September 17, 2004
San Bernardino, CA - As far as endings go, Hollywood couldn’t have scripted a more fitting one than today’s series-ending AMA 250 National Motocross event at Glen Helen Raceway. Not only did Team Honda’s Ricky Carmichael sweep both motos to cap yet another history-making perfect season, but he did it in typical RC style, sporting his newly minted #1 plate (as opposed to his customary #4) as a tribute to his team and to Honda in what was to be their last race together.
Ricky reiterated his feelings from the podium afterward, praising Honda and the very successful partnership they enjoyed since 2001. “This is unbelievable,” he said. “I really want to dedicate this to all the crew at Honda. We had a great relationship and set a lot of records together.”
And wrapping up a second undefeated AMA 250 National Motcross season—a feat never accomplished once, let alone twice, by any other rider in AMA history—would be one of the biggest.
Back on the track, it was textbook RC all afternoon, even if he failed to grab the holeshot in either moto. (That honor went to Team MotoXXX Honda’s Kyle Lewis both times.) In the first race, Carmichael worked his way up from fifth at the start, passing Yamaha’s Chad Reed for the lead within the first two laps. From there RC literally vanished, building as much as a 45-second lead by moto’s end.
Moto two again saw Lewis jump out front, but this time Carmichael was right with him, quickly passing the #23 Honda CRF450R for the lead and leaving the rest of the pack to duke it out for second. Lewis would go on to notch a 5-5 showing for an impressive fourth overall.
