Carmichael Earns Fourth 250cc AMA Supercross Championship

In front of 43,445 fans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Suzuki‰Ûªs Ricky Carmichael, of Havana, Fla. won his fourth 250cc AMA supercross championship, making this his 12th AMA National Title overall. Honda‰Ûªs Andrew Short, of Murrieta, Calif., won his first 125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series race, leading all 15 laps in the main event. Honda‰Ûªs Kyle Lewis, of Henderson, NV, picked up the $1500 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award but was passed in the first lap by Kawasaki‰Ûªs James Stewart, of Haines City, Fla. While Stewart maintained the lead in the 20-lap race, the battle for second between Yamaha‰Ûªs Chad Reed, of Dade City, Fla., and Carmichael heated up early on. Reed and Carmichael passed Lewis in lap 2 and changed positions through lap 3 where Reed was able to retain the 2nd place position for the remainder of the race. The 250cc AMA championship is the first for Suzuki since 1981. Carmichael won 28 points ahead of Reed in the title chase. ‰ÛÏI can‰Ûªt believe it. I don‰Ûªt think anyone thought I would be up here, but it‰Ûªs good to prove them wrong. I don‰Ûªt care how many races I‰Ûªve won, I earned the number 1 plate,‰Û