Vital MX Forum QNA: Ricky Carmichael

11/12/2015 5:24pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 10:58am
tprice07 wrote:
First off, thank you for taking the time to join us on here and congrats on your success both now and in the past. When you...
First off, thank you for taking the time to join us on here and congrats on your success both now and in the past.

When you are commentating races on TV are you constantly having to think about any "bias" showing through for your own riders?

Any chance you guys have room for a multi-time moto/supercross champion?

Given the relationship you had with Ryan Dungey, both business and personal, did you guys ever have interest in him?

With Chad Reed and James Stewart closing on their long careers, what advice do you have for either of them to obtain one last championship?
i contstantly am thinking of not being biased, there are many things that I don't say or comment about pertaining to our team or personal friends that are racers because of that. But I have learned that it doesn't really matter much because no matter what I say I am always going to be under scrutiny.
The Champ
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11/12/2015 5:24pm
Ricky
According to a lot of people tomacs start of mx was the fastest anyone has ever gone. What's your thoughts on that?
11/12/2015 5:29pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:00am
tprice07 wrote:
First off, thank you for taking the time to join us on here and congrats on your success both now and in the past. When you...
First off, thank you for taking the time to join us on here and congrats on your success both now and in the past.

When you are commentating races on TV are you constantly having to think about any "bias" showing through for your own riders?

Any chance you guys have room for a multi-time moto/supercross champion?

Given the relationship you had with Ryan Dungey, both business and personal, did you guys ever have interest in him?

With Chad Reed and James Stewart closing on their long careers, what advice do you have for either of them to obtain one last championship?
i contstantly am thinking of not being biased, there are many things that I don't say or comment about pertaining to our team or personal friends...
i contstantly am thinking of not being biased, there are many things that I don't say or comment about pertaining to our team or personal friends that are racers because of that. But I have learned that it doesn't really matter much because no matter what I say I am always going to be under scrutiny.
I think there is always a chance to have a multi-time champion on our team.

Yes, we had a extreme amount of interest in Ryan, from a business standpoint how could you not? You know he is always going to be in contention every year. Although we had talks, nothing ever materialized but that's okay, there's a lot of moving parts that have to happen to acquire someone of his caliber.

As for advice for CR or JS, I just want them to stay safe. They have came a long ways and for this point in their career in my opinion they need to stay healthy.
11/12/2015 5:32pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:06am
With being from Belgium i wanna ask, how did you enjoy your time here ? I was there in 2003 MXON, Zolder when you won the...
With being from Belgium i wanna ask, how did you enjoy your time here ? I was there in 2003 MXON, Zolder when you won the individual race while Belgium won the Country title! Also saw you last year at Everts and Friends charity event so that was really cool!

And what about your Friendship with GP legend Stefan Everts ? I remember SE72 flew out to usa to watch the last ever RC4 supercross race. I find it really inspirational 2 such big legends get along well Cool

Thanks for all the great moto memories. Also thanks for being so PRO Motocross Of Nations, it's allways more fun when USA competes.
I had a great time in Belgium and in fact, it is one of my favorite European countries.

I have a decent relationship with Stefan, we both have an incredible amount of respect for each other. it was very cool to see him at my last SX race as that was a nice surprise.

The Shop

11/12/2015 5:33pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:07am
Klxracer#2 wrote:
Ricky, Do you still own your bbr perimeter 110 ? If so will you sell it to me haha [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/11/10/110683/s1200_carmichaelBBRbikeLV.jpg[/img]
Ricky,

Do you still own your bbr perimeter 110 ? If so will you sell it to me haha



Yes I sure do, and sorry, but I'm not selling it.
11/12/2015 5:35pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:07am
BobbyM wrote:
Was having that Honda with the low bars and squatter rear end really the hot setup and the only way you could haul ass on that...
Was having that Honda with the low bars and squatter rear end really the hot setup and the only way you could haul ass on that scooter? That alone makes you a bad mofo IMHO.
Haha, that was a unique set up for sure and it worked but it definitely isn't recommended.
11/12/2015 5:39pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:08am
Crush wrote:
Hey RC!

Which championship means the most to you?

And which was the hardest fought?

And... See you at RCU, can't wait!
My first titles are special.

Hardest fought titles would be 2003 SX and 2006 SX.

Look forward to seeing you at RCU as well,
11/12/2015 5:41pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:08am
robkinuk wrote:
Ricky, If you hadn't got hurt :( at the Glen Helen National and had raced the 2006 Motocross des Nations at Matterley Basin, Gt Britain, would...
Ricky,
If you hadn't got hurt Sad at the Glen Helen National and had raced the 2006 Motocross des Nations at Matterley Basin, Gt Britain, would you have raced Stefan Everts for the win? or backed it down for the team victory, as James Stewart claimed?Wink
I was so bummed when I got hurt there because I was really looking forward to racing at Matterley Basin. Myself personally, I would have rode my ass off to beat everyone, that's my style.
11/12/2015 5:44pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:09am
Switch wrote:
RC, What was the pressure like at Loretta's on 80's when you were the kid everyone expected to dominate at such a young age? Was there...
RC,

What was the pressure like at Loretta's on 80's when you were the kid everyone expected to dominate at such a young age?

Was there a reason behind #167 as an amateur?

Thanks for coming by and doing this, much respect
The pressure was always high to win, ever since I was a little kid I was expected to win and anything less was a loss.

167 came from the number that NMA gave me when I attended my first amateur national, so i just stuck with that from that point on.

11/12/2015 5:47pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:10am
SPYGUY wrote:
I'm interested in hearing about your preparations for the 2004 SX season that you ultimately were not able to participate in. It's fairly well known that...
I'm interested in hearing about your preparations for the 2004 SX season that you ultimately were not able to participate in. It's fairly well known that you had decided to switch from your CR250R to the CRF450R. What led up to that decision to switch? In 2005 you proved that you were still ultra competitive on a 250 two stroke so was it just some deficiencies in the CR that made your feel like you'd be more competitive on the CRF that year?
Exactly, you hit the nail on the head. We as a team, thought that being on the CRF450 would give us the best chance at defending our SX title. Dissapointed I had to sit out that season because we were pretty optimistic about our chances based on set up and performance of the machine
11/12/2015 5:50pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:10am
moto0852 wrote:
So there was a big study done of a company who put on three day educational seminars. Some attendees where charged $1,500 dollars to attend. Some...
So there was a big study done of a company who put on three day educational seminars. Some attendees where charged $1,500 dollars to attend. Some got in free. At the end of the seminar an evaluation form was handed in.

Almost universally the attendees who paid $1,500 loved the event and had nothing but good to say.
Those that got in free complained about needing to pay for parking, no lunch was provided. Only water stations and no coffee. Hotel location wasn't convenient, etc.

Point is, in business you strive to provide "value added" services. Cost, while important, is never trumped by "Over deliver and under promise" Frustrating but true.

I'm sure Ricky will be along at some point but if the expectation would have been better set we all wouldn't be complaining so much about our "free" content here. (Which I do love oh sooooo much!)
Hard to make everyone happy.
11/12/2015 5:55pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 11:12am
jasonv43 wrote:
RC, Thanks for the reply. I have one more question. What were you thinking in these 2 moments? [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/11/11/110986/s1200_RC_Boat.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/11/11/110987/s1200_RC.jpg[/img]
RC,

Thanks for the reply. I have one more question.

What were you thinking in these 2 moments?






ocscottie wrote:
,,,and here, one of the scariest photos! [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/11/12/111012/s1200_RCotb.jpg[/img]
,,,and here, one of the scariest photos!



The top one I was thinking, "Oh shit."

Second one I was thinking, "Nice, I'm outta here boys."

And the third, "Oh no, this is gonna be bad."
11/12/2015 5:58pm
Hey Ricky,

Thanks for doing this!

My question for you is, What was the reason for the switch from Kawi to Honda and from Honda to Suzuki?
wreckitrandy
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11/12/2015 6:26pm
You coming up to bear hunt this year? I've seen a photo of a 500 pound 'monster'....... Better hurry! Also, how is your dad doing? I remember he had an accident a while back.
bvm111
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11/12/2015 6:38pm
Ricky,

I think it is really cool for you to come on here and mingle with the common folk here on Vital!

I would say it's like willingly checking yourself into the looney bin for a week just for grins! Tongue

How close have you remained with Mitch both after you left kawasaki and now that you are a fellow team owner? I ask this because I noticed you in the PC pits at MEC talking with him for quite some time ( I wasn't one of the drunks yelling at you to take a selfie!) and was curious at what type of info do you guys share with eachother in the padock?

Thanks again

Barron
Old-Man
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11/12/2015 7:19pm


"Nice, i'm outta here boys"~ Ricky Carmichael
Quote of the year!

That Pic with that quote is EPIC wish I had a Poster with RC sighning it that way...Fkin Love it!
Old-Man
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11/12/2015 7:23pm
BTW Thanks for stopping by as I am sure I can speak for everyone here saying we're diggin it that you made the commitment to do something like this with your schedule AND Kids...
Now go tuck those future Champs in young Man! Smile Wink
jasonv43
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11/12/2015 9:02pm
Old-Man wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2015/11/11/110987/s1200_RC.jpg[/img] "Nice, i'm outta here boys"~ Ricky Carmichael Quote of the year! That Pic with that quote is EPIC wish I had a Poster with RC...


"Nice, i'm outta here boys"~ Ricky Carmichael
Quote of the year!

That Pic with that quote is EPIC wish I had a Poster with RC sighning it that way...Fkin Love it!




Helder
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11/12/2015 11:46pm
RC, Mate great to see you on here just a quick one how different are the racers practice bikes compared with their full blown race bikes?
jamma10
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11/13/2015 3:29am Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 3:42am
robkinuk wrote:
Ricky, If you hadn't got hurt :( at the Glen Helen National and had raced the 2006 Motocross des Nations at Matterley Basin, Gt Britain, would...
Ricky,
If you hadn't got hurt Sad at the Glen Helen National and had raced the 2006 Motocross des Nations at Matterley Basin, Gt Britain, would you have raced Stefan Everts for the win? or backed it down for the team victory, as James Stewart claimed?Wink
I was so bummed when I got hurt there because I was really looking forward to racing at Matterley Basin. Myself personally, I would have rode...
I was so bummed when I got hurt there because I was really looking forward to racing at Matterley Basin. Myself personally, I would have rode my ass off to beat everyone, that's my style.
Below is a picture of my sister holding a signed poster of yours from Matterley Basin (you actually met her husband Rik at the Daytona 24hr this year, he was driving for the Visit Florida team).



Obviously you do the RCU days now so you probably get some idea but I hope you're aware of just how many fans you have all over the world? You may have had a few long time duals with 'our lot' over the years but I think it's fair to say you were a huge inspiration to us Euros.

I'm exactly the same age as you and remember, as an 8 or 9 year old, flicking through a Kawsaki brochure and seeing this little ginger haired kid sitting on a 60cc with 'Carmichael' written on the back of his shirt, from then on I enviously watched your career progress to the pinnacle of the sport thinking it could have been me (ha ha). I saw you race in '98 at Foxhills but unfortunately never again. I was gutted when you had to pull out of the 2006 MXdN, it would have nicely book-ended the Carmichael era for me personally, but I still get buzz when I think back to the reception the crowd gave you when you were interviewed up on the tower - I'd say a large proportion of that crowd had travelled from all over Europe especially to see you. I'm not an overly sentimental person usually but that felt like quite a special moment at the time.

Anyhow, I don't really have a question as such, like all the other soppy gits on here I just wanted to share my appreciation for the enjoyment you've given all us mere mortals over the years and wish you all the best.

(...how the hell you managed to hold on during some of your epic battles over the years is just beyond me!)
DMG
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11/13/2015 5:49am Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 5:51am
What did you say to your wife when you met her for the first time in the beer tent to get her interested in you?
defeatist45
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11/13/2015 6:11am
Ricky, were you hammered in the booth that night comparing championships with Emig? Lol I laughed hysterically(you don't have to answer that). You're the greatest, man, cheers!
tprice07
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11/13/2015 6:58am
tprice07 wrote:
First off, thank you for taking the time to join us on here and congrats on your success both now and in the past. When you...
First off, thank you for taking the time to join us on here and congrats on your success both now and in the past.

When you are commentating races on TV are you constantly having to think about any "bias" showing through for your own riders?

Any chance you guys have room for a multi-time moto/supercross champion?

Given the relationship you had with Ryan Dungey, both business and personal, did you guys ever have interest in him?

With Chad Reed and James Stewart closing on their long careers, what advice do you have for either of them to obtain one last championship?
i contstantly am thinking of not being biased, there are many things that I don't say or comment about pertaining to our team or personal friends...
i contstantly am thinking of not being biased, there are many things that I don't say or comment about pertaining to our team or personal friends that are racers because of that. But I have learned that it doesn't really matter much because no matter what I say I am always going to be under scrutiny.
I think there is always a chance to have a multi-time champion on our team. Yes, we had a extreme amount of interest in Ryan, from...
I think there is always a chance to have a multi-time champion on our team.

Yes, we had a extreme amount of interest in Ryan, from a business standpoint how could you not? You know he is always going to be in contention every year. Although we had talks, nothing ever materialized but that's okay, there's a lot of moving parts that have to happen to acquire someone of his caliber.

As for advice for CR or JS, I just want them to stay safe. They have came a long ways and for this point in their career in my opinion they need to stay healthy.
Thanks Ricky! Means the world to us for you to respond like you do. Hopefully some things can materialize for Reedy and he can make it work. Good luck this year with RCH!
11/13/2015 11:41am
Ricky what was you most memorable race with Chad Reed and James Stewart?
TailSoHard
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11/13/2015 1:27pm
Two questions:

1) So during the RedBull Straight Rhythm event earlier this year, they featured a bit with Pastrana talking about how important scrubbing is these days and how it's changed our sport over the past few years. Since your prime was around the time that scrubbing began to become popular, did you have trouble adding the scrub to your repertoire since you hadn't really grown up riding with it like kids do these days? Or did it just come naturally for you? Or did you find you didn't need to scrub every single jump (if at all...)?

AND

2) IF the AMA added a 125cc two-stroke class, who would you hire as your 125 rider(s)?
tprice07
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11/13/2015 1:39pm
TailSoHard wrote:
Two questions: 1) So during the RedBull Straight Rhythm event earlier this year, they featured a bit with Pastrana talking about how important scrubbing is these...
Two questions:

1) So during the RedBull Straight Rhythm event earlier this year, they featured a bit with Pastrana talking about how important scrubbing is these days and how it's changed our sport over the past few years. Since your prime was around the time that scrubbing began to become popular, did you have trouble adding the scrub to your repertoire since you hadn't really grown up riding with it like kids do these days? Or did it just come naturally for you? Or did you find you didn't need to scrub every single jump (if at all...)?

AND

2) IF the AMA added a 125cc two-stroke class, who would you hire as your 125 rider(s)?
James Stewart and Ronnie Mac of course.
Old-Man
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11/13/2015 4:46pm
I thought I did pretty well with all things considered and reasons a lot of people aren't aware of. There are a lot of moving parts...
I thought I did pretty well with all things considered and reasons a lot of people aren't aware of. There are a lot of moving parts in any type of NASCAR racing. One thing I needed was to be on a big team with a lot of experience that I could fall back on due to my lack of seat time and inexperience. I never got that opportunity. Although I'm still grateful for the one I got, please don't get me wrong.

I really learned a lot my first year and a half and began to put it all together my final year.

My departure from NASCAR is a long story and but the short version is this, I was slated to run 18 Nationwide (Xfinity) races the following year at KBM in the Monster Energy car, but when Kurt Busch got released from Penske after Homestead they then put him in, in replacement for me. No hard feelings though, that's NASCAR and business.
Any regrets going with KBM or was that Mosters choice all along?

With all the mechanical problems Kurt Busch and others had in that car that year you were best to sit it out. IMO.
Nothing but problems with that car and if you were in it?
sponsors would say it was more driver than car....No disrespect but you know the media/sponsors better than I
YZ125H1
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11/13/2015 5:00pm
What in your opinion was the best factory bike you rode and why?
Old-Man
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11/13/2015 5:11pm
Old-Man wrote:
Seen the header and thought Holy shit! Really? GuyB got the GOAT to come in here? Came in here just to read some of his comments...
Seen the header and thought Holy shit! Really? GuyB got the GOAT to come in here?

Came in here just to read some of his comments
One in particular is the Nascar ride. What happened there? I thought you showed promise, a lot more promise than most folks that come from the two wheel sports to Nascar.

Hope to hear from you RC, even if it's just a few comments, have a good one and thanks for the memories!
"Ricky Carmichael wrote:
I thought I did pretty well with all things considered and reasons a lot of people aren't aware of. There are a lot of moving parts in any type of NASCAR racing. One thing I needed was to be on a big team with a lot of experience that I could fall back on due to my lack of seat time and inexperience. I never got that opportunity. Although I'm still grateful for the one I got, please don't get me wrong.
"
That answers my first question Wink
Switch
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11/13/2015 10:54pm Edited Date/Time 11/13/2015 10:57pm
No better chance than now to ask I guess. Matthes gets questioned on his podcasts frequently asking if/why there is bad blood between the two of you. He usually deflects on details but has said a few things ultimately led to it. With a sport this small, it's bound to happen. Since the floor is yours, what built the history between you two?

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