Carmichael earned the $1,500 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award, with Honda’s Ernesto Fonseca, of Murrieta, Calif., and Yamaha’s Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., in tow. Reed passed Fonseca for second place on lap three but was unable to catch Carmichael. Reed finished second and Honda’s Kevin Windham, of Centerville, Miss., finished third. The win marked Carmichael’s seventh of the season.
“I have been preparing for this for a long time,” said Carmichael. “The older I get, the more I appreciate what I do for a living. I plan on staying up here when the season ends.”
Last weekend’s winner Langston earned the $1,000 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award en route to his third career victory, leading all 15 laps in the main. On the opening lap KTM’s Josh Hansen, of Elbert, Colo., moved into second place three seconds behind Langston followed by Honda’s Steve Boniface, of Murrieta, Calif.
Suzuki’s Davi Millsaps, of Cairo, Ga., started near last place and moved into fourth place on lap 7. While riding in third place, Kawasaki’s Matt Walker, of McDonough, Ga., crashed, allowing Millsaps to move into third. On lap 13, Millsaps passed Hansen for second.
“This was the best start I have probably ever had,” said Langston. “I crashed in my heat race, and I had a bad gate pick, so the great start was really surprising. I am going to donate the $1,000 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award to the tsunami relief fund.”
Racing moves to Daytona Beach, Fla., next Saturday, March 12. Tonight’s race airs on ESPN2 Sunday, march 6 at Noon (EST).
THQ World Supercross GP Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 272
2. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 227
3. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 172
4. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 166
5. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 154
6. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 136
7. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Honda, 135
8. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda, 108
9. Joe Oehlhof, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 98
10. Erick Vallejo, Garland, Tex., Yamaha, 89
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
4. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
5. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
6. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
7. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda
8. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., Suzuki
10. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Yamaha
250cc THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 217
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 182
3. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda, 156
4. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 149
5. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 132
6. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 128
7. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 123
8. Michael Byrne, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 103
9. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 95
10. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda, 73
125cc Eastern Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results
1. Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
2. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki
3. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., KTM
4. Joaquim Rodrigues, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
5. Brandon Jesseman, DeWitt, Iowa, Suzuki
6. Steve Boniface, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
7. Greg Schnell, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Honda
8. Troy Adams, Brooksville, Fla., Honda
9. Ryan Mills, Clintonville, N.Y.
10. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, Yamaha
125cc Eastern Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Grant Langston, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 72
2. Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Suzuki, 65
3. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., KTM, 55
4. Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, Yamaha, 40
5. Matt Walker, McDonough, Ga., Kawasaki, 38
6. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Yamaha, 37
7. Steve Boniface, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 35
8. Joaquim Rodrigues, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 33
9. Troy Adams, Brooksville, Fla., Honda, 31
10. Brandon Jesseman, DeWitt, Iowa, Suzuki, 30
125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 127
2. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 91
3. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 82
4. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 79
5. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha, 77
6. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 69
7. Ryan Sipes, Nine Grove, Kan., Suzuki, 67
8. Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda, 65
9. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 64
10. Ryan Morais, Canyon Lake, Calif., Suzuki, 53
Photo copyright TFS