In a race with six lead changes in five laps between Yamaha’s Chad Reed and Honda’s Ricky Carmichael, Reed won his fourth 250cc THQ World Supercross GP/AMA Supercross Series race of the season at the Edward Jones Dome in front of 46, 472 fans. Team Suzuki’s Branden Jesseman, of Fombell, Pa., won his third 125cc Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Series race, extending his series points lead to 10 over Brown.
Suzuki’s Danny Smith, of Middleton, Idaho, earned his first $1,500 SXGP.com holeshot award in 250cc competition in front of Reed, of Menifee, Calif., and Carmichael, of Havana, Fla. Reed quickly passed Smith then bobbled before the triple, forcing him to double, and Carmichael moved into the lead.
In the next five laps, six lead changes took place before Carmichael crashed in the timing section. Reed pulled away while Carmichael played catch up. On lap nine, Carmichael passed Smith for second and his teammate Ernesto Fonseca moved into third. Reed held on for the win, Carmichael was second and Fonseca third.
“I didn’t hold my end of the deal,” said Carmichael on the lead changes. “I kept making mistakes, then he would pass me, then I crashed. I got my butt kicked.”
“Coming into this race, I was trying to be positive,” said Reed. “I didn’t even like the track, but I got the win. I know that the championship is far away right now, so I am going to keep racing for the wins.”
KTM’s Steve Boniface, of Temecula, Calif., earned the $1000 SXGP.com holeshot award in front of Yamaha’s Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., and Brock Sellards, of Sherrodsville, Ohio. Series points leader Jesseman, who had a bad start, capitalized on a crash that involved Kawasaki’s Mike Brown and Smith. As the two went down on lap three, Jesseman took over third, behind Metcalf.
On lap eight, Jesseman passed Boniface for the lead. Brown regrouped by lap 10 and moved into third place when he passed Smith. Jesseman held on for his fourth career win, followed by Boniface and Brown.
“Everyone puts so much into these races and it paid off again tonight,” said Jesseman. “I would really like to dedicate this win to the our men and women who are fighting in Iraq.”
Action heads south next weekend for the inaugural race at Houston’s Reliant Stadium.