, Haines City, FL Kaw
8/13 Millville, MN Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz
8/20 Binghamton, NY Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz
9/3 Delmont, PA Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz
9/10 San Bernardino, CA James Stewart, Haines City, FL Kaw
Pastrana on the cover of the June issue of Racer X.
2006 AMA 450 Motocross Point Standings
1.) Ricky Carmichael, Havana, FL Suz 539
2.) Kevin Windham, Centreville, MS Hon 407
3.) David Millsaps, Cairo, GA Hon 400
4.) James Stewart, Haines City, FL Kaw 381
5.) Travis Preston, Hesperia, CA Hon 334
6.) Chad Reed, Austrlia Yam 333
7.) David Vuillemin, France Yam 314
8.) Nicholas Wey, Dewitt, MI Hon 303
9.) Timmy Ferry, Largo, FL Hon 265
10.) Joshua Summey, Stanley, NC Hon 181
Yamaha of Troy teammates Brett Metcalfe and the late Andrew McFarlane battled all season long.
Photo: Simon Cudby
2006 AMA 250 Motocrosso Championship
5/21 Sacramento, CA Mike Alessi, Victorville, CA KTM
5/28 Mt. Morris, PA Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA Kaw
6/11 Southwick, MA Andrew Short, Murrieta, CA Hon
6/18 Budds Creek, MD Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA Kaw
7/2 Buchanan, MI Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA Kaw
7/16 New Berlin, NY Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA Kaw
7/23 Lakewood, CO Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA Kaw
7/30 Washougal, WA Andrew Short, Murrieta, CA Hon
8/13 Millville, MN Broc Hepler, Kittanning, PA Suz
8/20 Binghamton, NY Broc Hepler, Kittanning, PA Suz
9/3 Delmont, PA Broc Hepler, Kittanning, PA Suz
9/10 San Bernardino, CA Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA Kaw
Carmichael and Reed would grace the cover of August Issue of Racer X.
2006 AMA 250 Motocross Point Standings
1.) Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, WA Kaw 483
2.) Mike Alessi, Victorville, CA448
3.) Joshua Grant, Riverside, CA 372
4.) Andrew Short, Murrieta, CA 359
5.) Brett Metcalfe, Australia 335
6.) Broc Hepler, Kittanning, PA 293
7.) Andrew McFarlane, Australia 281
8.) Matthew Goerke, Lake Helen, FL 195
9.) Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, CA 195
10.) Troy Adams, Brooksville, FL 191
A sign of things to come.
Photo: Simon Cudby
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LOL lots of RC crash pics!! That dude pulled out of some near death crashes!!! He had the heart of a lion!!! Never give in!!
FIRST!!! oh yea ive waited a long time for this
Love how ricky is still hanging on to the grip long after the point of no return on that crash. I remember ping making the comment of his cat like reflexes after he bounced right to his feet after he tumbled down the hill.
I remember that first moto at Hangtown!!! Rc went down second turn, then JS went down on the first lap, they came thru the pack together Reed had a HUGE lead when JS moved into 2nd and RC 3rd, Somehow JS dug down and ran Reed down I could not believe it and Reed was PISSED after the moto.That was a great ride by JS and RC that moto. Showed Reed he was WAY off the pase.
I was standing right next to the guy who took that pic of R.C. at Washougal - he had just come from like 10th to catch Bubba on the 2nd to the last lap & was starting to pull away when he lost his front end going up the face of that jump - I remember he looked like he was trying to save it as he was flailing through the air & then the second he hit the ground he was running toward his bike!!! NOBODY had the determination, drive & will to win like R.C.!..... NOBODY!!!
What a yr that was, this weekend will be my 31st yr going to Hangtown, Excuse me I need a moment to myself, I am so excited :).......Enjoy the outdoors everyone!
One of the 250 motos at Unadilla that year was hands-down the best race I've ever seen. Villopoto, McFarlane, Metty and (I think) Grant were locked in a 4 rider duel inches apart for about 20 minutes.
.
Awesome season!
Wasn't Alessi the points leader at the Binghampton round and completely threw it away on the first lap? I seem to remember he crashed in front of the entire pack and his bike took off when he was getting back on it.
Why all the mention of RC's crashes and none of Stewart's? His crash at High Point that year was one of the worst I've ever seen. He lost 50 points to RC that day and effectively the championship. Then the following week at Southwick his bike blew up and sent him over the bars.
In 05, Stewart's excuse for not winning was because he didn't have a 450. Seems to me in 06 he had a 450 and finished 4th in the series. Hmm...
@parcans, I remember that moto. That was awesome. They would all four be in a turn at the same time. Definitely one of the best motos that I can remember.
Great Racing that year. In both class there was excitement.
*There are some typos in this article
At the Millville round just after the 250's left the gate it began to rain, hard rain, before the end of the moto I watched a rider become stuck in a corner, walk away bike straight up in the mud, it stayed there till the end of the moto. When the 450's left the gate RC hole shot and was off, on the second lap Reed became struck in the corner I mentioned earlier, as his crew and Chad tried to remove his bike from the goo, Stewert went down 3 times and went backwards down the track before he could get thru that corner. They finally had to flip Reeds bike over front wheel up then tip it over to get it out , oh yeah , RC was still doing all the jumps up hill double and the tripple crossover included. His lap times were only 20 seconds slower in the mud and he lapped the entire field including DV12 in second . Most dominant win ever !
I was right there at washougal in 06 when carmichael crashed over leaches lump! One of the best races I have ever seen in my life! Everybody was screaming and cheering ricky on! One of those truly epic moments of motocross.... That was a testament to his Pure heart and determination... I doubt we will ever see someone like Ricky again!
Good Chance for a "where are they now?" article..What happened to Broc "Hamburger" Hepler... He had some concussions,last I heard,But kinda fell off the map..I Liked that kid,He was Fast,and alot like the #20, coming from the east coast..
Great year of racing! But I think you missed a couple of huge moments from that year as was stated above - 1) Bubba's crash at High Point which was about the biggest narliest crash ever in MX - & 2) Ricky lapping the entire field at Millville which has never been done before!!
I saw that RC crash were he handed Stewart the win. That day proved to me that it's one thing to be able to reel in and catch someone, but passing is a different story. RC came from way back and couldn't pass Stewart. It showed me that some people can step it up once someone gets close and starts pressuring them after getting caught from waay back.
lil'Stew finished 4th. Did he receive an affirmative award that year?
Bubbas crash at High Point was nasty but worst ever? I dont think you an top this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a47J5-217jI&feature=related.
So it is basically true that the GOAT never lost a MX nation for almost four years unless he crashed? That also means that lil'Stew never beat the GOAT in an outdoor race that he was not gifted?
Yea I remember alessi did crash in the first turn and I think broke his clutch cause after he tried to get back on the bike he realized his season was done and started pouting like a baby. Dont say I can blame him for the pouting. If I made that kind of mistake and watched my championship dreams slip away I probably would have balled like a 2 year old. He just puts way too much pressure on himself and self detonates like the Glen Helen tedesco incident. Atleast out of that incident he got a turn named after him. Stewart had some bad luck with the bike siezing up on him midair though. I remember watching that crash and feeling so bad for him coming off one of the worst endo's the sport has ever seen. The one he had this year at daytona was almost as gnarly but he walked away from that one so not quite as gnar. Ricky is and always will be the man though fa sho. It was lame watching him ride off the track the last race of his last championship career at glen helen. He still came back the next year and smoked em in all the races he entered. He could have won in 07 too but then he wouldn't have the cool even number of total wins and outdoor championships. How about the Monster cup though?? no one has really been talking about that since they announced it. I don't think it will have the success that the us open had though. That race was the shiz. I was there I think 7 of the years they had it and flagged at 5 of them. 06 was an awesome year there too!!! stewart pretty much handed ricky the 100 grand and rickys short little legs couldnt keep him up. man was he pissed. I only hope that the next 10 years in motocross and supercross will be even better than the last, its hard to imagine but I think its possible. I dont think the sport will ever see champions the likes of rc and mc ever again. The field is so stacked that anyone can win. I could go on all night but I need to get some z's. lata
Speaking of pouting ... Reminds me of the GOAT crying after being dominated by KW in the 1997 East/West shootout. One of the strangest moments in the sports. Think the GOAT was also beaten by Ping. Maybe that is why he was crying.
Guys, thanks for reading. My bad on the typos. We should have caught them but it's been a busy week here with Hangtown coming up. We will get this sorted this morning.
DC
MX Sports
Davey,
Really enjoyed this series look back, especially the early stuff. Thanks for re-igniting many memories! Here's to a another great outdoor National Series, can't wait to watch it on Motors TV.
Here is a trivia question that would be interesting. How many people have beaten Carmichael straight up in his pro career in the class that he was running for the championship in.
Windham
Stewart
Who else?
3xchamp -- that's a fun question. I think you'd have to go back to 2000 and RC's first full year on the 250 in SX to find anymore. Then you could add MC, Vuilleman and Larocco.
You guys left out so much information and events that happened in this year, this was a very poor article at best..... I was enjoying them up to this point…………..
Wasnt this also the year Stewart landed on Tedesco in Toronto SX breaking his wrist and ending his season and completely cleaning out MC in another SX race ?
Seamed like a pattern was developing back then but I am sure it would not get any worse.....would it ??
Also the year of Broome-Tioga's final National. Never again would we get to see the #4 huck himself off the downhill triple.
When he used to hit that on his CR 2-stroke, it was a thing of beauty. He would hammer the corner before never letting off, and fly straight off the cliff.
That guy was committed...
3x- Didn't Ferry on the Yamaha beat him in a Moto at Budds one season? I know Tim won at least one race there, but I'm not sure if Ricky was in the mix.
Missing Info- Since this series has been focusing on the Outdoor history leading up to the Nationals, I hope we'll get the indoor history in the lead-up to the 2012 SX series.
Thanks JWag & DC. The hell with the typos, it's been a great run down memory lane...
@DC
don't sweat the spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc, etc. keep the articles going. this has been an awesome read for sure. i really liked the earlier ones.
Just another MX series where RC destroyed Bubba. Nothing new.
Dear missing info- This article was only abouth the motocross season in 06. If you were expecting to get the highlights of the supercross season in 06, then you are very poor at paying attention the the title of the article, at worst.
Looks like the only time RC lost to Stewie outdoors was when RC crashed. Hmmm! RC absolutely kick tail that year. He had 3 wild rides, but he cant be perfect for his career. He dominated 2006 also. He won 9 overalls out of 12, that is dominating. Its why he is the GOAT. No points at Glen Helen and still had a 130 point lead.
@BILLC, yes, that pick of RC on the Suzuki is the one of RC at Washougal when he was trying to catch the bike with his hands while he was in the air. Unreal!!
Missing Info, good calls on what we missed in AMA Supercross, and if this were about SX, that would be definitely be in there. And I should have mentioned Stewart's epic crashes, but some of them happened in 2007 too, so maybe we can mention it today....
Thanks for reading guys, with the 2011 American Motocross tour starting up this weekend, everyone here at Racer X and MX Sports is working on double-overtime. But what a great gig!
DC
MX Sports
3XChamp, if we're talking rickys pro career and not just outdoors, Reed smoked Ricky in like the last four or five supercross races of the season in 03' I believe straight up, though Carmichael still won the championship.
I remember when they had those two Canadian rnds in December before the actual SX season started and Ricky was way off of JS's pace and James toyed with him at one of those rounds.
@Parcans, yeah RC was definitely present. Ferry was riding the YZF450 and RC was pinning his CR250 but could never pass him. Ferry absolutely won that moto straight up against Carmichael.
@whatever, oops!! I mean jairtime suks- leaveit to you to try and make this story a Stewart love fest. Everybody used the Canada rounds for testing only. RC won the supercross title, and as the above stats prove, he waxed Stewart outdoors too. Stewart finished behind K-Dub and Millsaps. 4th again. RC is the GOAT, Stewart a pretender.
My comment about missing info and events this year was about MX, I know what these articles are about and there was allot of info left out about that year........
My other comments were just observations of that year since SX has been discussed several times in these articles and it was in reference to a pattern that will see would continue to this day.... History tells the hole truth and has no opinions......
@3xchamp. Robbie Reynard flat out caught and passed RC at Dilla in 98. Probably the fastest I've ever seen anyone ride a 125, and I've seen them all.
@3Xchamp,
Dowd
Tortelli
Villumen
Reed
G.O.A.T. Schmoat, That's like six guys that have beaten him......sarcasm alert.
That may be one of RC's greatest stats of all! He has only been beaten by a handful of racers throughout his career. The actual hard number is probably under 20!?!?!?!?
FREAKING PHENOMONAL!!!!!!!!!!
@jairtiime suks, You said Reed smoked RC in 03 in supercross. Really?? He smoked him?? Reed won the last 6 supercrosses that year. RC already had such a big lead he still took the title. Granted, Reed definately beat him every one of those races. But to say Reed smoked him may be a little over the top. But I will say that was the toughest competition RC had was Reed in supercross. RC said he had to work harder that year to win the title than any. Reed was on his game that last half of the year.
@3xchamp-- The only time RC lost a title was his first 2 supercross seasons in the 250/450 class. He lost to The King-- Jeremy McGrath. RC won the outdoors in his first full 250/450 season, but not supercross. He won in 2001 and never lost another title he went for.
"bd200 wrote: The only time RC lost a title was his first 2 supercross seasons in the 250/450 class. He lost to The King-- Jeremy McGrath. RC won the outdoors in his first full 250/450 season, but not supercross. He won in 2001 and never lost another title he went for."
Well done bd200, and thank you.
There is the perfect summary to the whole debate, and that's why he's the GOAT.
I am just happy my son and I got to experience his insane dominance of our sport. We still talk about stuff we saw him do 6 or 7 years ago!
Even the motocross coverage is a little thin- no mention of Stewart's motor locking up at southwick and spitting him over the bars on a downhill jump- or Carmichael's crash at the last round, which caused him to miss the MXON. This seems like a rush job at best.