Townley wins AMA Motocross Lites at AMA Toyota Motocross Championship
SOUTHWICK, Mass. (June 10, 2007) – Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael, of Tallahassee, Fla., picked up his 99th AMA Motocross win, and 147th of his career, at the Mototees Southwick National, round three of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF. Kawasaki’s Ben Townley, of Tallahassee, Fla., was the AMA Motocross Lites winner.
Carmichael, who has three races remaining before retiring into a four-wheel racing career, had to overcome stiff competition in moto one from Kawasaki’s James Stewart before a runaway victory in moto gave him a 1-1 moto sweep. The win was his 12th victory at Southwick’s famed Motocross 338 facility.
“Seven years of training (with trainer Aldon Baker) really pay off at a track like this,” said Carmichael, referring to the physical stamina required at the sand track at Motocross 338. “I’ve done pretty well here over the years, but let me tell you, it doesn’t make it any easier.”
Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., was second overall with a 2-2 moto finish while Yamaha’s Grant Langston, of Clermont, Fla., finished third overall (3-3).
As part of an official Proclamation, which was presented to Carmichael in opening ceremonies, the City of Southwick recognized June 10, 2007, as “Ricky Carmichael Day.”
“It is really special and meant a lot to me,” said Carmichael. “To be honest, it’s the only reason that I came here. I wasn’t planning on coming to race Southwick but (the Proclamation) changed my mind.”
The AMA Motocross Lites win was the second of the season for Townley and closed the gap to eight points (138-130) in the standings on Kawasaki teammate Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash. Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn., placed third overall (3-3).
The AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF, will head to Maryland next weekend for the Monster Energy Budds Creek National, presented by Yamaha.
AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF
Mototees Southwick National, presented by Scott USA
Motocross 338 – Southwick, Mass.
Round 3 of 12
Motocross (Moto Finish)
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 1-1
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 2-2
Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 3-3
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 4-5
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 6-8
Gavin Gracyk, Coshocton, Ohio, Honda, 5-11
John Dowd, Ludlow, Mass., Suzuki, 10-9
Troy Adams, Homosassa, Fla., Suzuki, 9-10
David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 7-12
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 16-6
Motocross Class Point Standings
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki, 147
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 131
Grant Langston, Clermont, Fla., Yamaha, 101
Timmy Ferry, Largo, Fla., Kawasaki, 96
Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 93
Davi Millsaps, Cairo, Ga., Honda, 90
Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda, 79
Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 78
David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 66
Michael Byrne, Menifee, Calif., Suzuki, 59
Motocross Lites (Moto Finish)
Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki, 1-1
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 2-2
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 3-3
Jason Lawrence, Murrieta, Ga., Yamaha, 5-4
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 4-5
Kyle Chisholm, Seminole, Fla., Kawasaki, 9-6
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 6-9
Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 8-10
Billy Ainsworth, Columbia, Conn., Kawasaki, 12-11
Robert Kiniry, La Fayette, N.Y., Kawasaki, 11-13
Motocross Lites Point Standings
Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki, 138
Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki,130
Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 116
Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 112
Jason Lawrence, Murrieta, Ga., Yamaha, 101
Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 74
Josh Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., Yamaha, 63
Broc Tickle, Cary, N.C., Yamaha, 58
Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Honda, 55
Matt Goerke, Lake Helen, Fla., Yamaha, 46