After skipping through the first part of the lengthy whoops section Reed’s chance at winning his first race of the season went away as he went tumbling, allowing Carmichael to dart away into a comfortable lead and second consecutive win.
“The whoops were strange because they were out of the first turn on one side, and on the other they had a big hump in the middle,” said Reed. “Lately, the whoops have been far apart and you can jump through them. But, you know, I crashed in them, so I can’t really complain [that they’re too easy].”
“When Chad fell, it took the wind out of my sails a bit because I was ready to battle with him,” said Carmichael. “It’s great to win at Anaheim, it was a great night and we just need to keep going and win as many races as possible. I’ve got a great set up at Suzuki and I’m really happy with the way things are going.”
San Francisco’s SBC Park is the perfect playing field for the duel this Saturday. Reed and Carmichael each share a win apiece since the tour starting visiting the city by the bay in 2003. Historically, the winner of this race has gone on to win the 250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series championship.
This season Carmichael, who has won all three Butterfinger Holeshot Awards, has led 44 of 52 laps while Reed has yet to lead a single lap this season. Carmichael’s win last weekend, his 35th THQ AMA Supercross Series win, was the first time since 1983 that Suzuki has won back to back 250cc main events.
Suzuki’s Travis Pastrana watched the race from the sidelines, nursing a sore leg caused from a run in with Tyler Evans. The former 125cc regional supercross champion started the season with a cast on his hand.
“After the incident last week, he has a severe bone bruise,” said Pastrana’s team owner Jeff Cernic. “It’s not a break or anything like that, but we’re going to take a couple weeks off just to get completely healed so that we can come back without a cast on his arm and without a sore leg, and be ready to run in the top five and not in the top 10.”
Reigning 125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series champion Ivan Tedesco picked up his first win of the season and his eighth career win at Anaheim 2.
“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.”
Info SupercrossMedia – Photo copyright TFS
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