For fans and fellow racers alike it’s hard to believe – Ricky Carmichael’s final AMA Supercross race is upon us. This Saturday, March 17, Carmichael will turn his final lap in the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series when the championship comes to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
The racing world has known since the announcement was made before the season started that this would be Carmichael’s final season of racing motorcycles. The Floridian is making the transition from two wheels to four. He signed a developmental contract with Bobby Ginn Racing with the ultimate goal of racing in NASCAR. Still it’s hard for many to comprehend that they will no longer see the speedy No. 4 Makita Suzuki racing around America’s stadiums.
Carmichael was never considered to be a “natural” Supercross racer like Jeremy McGrath. He was more of a fitness rider who thrived in the grueling world of motocross. Yet Carmichael wanted to prove he could win in Supercross and put countless hours in training to become a good stadium rider. In 2001 he broke through and unseated Supercross King McGrath and went on to win the first of five AMA Supercross titles. Now Carmichael stands as the second winningest rider in the sport’s history with 48-career victories. He would love to get win number 49 Saturday in Orlando, but he admits it’s going to be difficult.
“It’s been fun to watch the changes in the sport and to ride against some of the great riders,” Carmichael said after finishing second last weekend in Daytona Beach. “I’ve been very fortunate and it’s sad it’s coming to an end, but at the same time I have to move forward. It’s going to be tough. There isn’t an opening ceremony that goes by that I don’t get a little choked up. It’s been a great road for me and my career is something I’m very proud of. I just want to be known as a great ambassador for the sport. It’s going to be tough this weekend to be focused on the race.”
The racing world has known since the announcement was made before the season started that this would be Carmichael’s final season of racing motorcycles. The Floridian is making the transition from two wheels to four. He signed a developmental contract with Bobby Ginn Racing with the ultimate goal of racing in NASCAR. Still it’s hard for many to comprehend that they will no longer see the speedy No. 4 Makita Suzuki racing around America’s stadiums.
Carmichael was never considered to be a “natural” Supercross racer like Jeremy McGrath. He was more of a fitness rider who thrived in the grueling world of motocross. Yet Carmichael wanted to prove he could win in Supercross and put countless hours in training to become a good stadium rider. In 2001 he broke through and unseated Supercross King McGrath and went on to win the first of five AMA Supercross titles. Now Carmichael stands as the second winningest rider in the sport’s history with 48-career victories. He would love to get win number 49 Saturday in Orlando, but he admits it’s going to be difficult.
“It’s been fun to watch the changes in the sport and to ride against some of the great riders,” Carmichael said after finishing second last weekend in Daytona Beach. “I’ve been very fortunate and it’s sad it’s coming to an end, but at the same time I have to move forward. It’s going to be tough. There isn’t an opening ceremony that goes by that I don’t get a little choked up. It’s been a great road for me and my career is something I’m very proud of. I just want to be known as a great ambassador for the sport. It’s going to be tough this weekend to be focused on the race.”
