Mt. Morris, PA - May 30, 2004
By Steve Cox

Coming into Mt. Morris, many were wondering if anyone could beat Team Honda’s Ricky Carmichael. So far, the answer is still no. In his second race aboard the factory Honda CRF450R, Carmichael started near the front in both motos and sped off to the win both times out, extending his record to 98 AMA National wins.

“I’m really happy with the win, but now I’ve got 98 wins and my goal is 100,” Carmichael said. “I feel really confident going to Southwick, so I’m just going to enjoy my weekend off and hit it hard the week of Southwick and try to get 99 wins.”

If Carmichael’s performance at Hangtown was dominance, Mt. Morris was ridiculous, as he didn’t just holeshot and check out this time. He actually had to pass his two biggest series rivals – Kevin Windham and Chad Reed.

In the first moto, Carmichael started up front, but quickly moved into the lead in front of Reed. However, that only lasted just over a lap, as RC hit the dirt just past the startline on lap two.

“The first moto, when I fell, I just got into the corner too hot and my back wheel hopped up out of the rut,” Carmichael said. “I just kind of tipped it over, kept the bike running, caught Chad really quick, and moved by quickly.”

“In the first moto, I just didn’t feel like I could get out of the rhythm I was in,” Reed said. “I was in a terrible rhythm and I was struggling with the ruts.”

Carmichael walked away while Windham reeled Reed in. Windham made the pass and took off for second place while Reed settled for third ahead of David Vuillemin and Timmy Ferry.

Moto two was all Hondas up front, as Windham grabbed the holeshot, followed immediately by Carmichael. “He watched where I was going and he was able to make time on me, and when he made the pass – we were doing 18s all day, and when we were together, we were doing 15s – when he went around me, he must’ve been doing high 14s,” Windham said.

“The second moto was good,” Carmichael said. “Kevin got a good jump on me there. I started reeling off some good laps, but the lappers weren’t cooperating. It was a joke. As soon as I got into the lappers, Kevin started reeling me in and reeling me in.”

But it wasn’t enough. Carmichael finished off the day out front, keeping his season perfect after four motos, while Windham moved into second in the points standings with his 2-2 showing, and Reed sits third after his 3-3, and Vuillemin fourth after his 4-4.

AMA/Chevrolet Mt. Morris 250cc National Overall Results:
1. Ricky Carmichael, 1-1
2. Kevin Windham, 2-2
3. Chad Reed, 3-3
4. David Vuillemin, 4-4
5. Ernesto Fonseca, 7-5
6. Sean Hamblin, 8-6
7. Michael Byrne, 6-8
8. John Dowd, 9-7
9. Nick Wey, 11-9
10. Keith S. Johnson, 10-11

For full results, visit usmotocross.com