Team Makita Suzuki Racing's Ricky Carmichael Clinches AMA Toyota Motocross Championship

BINGHAMTON, N.Y., (Aug. 21, 2006) – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) is proud to announce that Team Makita Suzuki Racing’s Ricky Carmichael captured his seventh consecutive AMA Toyota Motocross Championship at Broome-Tioga Sports Center in Binghamton, N.Y., on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2006. With two rounds remaining in the 12-round series, Carmichael and his Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 finished first overall to clinch the championship.

“Winning another motocross championship is awesome,” said Carmichael. “It was hard-fought, there was tough competition and I’m happy to do it. I never expected to do this, I don’t think anyone at Suzuki expected to have the run we’ve had. We’ve been really fortunate and we’ve made our own luck and done really good as a team. That’s what it takes at this level. Now I’m just looking forward to racing for fun and putting on some good shows for the fans.”

This is the second consecutive AMA Motocross Championship that Carmichael has won with the Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 and Team Makita Suzuki Racing. Since signing with Makita Suzuki, Carmichael won the 2005 AMA Supercross title, the 2005 World Supercross GP title, the 2005 AMA Motocross title, the 2005 U.S. Open of Supercross and he led Team USA to victory in the 2005 Motocross des Nations. Most recently, Carmichael wrapped up the 2006 Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Championship and he is again slated to lead Team USA in the upcoming 2006 Motocross des Nations.

“This is a great day for Suzuki,” said Mel Harris, ASMC’s Vice President of the Motorcycle/ATV Division. “We are extremely proud of Ricky, Makita Suzuki Team Manager Roger DeCoster and the whole Makita Suzuki team for bringing home another motocross championship to Suzuki. We know how hard they’ve worked and the challenges they’ve faced. Ricky is an important part of the Suzuki family and we look forward to a long and healthy relationship with him in the future.”

Carmichael raced with Team Makita Suzuki Racing for the 2005-2006 seasons and has won 14 combined AMA Supercross/Motocross Championships overall. With two rounds of AMA Toyota Motocross remaining for 2006, Carmichael has won eight out of the 10 events this season for a combined 143 SX/MX career victories so far.