Kawasaki’s Michael Byrne of Murrieta, Calif. earned the $1,500 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award and kept the lead for only a short time before Carmichael was able to grab the position up front in the first lap. Chad Reed of Dade City, FL fought his way to second place after a bad start. Byrne finished third.
“It was a pretty steady main event for me once Chad got hung up in the first turn,” said Carmichael. “Sometimes it’s about who the smartest guy is, we’re all running pretty close. It’s just about being smart.”
Tedesco made his way to the front of the pack in the first lap and kept the lead for the win. Honda’s Billy Laninovich came in second. KTM’s Nathan Ramsey of Menifee, CA took third place. Yamaha’s Danny Smith, of Middleton, Idaho, picked up the $1,000 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award.
“This race was a lot more technical. The track was a little tougher, but I seem to do better on the more technical tracks,” said Tedesco. Tedesco, already the 125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series points leader coming into this race, widened that gap by putting him 29 points ahead of second place.
Seven-time 250cc AMA supercross Champion, Jeremy McGrath, won his semi-final race. The victory brought some of the loudest cheers of the night. McGrath will be racing select THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series events this year.
Racing moves on to Indianapolis’ RCA Dome next Saturday, February 12 for the first 125 East round. Tonight’s race airs on ESPN2 on Monday, February 7 at 10:00 p.m. EST.
THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 172
2. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 143
3. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 136
4. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 112
5. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 98
6. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Honda, 88
7. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 88
8. Erick Vallejo, Garland, Tex., Yamaha, 68
9. Kyle Lewis, Henderson, Nev., Honda, 65
10. Jeff Gibson, Westerville, Ohio, 63
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
4. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
5. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
6. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda
7. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda
8. Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda
9. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
10. Ryan Clark, Waddell, Ariz., Yamaha
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 120
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 91
3. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 81
4. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda, 80
5. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 74
6. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 73
7. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 67
8. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 65
9. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 64
10. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 55
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
2. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
3. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM
4. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha
5. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
6. Tim Weigand, Canyon Country, Calif., Honda
7. Josh Woods, Flint, Mich., Honda
8. Bryan Johnson, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
9. Ryan Morais, Canyon Lake, Calif., Suzuki
10. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 105
2. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha, 76
3. Ryan Sipes, Nine Grove, Kan., Suzuki, 67
4. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 66
5. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 64
6. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 59
7. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 57
8. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 50
9. Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda, 49
10. Ryan Morais, Canyon Lake, Calif., Suzuki, 46