This marks the 14th AMA national title for Carmichael. In addition to his five AMA Supercross Series titles Carmichael has also won the AMA Motocross Championship six times and the AMA Motocross Lites (formerly 125) title three times. He also earned a regional title, the AMA Supercross Lites East in 1998.
This year Carmichael took six AMA Supercross wins. That pushed his career AMA Supercross wins total to 46. He is second to Jeremy McGrath on the series all-time series wins list.
Carmichael came into the Las Vegas finale tied with Yamaha’s Chad Reed with red-hot Kawasaki ace James Stewart only five points back. Carmichael had to finish in front of Reed and make sure no one was between him and Stewart to ensure the title.
“All week I was thinking about this race,” Carmichael said after finishing second to Stewart and just ahead of Reed in the final round. “I wasn’t feeling super confident coming into Vegas, but I talked myself into this one. Chad’s always done well here and I just went out and rode as hard as I could. I tried to set my sights on James and not concentrate on where Chad was.”
Suzuki announced earlier in the week that Carmichael would remain with the team for three more years, but only race in select events after this season. Carmichael however, did not rule out another run at the AMA Supercross Series in 2007.
“If I come out and do well in the early rounds next year there’s nothing to say I won’t go for the championship,” Carmichael said. “I have that option.”
After a brief break Carmichael is set to defend his AMA Motocross Championship title as the 2006 series begins on May 20-21 at the Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, Calif.
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