Posted: Monday, 26th September, 2005 : 2:12 PM - - 4,352 Reads

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	Kiwi Ben Townley simply stared and finished second overall behind Carmichael in the individual stakes. Photo: Ray Archer

After already sitting through some spectacular racing in the Saturday qualifying, Which saw, Carmichael (MX1), Ben Townley (Open) and Sebastian Tortelli (MX2) take top honors, a massive crowd of 36,000 returned to pack the undulating French circuit to see each countries finest go head to head over three motos, MX1&MX2, Open&MX2 and MX1&Open.

Carmichael set Team USA up early when he blasted out of the gate in the MX1&MX2 opening moto. With Belgians Stefan Everts stuck back in the pack and local hero Mickael Pichon almost throwing it away in the third corner it would take a mechanical break down or crash to stop Carmichael, adding to this Team USA's MX2 rider Ivan Tedesco was comfortably leading his class, giving Team USA a perfect score. No one had any answers for Carmichael and he rode to an easy victory. Kiwi Josh Coppins was his normal solid self in second with Pichon keeping the French I the thick of it with third. The MX2 had all the action with Frenchman, Tortelli, now riding with KTM, mount an impressive charge through the field that saw him finish just behind Tedesco in what was one of the closest battles of the day.

At the drop of the gate in the Open&MX2 race it looked like it was going to be a dark day for the rest of the world when team USA's Kevin Windham blitzed the field in the opening laps. It all came crashing down in the fourth lap though as Windham caught his brake on a fence post whilst lapping a rider and crashed. This allowed Townley easy access to the front and he would never be headed. Windham was quick to remount but the damage to his bike caused him of spear of the track and into the fence once again.

	David Vuillemin did a top job with a stock engine to help France to second overall. Photo: Yamaha

Even worse for team USA was that Tedesco was way down the back of the pack and out of contention. Too Windham's credit he did persist with a heavily damaged bike and held onto fifth. Townley took a fairly easy win from David Vuillemin, who was riding with a stock engine, and blazingly fast MX2 rider Steve Ramon who took third on a KTM SX250F.

Belgium held the lead going into the final moto MX1&MX2 and the world was set for a showdown of mammoth proportions as Team USA had too claw their way back and France was close behind waiting for any opportunity. This was also the showdown the world had been waiting for - RC V Everts.

Carmichael took the holeshot and was supported by Windham who followed his team-leader around the first lap. Everts on the other hand had a spectacular crash in the first corner ending the showdown before it stared and also ending Belgium's chances of overall victory. All attention soon turned to Townley who quickly passed Windham and set his sites on Carmichael. It was enthralling action as the duo traded fastest lap times and after four laps the duo where still within 2 seconds of each other. It looked like Townley could be the only man in recent memory to chase down the man they are calling the greatest of all but by mid-race though Carmichael had stretched his lead and Townley started to drop back to a safe second place.

	In the final moto Stefan Everts hit the dirt hard in the first corner and any chance of an Everts/RC showdown or Belgian victory went out the window. Photo Yamaha

Behind the leading pack Stefan Everts was making his way through the field and eventually worked his way to ninth, just behind team-mate Kevin Strijbos, and securing third place for the 2004 champions. With Pichon and Vuillemin finishing in the top five the host nation was assured of second place overall.

New Zealand missed the podium by a single point. Townley ended second in the individual classification behind Carmichael, with a victory and a second position. Coppins in the top four twice, but Cody Cooper who was racing his first MXoN couldn’t do better than 23rd in each moto.

"I think that I never saw such a good public, fair and enthusiast," confirmed Motocross legend and Team US manager Roger De Coster, manager of the American team. Even the weather was great, with rain in the morning to water perfectly the track and sunshine for the races.

"It was a great day, we all won today", said Team USA captain Ricky Carmichael. "We showed the world today why we are number one, it was just a great day, I am speechless".

Main Photo: The might of America - RC
Credit: Suzuki

With 17th and 14th Andrew McFarlane was Australia's bet performer.	Belgian Steve Ramon was outstanding with a third on a KTM250F against the bigger bikes.	The end to a perfect event

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