This Week in Yamaha History: St. Louis 2006
Thursday, March 1, 2012 | 11:30 AM
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There’s something about St. Louis! Monster Energy Supercross almost always gets crazy in the Show Me state, from Ryan Villopoto crashing out of the 2010 chase with a broken leg, to Jeff Emig ending Jeremy McGrath’s perfect season there in 1996. And somewhere in between lies perhaps the wildest St. Louis race of all—one of the wildest supercross races ever.
The year was 2006. Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart had raised the supercross speed limit to new levels, pulling a gap on Chad Reed in the races and the points. But St. Louis handed Carmichael one of the worst nights of his career. It started with a huge crash in the whoops during his heat race (check out this YouTube clip here. Ouch!) Then, RC crashed in the first turn of the main event (a rarity for RC). When he got up, his shock spring was broken, and he had no choice but to roll back to the pits with a rare DNF.
Reed was finally able to get around Tedesco after pulling the trigger on a triple jump in a rhythm lane.
Photo: Matt Ware
This seemed to open the door for Stewart, who was also recovering from a bad start. Up front, Reed was battling for the lead with Suzuki’s Ivan Tedesco, who was looking for a win in his rookie 450 SX season. Reed had been frustrated with a triple jump in a rhythm lane. Several top riders had jumped it, but Reed had yet to pull the trigger near the halfway mark of the main.
Then all heck broke lose. Stewart clipped a tuff block and crashed, and could not get his bike restarted. He kicked and kicked his Kawasaki, but it never refired, and just like that a huge chance to make up ground in the series on Carmichael had gone out the window.
Meanwhile, the Yamaha-mounted Reed was still working on Tedesco, and he finally pulled the trigger on the triple to take over the lead. He then held on for the win, and also jumped from a distant third to first in the SX standings in one night. One wild night, that is. But a typical one for St. Louis!
Reed jumped from third to first on one crazy night in St. Louis.
Photo: Matt Ware
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Man,, that race seems like it was yesterday.. I'm gettin' old...
I hope something strange happens this year and evens up the points of JS7 RV! and RD.With no injurys a given here.It would be like round 1 starting a new series.
This is the race that JS admitted he was looking at a sign while entering the corner where he clipped the tough block..
It was amazing how lucky RC was that year.His bike broke and Stewart fell and finished way back.The points stayed tight.I think this was also the year of fuel gate with RC.
RC was making a huge leap into the whoops. does anyone remember if he had to go to the LCQ? oh wait, they did semi's back then...
I remember that race. Can't believe it was 6 years ago. Where does the time go.
That race was awesome! I made posters from pictures I took that night, and RR's Li'l Sis got them autographed at Dallas. Still have a framed set in the shop. The other set we sent to Cody in the hospital.
Another opportunity lost for JS...man when he looks back on his career...
Exciting race though...no wait it wasn't. JS crashing before the triple and taking forever to get refired was about it...
I do have the right race correct?
Miss Ernesto thoguh.
Oh and RC was a tough mother getting up after that digger in the hoops..looked like his neck was tweaked for sure...
It would take more than one race to even up the points. RV and RD could stay home and JS would still be in third after STL. It's pretty likely Reed will stay in fourth after the race also.
Fonseca up on the podium......miss seeing the old #24 out there
WAIT!!--I had to reread that twice, did it say Stewart crashed?? NO Way!! I thought that NEVER happened until he got on the Yamaha..LOL!! Just kidding guys , hope theStewtards dont attack, just a joke. But I do remember this, it gave Reed new life. But as we all know RC still won the title, broken rear shock spring and all.. You just keep the great ones down..
@MX Bob, yes I agree, it took two entire races with no Points for Stewaert to get passed Reed, he is still way back, he kinda got gifted 3rd..