Windham over Carmichael at Unadilla
AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship Round 8: New Berlin, New York July 20, 2003 Windham over Carmichael at Unadilla It was only a matter of time before the signature holeshots of the powerful #14 Honda CRF450R would lead to a Kevin Windham overall win and Ricky Carmichael knew it. Since his return to racing, Windham has threatened the ever-growing 250-class Carmichael win streak like no other competitor and when the checkered flag flew for the second moto at Unadilla, the streak officially ended at 21. Windham's win marks the first time since July 29, 2001 that Carmichael has suffered motocross defeat and it too came compliments of Windham. It also marks the first overall moto win for Honda's mighty CRF450R. "It was going to happen sooner or later and I knew it was probably going to be Kevin (Windham) who was going to do it," said a gracious Carmichael after Sunday's second moto. "Win streaks are nice but my focus will always be the championship and finishing second today hasn't hurt that ultimate goal. My goal for next weekend is to get better starts. Kevin obviously proved today how important that is." No motorcycle matched Windham's multiple holeshots into Unadilla's right hand first turn. As Windham handily built an early lead in the first moto, Carmichael was rapidly trying to cut his losses after a bad start relegated the #4 Honda CR250R to eighth place at the completion of the first lap. Carmichael eventually advanced to the runner-up position on the third lap, but by that point the damage was already done. Windham's holeshot had grown into a comfortable lead that not even Carmichael could capture. Windham completed the 16th and final lap an impressive 18.5 seconds ahead of his Honda teammate, while third place Tim Ferry was a distant 40 seconds off of winner's pace. Windham's moto two pace was equally as hot, but in the second outing Carmichael enjoyed a better start that eventually led to a tighter race for the lead. Windham enjoyed a slight cushion over the defending champion throughout the moto, but late in the race as the duo began to enter lapped traffic, the overall was still up for grabs. "I tried as hard as I could to catch him," confessed Carmichael, "but he was just the better rider today." The lapped traffic actually worked to Windham's advantage as the 25-year old Southerner crossed the finish line 5.3 seconds ahead of Carmichael. It marked Windham's first overall win since the September 2, 2001 season finale in Delmont, Pennsylvania, a race that saw Carmichael compete in the 125 class after clinching the 250 championship at a previous round. Coincidentally, due to the Carmichael stronghold on the 250 class in the last two years, the Honda CRF450R has never taken an overall win in outdoor competition until now. "We've worked so hard so it feels great to take both motos and win on a bike that definitely deserves an overall," said Windham. Nathan Ramsey, the other factory-backed CRF450R racer who took the Honda four-stroke its first Supercross victory at the Pontiac Supercross in 2002, did not compete at Unadilla due to a wrist injury that he suffered while practicing at Red Bud in early July. His return to racing is indefinite. While Windham and Carmichael were at the front of the 40-man field, Red Rider Ernesto Fonseca and Amsoil/Chaparral/Factory Connection's Mike LaRocco were amongst the field battling the always rocky Unadilla circuit. The rocks proved treacherous for Fonseca especially, who crashed and was run over, cutting his nose and mouth in the first moto. The gash didn't require stitches, but it did require that Fonseca retire from moto one competition early in order to receive medical treatment. Always a trooper, Fonseca returned for the second moto and turned in a valiant 12th place finish that led to 17th overall. LaRocco stayed clear of flying rocks, but couldn't stay clear of the first turn pandemonium that occurs any time 40 men line the gate at an outdoor national. LaRocco turned two mid pack starts into matching seventh place moto finishes, which resulted in seventh overall on the day. He also maintained his fifth place position in the series point standings. In 125 action, Amsoil/Chaparral/Factory Connection's Michael Byrne raced to eighth overall via a 6-9 moto tally, while teammates Ryan Mills and Chris Gosselaar suffered more bad luck. Both riders were involved in crashes that saw Gosselaar finish 37th overall and Mills 24th. With the pressure of upholding a 250 win streak now behind him, Carmichael heads to Washougal, Washington to continue his quest for a fourth consecutive 250 championship. Standing in his way on July 27 will be Windham, no doubt. 250 Overall Results: 1. Kevin Windham (1, 1) - Honda 2. Ricky Carmichael (2, 2) - Honda 3. Tim Ferry (3, 3) - Yamaha 4. David Vuillemin (5, 4) - Yamaha 5. Chad Reed (6, 5) - Yamaha 7. Mike LaRocco (7, 7) - Honda 8. Jean-Sebastien Roy (12, 6) - Honda 9. Kyle Lewis (9, 10) - Honda 12. Damon Plotts (15, 13) - Honda 13. Clark Stiles (14, 14) - Honda 15. Marco Dube (34, 8) - Honda 17. Ernesto Fonseca (39, 12) - Honda 18. Jason Thomas (13, 34) - Honda 250 AMA Motocross Points Standings: 1. Ricky Carmichael - Honda - 338 2. Kevin Windham - Honda - 285 3. Chad Reed - Yamaha - 255 4. Tim Ferry - Yamaha - 242 5. Mike LaRocco - Honda - 198 9. Ernesto Fonseca - Honda - 135 10. Larry Ward - Honda - 131 12. Clark Stiles - Honda - 78 13. Kyle Lewis - Honda - 75 14. Nathan Ramsey - Honda - 74 18. Jason Thomas - Honda - 43 125 Overall Results 1. James Stewart (1, 1) - Kawasaki 2. Grant Langston (3, 2) - KTM 3. Ryan Hughes (4, 4) - KTM 4. Mike Brown (7, 3) - Kawasaki 5. Brett Metcalfe (5, 5) - KTM 8. Michael Byrne (6, 9) - Honda 13. Tim Weigand (14, 16) - Honda 24. Ryan Mills (19, 33) - Honda 125 AMA Motocross Point Standings: 1. Mike Brown - Kawasaki - 249 2. Grant Langston - KTM - 248 3. Ryan Hughes - KTM - 216 4. Brock Sellards - Yamaha - 167 5. Eric Sorby - Kawasaki - 160 9. Michael Byrne - Honda - 147 14. Chris Gosselaar - Honda - 96 19. Ryan Mills - Honda - 54