Carmichael And Preston Clinch Supercross Titles

AMA / EA Sports Supercross Series Round 15: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake
City, UT Saturday, April 27, 2002

   Honda Racing's Ricky Carmichael won Round 15 of the AMA / EA Sports
   Supercross series, clinching the coveted 2002 250cc Supercross title.
   Carmichael rocketed out of the gate at the start and after a few laps
   behind David Vuillemin, RC made his move into the lead and never looked
   back. The win gave RC his tenth victory of the season.


    "My bike was awesome," said a happy Carmichael. "I never felt like I
   was pushing it out there, and when Vuillemin started closing a bit, I
   just put the hammer down."


   Carmichael gave Honda it's first 250cc SX Championship since 1996 when a
   young Jeremy McGrath won his fourth consecutive 250cc SX title with Team
   Honda.


   Honda Racing Sebastien Tortelli rode a fantastic 250cc main event by
   finishing a very impressive third place, and joined teammate Ricky
   Carmichael on the victory podium.


   "Tonight was a great night for Honda, " said Tortelli. "The track was
   really good considering all the rain during the day, and I felt totally
   comfortable. I am definitely going to use this finish as momentum
   heading into the outdoor motocross series."


   Red Rider Ernesto Fonseca rode great all night. Fonseca chased teammate
   Tortelli for most of the race and finally crossed the finish line in
   fourth place, giving Honda three out of the top five positions.


   Honda Racing's Nathan Ramsey came from a mid-pack start to race his
   CRF450R to a seventh place position for the night.


   "I rode my hardest out there tonight, " said Ramsey. "We have one more
   Supercross race next week in Vegas. I want to do the best I can at Round
   16 and then focus all of my attention on the outdoor motocross title.


   Amsoil / Dr. Marten / Journeys / Honda Racing's Mike LaRocco is still
   recovering from a broken right wrist he sustained in Minneapolis.
   LaRocco is undergoing a strong rehabilitation program to get his wrist
   back to 100%.


   Amsoil / Dr. Marten / Journeys / Honda Racing's Travis Preston came into
   Salt Lake City leading the 125cc West Coast Supercross series by just
   ten points over second place Stewart. If Stewart won, Preston had to at
   least cross the finish line in fifth place or higher to claim the
   championship.


   As the gate dropped in the 125cc main event, Travis Preston fought to
   gain second place on lap one, and would keep that spot until the
   checkered flag. With fists raised in the air over the finish line jump,
   Preston won his first ever 125cc Supercross title. Teammate Chris
   Gosselaar finished the night in seventh place, and fourth overall in the
   series.


   I am still in shock, said Travis Preston. "My team and the guys at Honda
   have worked so hard this year, and I am pumped to be able and give back
   to them the championship title. It's a dream come true."


   Ricky Carmichael and Travis Preston became the first Honda Red Riders to
   win a 250cc Supercross title and a 125 Supercross title, in the same
   year, since Jeremy McGrath and Doug Henry back in 1993. Congratulations
   to their efforts as well as their entire race teams!


   AMA/EA Sports Supercross, 125 West Coast Overall Finishers:


   1. James Stewart - Kawasaki


   2. Travis Preston- Honda


   3. Danny Smith - Suzuki


   AMA/EA Sports Supercross, 125 West Coast Final Point Standings:


   1. Travis Preston - Honda - 152


   2. James Stewart - Kawasaki - 145


   3. Ivan Tedesco - Yamaha - 130


   4. Chris Gosselaar - Honda 128


   5. Travis Elliott - Honda - 100


   AMA/EA Sports Supercross, 250-class Overall Finishers:


   1. Ricky Carmichael - Honda


   2. David Vuillemin - Yamaha


   3. Sebastien Tortelli - Honda


   4. Ernesto Fonseca - Honda


   5. Jeremy McGrath - Yamaha


   7. Nathan Ramsey - Honda


   AMA/EA Sports Supercross, 250-class Point Standings:


   1. Ricky Carmichael - Honda - 331


   2. David Vuillemin - Yamaha - 301


   3. Jeremy McGrath - Yamaha - 234


   4. Ezra Lusk - Kawasaki - 223


   5. Stephane Roncada - Kawasaki - 218


   6. Nathan Ramsey - Honda - 211


   7. Ernesto Fonseca - Honda -177


   9. Heath Voss - Honda - 148


   16. Sebastien Tortelli - Honda - 106


   Upcoming Round:


   May 4, Las Vegas, SX