AMA Supercross Class Laps Led:
James Stewart 159
Ricky Carmichael 51
Chad Reed 40
Kevin Windham 5
Nick Wey 2
Eric Sorby 3
AMA Supercross Lites Class Laps Led:
Ryan Villopoto 84
Christophe Pourcel 17
Ryan Dungey 14
Jason Lawrence 3
Steve Boniface 1
Ben Towley 30
Darcy Lange 1
Andrew Mcfarlane 1
Branden Jesseman 10
Billy Laninovich 5
Progressive Direct Holeshot Award (AMA Supercross)
Nick Wey (Toronto): $1,500
James Stewart (Vancouver): $1,500
Chad Reed (Anaheim 1): $1,500
Jeff Dement (Phoenix): $1,500
Nick Wey (Anaheim 2): $1,500
Chad Reed (San Francisco): $1,500
Nick Wey (Anaheim 3): $1,500
Tim Ferry (Houston): $1,500
Ivan Tedesco (San Diego): $1,500
Chad Reed (Atlanta): $1,500
Chad Reed (St. Louis): $1,500
Chad Reed (Orlando): $1,500
Progressive Direct Holeshot Award (AMA Supercross Lites)
Christophe Pourcel (Anaheim 1): $1,000
Martin Davalos (Phoenix): $1,000
Steve Boniface (Anaheim 2): $1,000
Chris Gosselaar (San Francisco): $1,000
Ryan Villopoto (Anaheim 3): $1,000
Ryan Villopoto (Houston): $1,000
Christopher Gosselaar (San Diego): $1,000
Mike Alessi (Atlanta): $1,000
Ben Townley (St. Louis): $1,000
Billy Laninovich (Orlando): $1,000
MMI Top Tech Award
Jeremy Albrecht (Anaheim 1): $500.00
Mike Gosselaar (Phoenix): $500.00
Jason Thomas (Anaheim 2): $500.00
John Mitcheff (San Francisco): $500.00
Willie Manning (Anaheim 3): $500.00
Manual Rivas (Houston): $500.00
John Mitcheff (San Diego): $500.00
Jason Thomas (Atlanta): $500.00
Craig Behl (St. Louis): $500.00
Todd Williams (Orlando): $500.00
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Pro Privateer Challenge
- David Vuillemin 159 Points
- Heath Voss 151 Points
- Paul Carpenter 131 Points
Asterisk Medic Card
Charles Castloo (Anaheim 1)
Michael Willard (Phoenix)
Charles Castloo (Anaheim 2)
Logan Darien (San Francisco)
Tyler Keefe (Anaheim 3)
Adam Chatfield (Houston)
Adam Chatfield (San Diego)
Cory Green (Atlanta)
Zach Ames (St. Louis)
Kevin Rookstool (Orlando)
Racer X Gas Card
Nathan Ramsey (Anaheim 1)
Eric Sorby (Phoenix)
Bryan Johnson (Anaheim 2)
Manuel Rivas (San Francisco)
Jason Thomas (Anaheim 3)
Erick Vallejo (Houston)
Doug DeHaan (San Diego)
Erick Vallejo (Atlanta)
Tyler Evans (St. Louis)
Eric Sorby (Orlando)
Toyota Tundra Fan Challenge
Jeff Gibson (Anaheim 1)
Nick Wey (Phoenix)
Nick Wey (Anaheim 2)
Jeff Gibson (San Francisco)
Nick Wey (Anaheim 3)
David Vuillemin (Houston)
Paul Carpenter (San Diego)
Bryan Johnson (Atlanta)
Cole Seibler (St. Louis)
Paul Carpenter (Orlando)
KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
- Skylar Demuth, Boca Raton, Fla., KTM
- Cole Campbell, Port Orange, Fla., KTM
- Brandon Hogan, Rock Hill, S.C., KTM
- Joshua Wilson, El Dorado, Calif., KTM
- Matthew Mehary, Garland, Texas, KTM
- Alec Mellick, Aubrey, Texas, KTM
- Joshua Guffey, Bainbridge, Ga., KTM
- Riley Ripper, Magnolia, Texas, KTM
- Taitt Kuchta, Clovis, N.M., KTM
- Aaron Hill, Orlando, Fla., KTM
- Taylor Benton, Cartersville, Fla., KTM
- Cotton Eigenmann, Titusville, Fla., KTM
- Nicholas Merchan, Azuay, Ecuador, KTM
- Noah Freeman, Winterville, Ga., KTM
- Dakota Brunson, McKinney, Texas, KTM
Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Season Standings
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 279
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 256
- Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 202
- Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 185
- David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 159
- Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 151
- Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 138
- Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, N.Y., Kawasaki, 131
- Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 130
- Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 122
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Event Results, Orlando
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
- Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha
- Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
- Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki
- Grant Langston, Clemont, Fla., Yamaha
- David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda
- Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
- Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda
- Josh Summey, Stanley, N.C., Honda
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
- James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 260
- Chad Reed, Tampa, Fla., Yamaha, 231
- Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 183
- Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 166
- Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 160
- Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki, 136
- Michael Byrne, Newnan, Ga., Suzuki, 132
- Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Honda, 129
- David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda, 128
- Travis Preston, Hesperia, Calif., Honda, 98
Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Event Results, Orlando
- Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha
- Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha
- Darcy Lange, Hemet, Calif., Kawasaki
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
- Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
- Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha
- Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki
- Robert Kiniry, LaFayette, N.Y., Kawasaki
- Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM
- Tucker Hibbert, Centerville, Miss., Yamaha
Amp’d Mobile Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
- Ryan Morais, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 78
- Darcy Lange, Hemet, Calif., Kawasaki, 72
- Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 64
- Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 56
- Branden Jesseman, New Brighton, Pa., Yamaha, 54
- Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha, 54
- Justin Brayton, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Yamaha, 52
- Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 50
- Jeff Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 48
- Ryan Sipes, Vine Grove, Ken., Honda, 37
Amp’d Mobile Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites Season Standings
- Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 172
- Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 135
- Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 103
- Christopher Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki, 97
- Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 92
- Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 88
- Josh Hansen, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM, 87
- Matthew Lemoine, Pilot Point, Texas, Yamaha, 86
- Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 71
- Kyle Cunningham, Springtown, Texas, Yamaha, 66
AMA Supercross Class Recap
- James Stewart earned his 19th AMA supercross win of his career, passing Damon Bradshaw on the all-time AMA Supercross win list.
- If Stewart wins this weekend, he will tie Jeff Ward with 20 wins.
- Stewart will become only the seventh racer in AMA Supercross history to win 20 races.
- Ricky Carmichael finished his AMA Supercross career with 115 starts, 87 podiums, 48 wins, and 97 top-five finishes.
- Chad Reed earned his 69th career AMA Supercross podium; it was his 76th consecutive start.
- Ivan Tedesco earned his third top-five finish of the season, his ninth top ten.
AMA Supercross Lites Class Recap
- Yamaha’s Branden Jesseman won his first AMA Supercross Lites main event since 2003, marking the fourth of his career.
- Jesseman won his 2003 Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites championship aboard a Suzuki.
- Since round 12 of 2004, Yamaha had not won an AMA Supercross Lites main event.
- Eight different riders have been on the podium for the first four rounds.
- Three different riders have won an AMA Supercross Lites race in the Eastern Region.
Indianapolis Stats
- This is the 16th time the gate will drop in Indianapolis.
- First race in Indianapolis was March 21st, 1992, and Jeff Stanton won on a Honda.
AMA Supercross Wins by brand in Indianapolis
Honda: 8
Yamaha: 3
Kawasaki: 2
Suzuki: 2
- There has never been a first-time winner in Indianapolis.
- Jeremy McGrath has six wins in Indianapolis, including four in a row from 1993-1996
- Carmichael has wins in Indianapolis on three different brands, Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki.
- In 2004, Mike LaRocco, who is from nearby South Bend, won his last AMA Supercross race at Indianapolis.
- James Stewart has won at 12 different venues the past three seasons but has not won Indianapolis.
AMA Supercross Lites at Indianapolis
- The first AMA Supercross Lites in Indianapolis was March 21st, 1992, and Jimmy Button won on a Yamaha.
AMA Supercross Lites Wins by Brand
Yamaha: 5
Suzuki: 4
Kawasaki: 3
Honda: 3
- Kawasaki's last win in Indianapolis was 1998.
- Before last weekend in Orlando, Yamaha’s last win came at the RCA Dome in 2004 when Josh Hansen, who now rides for KTM, earned the win.
- In 1997 Tim Ferry won the AMA Supercross Lites championship without winning one main event during the year. He finished second at five races, one third and a fifth, beating Stephan Roncada for the title by 11 points.
- Ryan Morais is the only AMA Supercross Lites rider to finish in the top five at the first four races. He may be able to win the title without winning s single race. Morais has finished 4-2-5-2 at this year’s races.
- Ferry went 2-2-2-2-5-2-3 in 1997 on his way to the championship.
Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP Rider Finishes
Chad Reed
Toronto: 1
Vancouver 3
Anaheim 1: 3
Phoenix: 3
Anaheim 2: 2
San Francisco: 3
Anaheim 3: 2
Houston: 2
San Diego: 1
Atlanta: 3
St. Louis: 3
Daytona: 3
Orlando: 3
Ricky Carmichael
Toronto: 2
Vancouver 1
Anaheim 1: 2
Phoenix: 2
Anaheim 2: N/A
San Francisco: 1
Anaheim 3: N/A
Houston: N/A
San Diego: N/A
Atlanta: 2
St. Louis: 1
Daytona: 2
Orlando: 2
James Stewart
Toronto: 3
Vancouver 2
Anaheim 1: 1
Phoenix: 1
Anaheim 2: 1
San Francisco: 2
Anaheim 3: 1
Houston: 1
San Diego: 5
Atlanta: 1
St. Louis: 2
Daytona: 1
Orlando: 1
Tim Ferry
Toronto: 4
Vancouver 5
Anaheim 1: 5
Phoenix: 5
Anaheim 2: 4
San Francisco: 4
Anaheim 3: 3
Houston: 3
San Diego: 2
Atlanta: 6
St. Louis: 17
Daytona: 4
Orlando: 5
David Vuillemin
Toronto: 5
Vancouver 4
Anaheim 1: 6
Phoenix: 20
Anaheim 2: 11
San Francisco: 6
Anaheim 3: 12
Houston: 10
San Diego: 9
Atlanta: 8
St. Louis: 6
Daytona: 8
Orlando: 7
Nick Wey
Toronto: 6
Vancouver 9
Anaheim 1: 7
Phoenix: 9
Anaheim 2: 3
San Francisco: 5
Anaheim 3: 4
Houston: N/A
San Diego: N/A
Atlanta: N/A
St. Louis: N/A
Daytona: N/A
Orlando: N/A
Ryan Clark
Toronto: 7
Vancouver: 14
Anaheim 1: 17
Phoenix: N/A
Anaheim 2: N/A
San Francisco: N/A
Anaheim 3: 17
Houston: 16
San Diego: 14
Atlanta: N/A
St. Louis: 18
Daytona: 13
Orlando: 21
Paul Carpenter
Toronto: 8
Vancouver: 12
Anaheim 1: 11
Phoenix: 19
Anaheim 2: 7
San Francisco: 15
Anaheim 3: 9
Houston: 9
San Diego: 8
Atlanta: 20
St. Louis: 7
Daytona: N/A
Orlando: N/A
Heath Voss
Toronto: 9
Vancouver: 11
Anaheim 1: 8
Phoenix: 10
Anaheim 2: 13
San Francisco: 12
Anaheim 3: 8
Houston: 7
San Diego: 7
Atlanta: 9
St. Louis: 8
Daytona: 11
Orlando: 9
Jeff Gibson
Toronto: 10
Vancouver 8
Anaheim 1: 15
Phoenix: 15
Anaheim 2: 12
San Francisco: 9
Anaheim 3: 13
Houston: 17
San Diego: 13
Atlanta: 10
St. Louis: 12
Daytona: N/A
Orlando: 20
Nathan Ramsey
Toronto: 21
Vancouver: 6
Anaheim 1: DNF
Phoenix: 11
Anaheim 2: 10
San Francisco: 13
Anaheim 3: 6
Houston: 19
San Diego: N/A
Atlanta: 16
St. Louis: 5
Daytona: N/A
Orlando: N/A
Travis Preston
Toronto: 16
Vancouver: 7
Anaheim 1: 4
Phoenix: 4
Anaheim 2: N/A
San Francisco: 7
Anaheim 3: 11
Houston: 5
San Diego: 10
Atlanta: 12
St. Louis: 21
Daytona: 20
Orlando: N/A
Jason Thomas
Toronto: 14
Vancouver: 10
Anaheim 1: 21
Phoenix: 14
Anaheim 2: 16
San Francisco: N/A
Anaheim 3: N/A
Houston: N/A
San Diego: 19
Atlanta: 13
St. Louis: N/A
Daytona: 16
Orlando: 16
Kevin Windham
Toronto: N/A
Vancouver: N/A
Anaheim 1: 9
Phoenix: 8
Anaheim 2: 6
San Francisco: 10
Anaheim 3: 7
Houston: 4
San Diego: 3
Atlanta: 5
St. Louis: 4
Daytona: 5
Orlando: 8
Michael Byrne
Toronto: 15
Vancouver: 19
Anaheim 1: 10
Phoenix: 6
Anaheim 2: 5
San Francisco: 8
Anaheim 3: 5
Houston: 6
San Diego: 6
Atlanta: 14
St. Louis: 15
Daytona: 12
Orlando: 12
Ivan Tedesco
Toronto: N/A
Vancouver: N/A
Anaheim 1: 14
Phoenix: 7
Anaheim 2: 8
San Francisco: 14
Anaheim 3: 10
Houston: 8
San Diego: 4
Atlanta: 4
St. Louis: 9
Daytona: 6
Orlando: 4
Joshua Summey
Toronto: 19
Vancouver: 16
Anaheim 1: N/A
Phoenix: N/A
Anaheim 2: 9
San Francisco: 11
Anaheim 3: 19
Houston: N/A
San Diego: 12
Atlanta: N/A
St. Louis: 20
Daytona: 10
Orlando: 10
Bryan Johnson
Toronto: 20
Vancouver: 20
Anaheim 1: N/A
Phoenix: N/A
Anaheim 2: N/A
San Francisco: 20
Anaheim 3: 18
Houston: 14
San Diego: 16
Atlanta: 7
St. Louis: N/A
Daytona: N/A
Orlando: N/A
Eric Sorby
Toronto: N/A
Vancouver: N/A
Anaheim 1: 16
Phoenix: N/A
Anaheim 2: 15
San Francisco: 19
Anaheim 3: 20
Houston: 20
San Diego: 11
Atlanta: 19
St. Louis: 9
Daytona: 18
Orlando: N/A
Cole Siebler
Toronto: 12
Vancouver: 18
Anaheim 1: N/A
Phoenix: 21
Anaheim 2: 14
San Francisco: N/A
Anaheim 3: 16
Houston: 11
San Diego: N/A
Atlanta: N/A
St. Louis: 10
Daytona: N/A
Orlando: 17
Grant Langston
Toronto: N/A
Vancouver: N/A
Anaheim 1: 20
Phoenix: N/A
Anaheim 2: N/A
San Francisco: N/A
Anaheim 3: N/A
Houston: N/A
San Diego: N/A
Atlanta: N/A
St. Louis: N/A
Daytona: 7
Orlando: 6
David Millsaps
Toronto: N/A
Vancouver: N/A
Anaheim 1: N/A
Phoenix: N/A
Anaheim 2: N/A
San Francisco: N/A
Anaheim 3: N/A
Houston: N/A
San Diego: N/A
Atlanta: 18
St. Louis: 16
Daytona: 9
Orlando: 19
Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross East Lites Class Rider Finishes
Ryan Dungey
Atlanta: 1
St. Louis: 18
Daytona: N/A
Orlando: 21
Darcy Lange
Atlanta: 2
St. Louis: 6
Daytona: 6
Orlando: 3
Matthew Goerke
Atlanta: 3
St. Louis: 3
Daytona: 12
Orlando: 16
Ryan Morais
Atlanta: 4
St. Louis: 2
Daytona: 5
Orlando: 2
Branden Jesseman
Atlanta: 5
St. Louis: N/A
Daytona: 8
Orlando: 1
Justin Brayton
Atlanta: 6
St. Louis: 10
Daytona: 10
Orlando: 6
Zach Osborne
Atlanta: 7
St. Louis: 9
Daytona: N/A
Orlando: N/A
Matt Boni
Atlanta: 8
St. Louis: 19
Daytona: 14
Orlando: N/A
Ryan Sipes
Atlanta: 9
St. Louis: 8
Daytona: 9
Orlando: 22
Kelly Smith
Atlanta: 10
St. Louis: N/A
Daytona: 18
Orlando: 18
Ben Townley
Atlanta: 22
St. Louis: 1
Daytona: 1
Orlando: 7
Mike Alessi
Atlanta: 21
St. Louis: 4
Daytona: 3
Orlando: 4
Broc Oneal Tickle
Atlanta: N/A
St. Louis: 5
Daytona: 15
Orlando: 19
Jeff Alessi
Atlanta: 13
St. Louis: 7
Daytona: 7
Orlando: 9
Thomas Hahn
Atlanta: 18
St. Louis: N/A
Daytona: 2
Orlando: 11
Billy Laninovich
Atlanta: 12
St. Louis: 14
Daytona: 4
Orlando: 5
Robert Kiniry
Atlanta: 14
St. Louis: N/A
Daytona: 13
Orlando: 8
Tucker Hibbert
Atlanta: 19
St. Louis: 11
Daytona: 17
Orlando: 10
AMP’D MOBILE AMA SUPERCROSS
2007 ORLANDO POST-RACE PODIUMS AND INTERVIEWS – 3/17/07
BRITTANY GEORGE: I’m gonna talk to Ryan here real fast. Alright – You had the restart, right off the gate, and all the way to the end; making it all the way up to second place.
RYAN MORAIS: I was really happy they red flagged that. That was a terrible start. The second one went a lot better. Yeah, I just rode smart. I actually was taking it too slow at the beginning, but it worked out. I’m just trying to be consistent; stay up and not do any mistakes and just be top five every weekend.
BRITTANY GEORGE: We were talking earlier. You’re in the points chase right now and it’s crucial getting that start and being able to keep it up because these points are very tight.
RYAN MORAIS: Yeah, I think I gained a little bit this weekend. My bike was running good. Yamaha Troy, Boost Mobile bike was awesome, Enzo, Dunlop, Spy, Boost, In Style, Asterisk, Deluge Water, Richardson’s RV, Z-Gallery, everyone at home – my hometown, Turlock, everyone at home listening; my friends, everybody. It’s just great.
BRITTANY GEORGE: Thank you. We talked to you earlier in the night and there you had it, for the second place finish – Orlando, give it up again for Ryan Morais.
JASON WEIGANDT: I can’t believe Branden Jesseman won tonight. We’re pumped up. Let’s go down to the podium.
BRITTANY GEORGE: Orlando, let’s hear it for number 121, Jesseman. We were talking about the track earlier in the day – kind of a tough track. Everyone’s banging bars to get all the way up there. That was a tough race all the way until the end.
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: The track was really slick in the main event and the only way to get by was to kind of push your way by and touch people. My Yamaha Motoworld bike got me off to a great start. I put down the lead about the fifth or six lap or so and just kind of had to ride my own race and it worked out this time.
BRITTANY GEORGE: It did. Now, when you were starting off the race, when that gate was going down, what was going through your mind – just to get up in front and be able to handle with all of these guys?
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: Oh, definitely. During the red flag lap, I actually went down over there and it knocked the wind out of myself, so I was kind of lucky. I think that I jarred some things loose and it made me get a better start because I was mad, so maybe I should do that every weekend.
BRITTANY GEORGE: Alright, do you know what you want to go home to do? Probably to prepare for next weekend. We’ve been waiting for you to come up on the podium. You made it up here. That’s an awesome job, but what are you going to do for next weekend?
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: The same thing I’ve been doing, because it’s working. I keep getting a little better each week and just keep practicing, doing motos. But, I can’t thank my bike and my mechanic enough for doing a great job.
BRITTANY GEORGE: Alright, we wish you the best of luck.
JASON WEIGANDT: Alright, Branden Jesseman, good job. Let’s go back down.
BRITTANY GEORGE: Darcy Lange. Alright, Darcy, we keep talking about this was a restart – But it was all the way ‘til that very end that you guys were able to make it all the way to the checkered.
DARCY LANGE: Yeah, that was a touch race. I was bummed when I saw the red flag out. I would’ve gone to second behind Hahn. And, I was pretty pumped; that was my best start all year. Then, I got a wicked jump again – those Bridgestone tires hooked up really good. I kind of got cut off in that first turn and charged back. Then Mike Alessi went down in the last lap, last corner, and I snuck in there and hats off to Ryan. These guys are riding well. Jesseman – he won. I wouldn’t be here without Team Monster Energy, Pro Circuit, Kawasaki. Those guys have been awesome to me and given me the opportunity to get up here and I can’t say enough for those guys.
BRITTANY GEORGE: You were definitely hanging tight all the way through and then at that last minute, you said you saw Mike go down. Did you? What clicked into your mind right after that, because you were right there?
DARCY LANGE: We were kind of bunched up and I came over and looked up and I was third. I was pretty pumped with that. It didn’t start off too well, but I just rode to the end and got it and I want to thank my mechanic, Damon – he’s doing an awesome job – and the fans for coming out and cheering us on.
BRITTANY GEORGE: Alright, there you have it. There is our one, two and three.
JASON WEIGANDT: Alright, well done there, Brittany George, with our top three. But we want to get the real story. There was a guy going for the lead into the last corner – Mike Alessi – had a shot at his first Supercross. And you gotta give him credit. He went for it.
JASON WEIGANDT: We have Ryan Morais. Ryan Morais, are you with us?
RYAN MORAIS: Yeah, I’m here.
JASON WEIGANDT: Well done, again. How are you making this happen, week in, week out? You’re always in the right place at the right time and you just added two more points to your points lead. Well done.
RYAN MORAIS: Yeah, I’m just going out there, riding smart, not trying to do anything dumb, and just be consistent. Be up there every race.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, Ryan, Jim Holley. What was going through your mind when you came through that right hander right before the finish and you saw Alessi make that bauble?
RYAN MORAIS: I was really happy. Really, really happy.
JIM HOLLEY: That was two extra points there.
RYAN MORAIS: Yeah, I know. I’m pumped.
JASON WEIGANDT: Take us through those final couple laps. You turned the trick and got Darcy late in Daytona, and he was trying to do the same thing to you tonight. Did you know it was Darcy, the guy you’re battling for the title, behind you on the last lap?
RYAN MORAIS: Oh, yeah, I saw a glimpse of him. It was three laps to go and I knew I needed to pick it up because he was going to sneak it in there if I left it.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, one last question for you, Ryan. Did you see that incident where Townley and Billy came together coming out of that turn 1 into 2?
RYAN MORAIS: Yeah, I saw that. I thought for sure both of them were going down. So, I slowed down and squared up and Billy stayed up. So, that helped me out a little bit. I hate to see it go that way, but I’ll take it any way I can get it.
JASON WEIGANDT: Hey, it’s all going your way right now, man.
RYAN MORAIS: Yeah, it is.
JASON WEIGANDT: Congratulations on second place tonight.
RYAN MORAIS: Thanks.
JASON WEIGANDT: Thanks, Ryan Morais for joining us on our show. I’m hoping we can get Jesseman on here in a second because …
JIM HOLLEY: Our man Dixon’s down there with the headset. He’s getting him set up.
JASON WEIGANDT: I can’t believe Branden Jesseman has come back – I’m talking from the depths. Do we have him? Branden Jesseman, are you with us?
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: Yep.
JASON WEIGANDT: Branden Jesseman, you have won a Supercross again. How does it feel, man?
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: Feels great. I’m actually a little bit sore because I was in that red flag crash the first lap there, and I got the wind knocked out of me. I think there might be some stitches in my elbow, but I think that’s the best thing that could have happened. It made me mad and I got a good start and rode pretty good.
JASON WEIGANDT: Hey, that’s kind of fitting for you. You’ve had so many injuries, so much bad luck. To fight back from a restart to win the race, that’s kind of fitting in the way it’s been for you the last couple of years.
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: Oh, definitely. It’s been a struggle, getting everything straight, and I couldn’t thank my mechanic and everyone for sticking by me. It made a big difference. Hopefully it just keeps getting better from here.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, Branden, the fifteen laps in that main event. Was the bike bent up when you left the starting line for the second start?
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: Yeah, actually it was. My front wheel was bent and my handlebars were actually bent back and the left side was knocked down a little bit. But it’s actually the best I rode all year with the bike, a little jacked up. Sometimes that’s what it takes.
JASON WEIGANDT: Are we gonna be able to start saying Branden Jesseman is back? Is it too early for that, or can we start saying that?
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: I don’t like to count my chickens but, I’m just going to keep working hard and if I’m back, it’ll show.
JASON WEIGANDT: Hey, one more questions for you. Our riders, in the Supercross class are about to go out there. What is this track like? How bad has it gotten? How broken down is it?
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: It’s actually not broken down too bad, but it’s really slick; there are a lot of shiny spots coming out of the corners. But that’s about it. Everything’s pretty basic. Just seems like a little moisture came out.
JASON WEIGANDT: How’s Branden Jesseman’s family feeling about this right now? How is your mom and everybody who’s supporting you for so long? They gotta be really pumped up right now.
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: I’m sure they’re back at home and they’re ecstatic right now. I’m sure they listened to it on the internet and I’m sure they know the news, so I know they’re proud of me.
JASON WEIGANDT: Hey, congratulations for fighting your way back. Well done, Branden.
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: Thanks a lot.
JIM HOLLEY: Yeah, congratulations, Brando. Enjoy it, buddy.
BRANDEN JESSEMAN: Yeah, definitely. Thank you.
JASON WEIGANDT: Well, that’s a feel good story right there – Branden Jesseman winning our Lites main event.
Let’s go to Chad Reed at the podium.
TERRY BOYD: Your goal, as you said in the beginning of the year, I gotta get on the podium every single race. You’re back – I don’t know if you’re a hundred percent healthy yet; I haven’t asked you that question – but I know from the beginning of the year, you were about 15 percent of what Chad Reed could bring to the table at the opening round and you’ve been on this podium every single week.
CHAD REED: Yeah, that’s the goal and at this point, I felt great out there tonight. I just blew that one myself. I made a lot of little dumb mistakes that were really costly on this track. It was a tough track tonight and those guys just minimized their mistakes and didn’t let it affect them. I’m super pumped for all the guys on my San Manuel Yamaha, Unbound, Thor, Parts and all the guys at BP Fuel. It’s been a great weekend and I felt pretty off at practice, so I was happy to turn it around in the heat and the main.
TERRY BOYD: Next week we go to Indy. You got fifteen hundred dollars more in your pocket, courtesy of Progressive Direct and the Holeshot Award. And I know, you know, you will continue your quest. It’s one of those things. This is unlike any other sport, it’s very small things sometimes that can create the problems for you.
CHAD REED: Yeah, like I said, I felt a little off in practice, but I felt like I was close during the races tonight. These guys were riding awesome and I just made too many mistakes and let them go. I wanted to be up there. I could hear the crowd and it’s a bummer to be back there and not in that battle.
TERRY BOYD: We’ll see you next week in Indianapolis. Spoken like a true champion. Thank you. Chad Reed, former AMA Supercross champion.
JASON WEIGANDT: Alright, that is Chad Reed, and he wanted to be a part of that battle. He was for a few laps, but he made that mistake over the triple, Stewart got away, and then it was on. Let’s go back to the podium.
TERRY BOYD: For the last time, the greatest of all time, Ricky Carmichael! Man, I’ll tell you, RC, I can barely fight back the tears myself. We’ve been up here talking for so many years. Unbelievable race.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: That was a race of a lifetime right there. It’s good. That’s what we live for. It’s just been an amazing ride and it’s coming back to me.
TERRY BOYD: I hear you. I think there’s not going to be a dry eye in the parking lot heading out of here tonight. What were you thinking when you guys came over the triple and you and James looked at each other eye to eye, goggle to goggle – I mean, you could almost touch visors on your helmets.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: That was fast. It was just so much fun. You guys had no idea when I saw his VIN behind me and we just got in our little mode and started reeling out laps. He’d show me a wheel and it was just good, clean racing, and he got the job done and I was right there to be behind him. It was just a great way to go out. Like I said earlier for those little kids – It was no matter what happened for me tonight. It’s just been really fun racing this guy the last couple races the last six months. It just seemed like we really elevated our game and Chad has been hanging in there as well and I just – I can’t believe it.
TERRY BOYD: It has been an amazing career. You’ve been an amazing champion, an amazing ambassador and, most of all, things that people don’t ever talk about, as amazing human being.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Oh, thank you. You guys are so awesome and the one thing I strive on is the racing – To be a great racer is one thing but I just want to be a good person at the end of the day and be a good ambassador.
TERRY BOYD: Let me ask Orlando. Would you say Ricky Carmichael is a great person? How about the greatest of all time? Thank you, Ricky.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Thanks, guys. I’m gonna miss you and you’ve meant the world to me. You’ve given me every opportunity I could ever have. Thank you to all my sponsors. It’s been a great ride and with all the opportunities and the great lifestyle I have, it wouldn’t have been possible without you.
TERRY BOYD: Thank you very much, you guys. One more time – Ricky Carmichael!
JASON WEIGANDT: And there he goes – the greatest of all time. One more thing to do at the podium. Let’s talk to our winner, James Stewart.
TERRY BOYD: Talking about the passes. Man, I’ll tell you, that was magic.
JAMES STEWART: That was super fun; probably the best race I’ve ever raced against that guy. We were just talking about the passes. I was yelling at him to let him know I was coming in. So, he wouldn’t get shocked and that was the last thing I wanted us to do was make contact and it was super fun. We haven’t had a chance to really do that. But it was good. I’m super stoked right now.
TERRY BOYD: What were you thinking? I know you guys didn’t choreograph it but, I mean, it was like clockwork. You come over the triple, your helmets move like robots, visor to visor – What were you thinking?
JAMES STEWART: As I ended up getting around Chad, he made a mistake over there and got a little gas and I was like, here we go the last race. This was the way I wanted to go out and get to battle, it was good. I knew it was going to come down to the last two laps and I was just able to hold on. It was fun. I just want to thank everybody out there. I’m stoked.
TERRY BOYD: It was one of those things too; I’m sure, for you. Your part in the history, coming up, and it’s like you said, you don’t want to crash. Do you pass, do you not pass? Boy, you guys were back and forth; there was no let off on anybody tonight.
JAMES STEWART: Oh no, it was wide open out there. My strongest part was going through the whoops. I felt like that was my best line of the night and it came down to the end. The only thing that could have been better if we would have photo finished and we would have all tied.
TERRY BOYD: Tell you what, man. You are a classy individual, James Stewart. Thank you for giving us a great night tont. Orlando – James Stewart!
[RADIO SHOW]
JASON WEIGANDT: James Stewart, are you there?
JAMES STEWART: Yeah, I’m right here.
JASON WEIGANDT: Hey, I’ve said this over and over. I’ve run out of ways to say it. I don’t know if we could have scripted it much better than this – the final showdown between you and Ricky, and man, it was a showdown.
JAMES STEWART: It was awesome out there. Once I knew I got a second and he was up front, I was like, “here we go.” It’s the last race – and I looked up; we had like fifteen laps left. We just had a good race. It was awesome. Like you said, you couldn’t even script it any better than that. I’m stoked.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, James, Jim Holley here. When you came up to Chad Reed, and you know the problem that you had a few weeks ago in St. Louis, were you thinking about, you know what? I gotta pick my line so we don’t tangle out, because if we tangle, Carmichael’s winning this thing?
JAMES STEWART: No, I mean, I think we both were – I think we’re both over that. I think with Ricky being in here and the fact that he was out front. We didn’t want to slow each other down. Just my luck, he made a bauble, so I didn’t have to really make a pass or anything like that. I just tried to put my head down and get Ricky. He was on it just as fast as he’s ever went around a Supercross track and he had me hanging it out for sure.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, James, another thing you were on tonight is that you had eyes in the back of your head. You come over the finish line, you’re going to turn #10 there, you come out of it – You were taking that outside line in turn #2, but when you felt Ricky coming, you dropped down to the inside not to leave the door open. Could you feel him, and did you know he was that close?
JAMES STEWART: Oh, you look back and you got the 4, you can feel him all over you. Even if he’s twenty seconds behind, you still feel him out there. It was a good race. I knew we were close and I guess he made a small mistake. I thought he went down back there. I knew it was going to come down to the last two laps and we just were riding and riding and I tried to sprint it the last two laps and ended up getting the victory, so it was cool.
JASON WEIGANDT: Hey, man, with this experience you’ve gotten racing him for the last three years, how much better of a racer are you, as far as figuring out these strategies, the lines changing, coming down to the last few laps and things like that? How much have you learned from having to win races like this?
JAMES STEWART: Oh, a lot better. You race for the consistency. When Chad and I were battling, I could see him up there trying to sprint and get away. I was like, don’t you run from me. It was fun, though. So, I was able to catch him and we went back and forth. It was awesome.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, James, do you feel you’ve changed your riding style a little bit? I can remember a couple years ago if you were sitting back in third, I mean, you were pretty patient coming through the pack, so to speak. I mean, you picked your lines and a lot of the lap riders made it difficult for you.
JAMES STEWART: Yeah, I mean, the lappers – they’re getting better and better. It’s just part of racing. Like Nascar – they always have lappers. So I give those guys credit. We would catch them so quick they wouldn’t even know it. It was a better race as far as the sense. I was just kind of sitting back and seeing what was going to happen. Seeing how those guys would race each other, or would they slow each other down, where Ricky was going and where Chad was going. It worked out. We ended up getting a pass – a little bit of a pass – halfway, and I’m stoked.
JIM HOLLEY: Well, it seems like one of the lappers you always come in contact with is Ryan Clark. You did in St. Louis a little bit. You’d come over the finish line, you see him laying there, picking his bike up, you hit the bike a little bit, you hit the tuff block. What was going through your mind then?
JAMES STEWART: You guys liked that, hah?
JIM HOLLEY: I loved it.
JASON WEIGANDT: Oh, hey, it makes it easy for us. It’s exciting.
JAMES STEWART: Well, there were two lappers on the outside of them and they were battling each other and then Ryan Clark was down. I figured I could try to slide in and a back tire hit him. I’m sorry. Him and I, we go way back, I guess. And I couldn’t let Ricky go, so I just wheelied over the tuff block and shot that thing out and I was on my way.
JASON WEIGANDT: Hey, you won this race by nine-tenths of a second. If we had a hundred-lap main event, would it still have been within one second between you two?
JAMES STEWART: I don’t know. The way we were riding, I’d say for sure. I knew it was going to come down to the last two laps and I was able to get that gap big enough to push myself in those corners and stuff for the last few laps and I was stoked. So, who knows? We’ll find out soon.
JASON WEIGANDT: I got one more question for you. They’re going to have James Stewart Week in Hayne City. Have you begun to make plans for that? I mean, that’s going to be pretty good.
JAMES STEWART: Yeah, I already got it figured out. I’m going to be the mayor of the town that week. Everybody gets Mondays off, the kids are out of school and we’ll have a big ol’ goat with my face on it. It was cool. It was just cool to get an honor like that and one day I’ll look back and be like man that was pretty cool.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, James, are you looking forward to next week in Indianapolis?
JAMES STEWART: Yeah, long as I don’t have to race Ricky no more, I’m good.
JASON WEIGANDT: Alright, buddy.
JAMES STEWART: I’m stoked, though. It should be fun.
JASON WEIGANDT: Hey, thanks for joining us, James. Well done tonight. Congratulations.
JAMES STEWART: Thank you.
[RADIO SHOW]
JASON WEIGANDT: Ricky Carmichael, are you with us?
JIM HOLLEY: RC, what’s happening, buddy?
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Hey, what up?
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, did you call Ursula already and the kids and let them know how you did tonight?
RICKY CARMICHAEL: No, she’s probably listening to this right now. She had her laptop in the hospital.
JASON WEIGANDT: Oh, man.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: A great race.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, Ursula, he rode his butt off tonight.
JASON WEIGANDT: No doubt about it. Well, she could tell by hearing it. Ricky, take us through it. I mean, I know you certainly would have liked to win the race your last time out, but it really couldn’t have gone much better than this. What a battle.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Yeah, it was. It was great. We’re going so fast – and Jim, you could probably attest to this – we’re both pretty much the same speed. Unfortunately, I led the part of the race where you really didn’t want to lead. Then once he got back by me, I started feeling even better and I missed two good opportunities to get by him. Once – remember when we looked side by side right here? If I could have made that stick, or he messed up one time before in the mechanics area and if I would have been a little closer, I would have had that and it would have been game over because I felt good and I think it would have been just right. But hey, that’s the way it goes, and what a hell of a race.
JIM HOLLEY: Ricky, it’s interesting when we’re up here calling the race. I mean, it’s such a pleasure when you guys are out there. It’s almost like I saw you trying to set him up and get that inside line and say, look, if I can get this inside in here, I got it. How hard was the lap traffic? ‘Cause it looked like that presented a little bit of a problem for you, as well as James.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Yeah, they were tough but they were in their own race, too. They’re back markers – they’re trying to race. Hey, we all gotta deal with it. I’m just pumped. I saw that number seven behind me and I said it’s going to be another great race for you guys and the fans and I want to give you guys a plug on the internet – all my fans listening. Thank you very much. It’s been a great road and I appreciate all the support you guys have given me. I really do.
JASON WEIGANDT: Ricky, what runs through your mind when you guys were looking eye-to-eye over the triple? Was it straight racing at that point or was that just kind of a sign of respect for each other and how much fun you had?
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Yeah, it was a sign of respect. He knows I respect him and he respects me and, as you guys can see, I mean, there isn’t any bumping and grinding out there. When he was behind me, he stuck it in there and I knew he was faster, so I tried to let him by and then he kept getting messed up by some lappers. I’m like, well, go ahead – you got the advantage; go ahead and take it and you lead for a while. He ended up doing that and I never was able to get back by him. It was good, cleaning racing. When we went over there, it was not a sign of respect. I was just trying to get him to have fun.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, Ricky, are you surprised at the maturity that James is having? When you come out of turn #10, you’ve been going to that inside and he was going to the outside. It seemed like every time you had him set up, he would go back down that inside and you’d go, oh, man, he took my line away
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Yeah, I think he thought that was faster, but I don’t think he felt comfortable taking it. I know that inside was faster and if you ask him, I think it was. You guys probably think so, too. I mean, hell, I’d catch him a half a bike length there every lap. He was much more aggressive in the whoops and I wasn’t fast enough through there. He was much faster and I wasn’t willing to take the chance.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, Ricky, you’re so great to watch. I mean, that section after that, when you jump on the back side of the step on, you got a triple heading into that turn. Couple times you missed that triple. Those next two corners, man, you drove it in so hard and so deep and got on the throttle so quick coming at him to make up that time, because you knew you lost a little bit right there.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: One time, Ryan Clark was in front of me. He didn’t do the triple going in and that’s the lap he messed up before the mechanics turn. I think if Ryan wouldn’t have made me not do that triple, I would have got alongside of him and it might have been better for me. Hindsight’s twenty-twenty. It was a fun race and shit, it was just a good time.
JIM HOLLEY: You’re moving onto Nascar now. Me and Jason had a little bit of a bet. He thinks you’re going to mow down the Supercross track and I said no way, Ricky’s keeping those. He’s going to be in four wheels, but I guarantee you once a week he’s going to go out there and hammer twenty laps out there.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Yeah, you got to. I’m a motohead and I gotta do my motos. It just wouldn’t feel right. So, if I do go out and ride, it will be a full twenty-lapper, that’s for sure. I’m riding with Ben Townley and I’m going to help him along and Ryan’s at the house riding a little bit. I am not going to let my man just sit out there and dangle by himself. I will say this. All last year, he left me out there by myself due to injuries and it was just me and the stopwatch many days. But I’m going to ride with him. This is what I love to do. I mean, this is what I’ve done since I was five years old. I’m going to ride and, you know, I got the outdoor season coming up.
JIM HOLLEY: One guy – your teammate – was left out of that Supercross Lites main event – Ryan Dungey. You’re getting ready for your last Supercross, you see that he didn’t get the chance to compete, and that guy was on it tonight.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Yeah, he was. The guy can make a motorcycle look beautiful. And his RMZ 250 is. That bike is sweet, dude. And it’s unfortunate. I mean, you talk about bad luck and you know what? Life goes on, man. He’s young. I mean, people forget how good he’s doing and he’s only 17 years old. He was racing the intermediate class last year at this time. He’s going to be fine.
JIM HOLLEY: Well, what do you do when you get back to the truck? I mean, words of wisdom. You’ve been there, saying, hey kid, you know what? There’s always next week at Indy.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Yeah, it is. You gotta keep your head down. It is times like this when you find out what you’re made of.
JASON WEIGANDT: Hey, that’s exactly what I was going to ask you, man. You have had so much success in your career as an amateur, on 80’s, on 125’s. You finally ran into a roadblock when you first moved into Supercross in the 250 class in ’99. Did you ever have doubts and think, maybe I’ve reached as far as I can go, or did you think three years later you’d be back there beating Jeremy and winning a championship? It was grim for a little while.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: It was very grim and you find out what you’re made of then. For a while the only thing that ever worried me was the thought I was just a 125 expert. There had been guys like that.
JASON WEIGANDT: Yep.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: But that wasn’t me. I’d won so much on a 125, there was no reason I couldn’t do it on a 250 – those were the 250’s at the time. And I buckled down, hired Eldon Baker, and we got it going.
JASON WEIGANDT: Well, you’ve definitely left a legacy for everybody else to follow and with James and the rest of these guys, I think this sport’s going to be strong for years to come, man, and you’re a big part of that and we appreciate it.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Oh, thank you. Honey, I love you, and say hey to the boy and the girl for me and all you fans out there, thank you very much. It’s been a great ride.
JIM HOLLEY: Hey, Ricky, for me and Jason and the guys in the internet, thanks for the memories, man. And this one – it ranks up there right at the top, buddy.
RICKY CARMICHAEL: Thanks, man. You guys have a good one.
JASON WEIGANDT: Alright, that’s Ricky Carmichael, who is probably happier to take the boots off, hang up the helmet, hang up the leathers tonight.
