Ricky Carmichael

1979-

American motocross racer

After winning the American Motocross Association (AMA) 125-cc Motocross series for three consecutive years, Ricky Carmichael moved up to the 250-cc class and won that series for the next three years. He is also a two-time champion in the AMA 250-cc Super-cross series. In 2002 Carmichael posted an unprecedented perfect record of twelve overall wins in the twelve-race series, winning every heat of every race. He didn't just win, he dominated. And, if Carmichael has anything to say about it, he's not done yet.

Born to Ride

Ricky Carmichael was born on November 27, 1979, in Clearwater, Florida. He was raised in Havana, Florida, by his father, Rick, an electrician known as Big Rick, and mother, Jeannie. Carmichael's first bike was a Yamaha 50 Tri-Zinger that his parents gave him as a Valentine's Day present when he was five years old. Short and stocky with red curly hair and an abundance of freckles, Carmichael didn't always feel comfortable at school so he lost himself in his bike. On his bike he was as tall, strong, and powerful as any athlete. Competing in his first race when he was just five years old, Carmichael had a deep and abiding desire to cross the finish line first, and by the age of sixteen he had a record-setting 67 national amateur titles to prove he could win, and win big.

In 1996, barely seventeen years old, Carmichael turned to the professional ranks, joining the AMA circuit for the last 125-cc Motocross event of the season in Delmont, Pennsylvania. He placed eighth and earned AMA Rookie of the Year honors. For the next couple of years Carmichael raced in the 125-cc division, considered the minor leagues of the sport, before moving up to the 250-cc Supercross in 1999 and the 250-cc Motocross in 2000. In 1997, his rookie season, Carmichael quickly established his dominance as a top motocross contender. Riding for Team Splitfire/Pro Circuit, he took the Eastern Region of the 125-cc Supercross with wins in Atlanta, Georgia; Orlando, Florida; and Charlotte, North Carolina. He was even more impressive in the 125-cc National Motocross series, winning the championship with eight wins and three more podium finishes. He finished the season ranked No. 1 in the 125-cc Motocross and No. 3 in the 125-cc Supercross.

In his sophomore season, Carmichael became the first rider in AMA history to win every round of the 125-cc Eastern Region Supercross series. Taking eight overall wins and an additional podium appearance in 125-cc Mazda Truck Motocross Nationals, Carmichael once again won the 125-cc Motocross championship. Riding for Pro Circuit Kawasaki, he concluded the season ranked No. 1 in both 125-cc Supercross and 125-cc Motocross. Before moving on to the 250-cc class, Carmichael broke every record in the 125-cc division.

Dominates Motocross

Carmichael made the jump to the 250-cc Supercross circuit in 1999, but got off to a difficult start by crashing in the first race of the season, sustaining a mild concussion and a fractured bone in his right hand. He continued to struggle to make the adjustment to the heavier, more powerful bike. Two fourth place finishes were the best Carmichael could do, earning him a season-end ranking of No. 16. Despite his disappointing performance in the 250-cc Supercross, Carmichael once again dominated the 125-cc Motocross season, taking his third consecutive championship with nine overall wins plus two podium finishes.

In 2000 Carmichael earned his first 250-cc Supercross win in Dayton, Ohio, and made five more podium appearances, which moved his ranking up to No. 5. Making the transition into the 250-cc Motocross events was much smoother for Carmichael, who feels more comfortable on the outdoor tracks he grew up with. He took overall nine wins, dominating the season and winning the championship. During 2000 Carmichael participated for the second year on the U.S. Motocross des Nations team, a competition among national teams of racers. In 2000 the U.S. won the competition for the first time in three years.

Driven to win and with little regard for second place, Carmichael was unhappy with his performance in the 250-cc Supercross. On his mother's suggestion, he hired a personal trainer, Aldon Baker, a former mountain-bike racer from South Africa who had recently lost his sponsorship. With Baker's guidance, Carmichael developed an extensive training regiment that included bicycle riding, running, weight lifting, practice riding, and a healthy diet—all of which helped Carmichael slim down twenty pounds. Pudgy at five-feet, six-inches and 170 pounds, he was lean and powerful at 150 pounds. In a sport that has long been characterized by riders who party as hard as they ride, Carmichael became known as the most fit, hardest trainer in Motocross.

Carmichael's hard work paid off in 2001 when he won his first 250-cc Supercross championship, finishing first fourteen times in the sixteen-race series, (with thirteen consecutive wins) and podium finishes in the only two races he didn't win. The championship was especially important to Carmichael because it happened before the impending retirement of racer Jeremy McGrath who, with seven career championships, was the uncontested king of the 250-cc Supercross. Carmichael knew he had beaten the best. He also took the 250-cc Motocross championship for the second consecutive year with seven overall wins in the twelve-race series. With the No. 1 ranking in both the 250-cc Supercross and the 250-cc Motocross, Carmichael was named the AMA Pro Racing Athlete of the Year.

The Perfect Year

In 2002 Carmichael, riding his new red, number 4 Honda CR250R, defended his 250-cc Supercross championship with eleven overall wins, and he made AMA history in the 250-cc Motocross by winning all twelve events. Not only did he sweep the season, he won every qualifying heat, going twenty-four for twenty-four, giving him a perfect season that can only be matched, but never beaten. "With about three races left I figured I could [finish undefeated]," he told Sports Illustrated. "There really wasn't much pressure. If I did go undefeated, it was a good thing. If not, it was still a good year." In fact, it was a superb year for Carmichael, who married his girlfriend Ursula in the fall of 2002, was once again named the AMA Pro Racing Athlete of the Year, and headlined in THQ, Inc.'s video game, MX Superfly Featuring Ricky Carmichael.

Life in the Lead

Carmichael lives in Havana, Florida, and owns 98 acres in Georgia where he has built three practice courses. His success has earned him long lines of fans waiting for his autograph and, including endorsements, up to $5 million a year. Yet Carmichael's complete dominance has just as many fans awaiting his downfall. When he fell twice in the first 250-cc Supercross of the 2003 season, fans erupted in cheers as he fell into last place. Then again, they cheered just as loudly when he miraculously moved back up to fourth place, threatening to find his way back into the lead before the race ended. A superb recovery, but Carmichael races to win and anything short of an outright victory is certainly a defeat.

Chronology

Awards and Accomplishments

With McGrath's retirement after the 2002 season, Carmichael is posed to become the next great king of the sport. Just twenty-three years old, Carmichael plans to race for a long time to come; however, Motocross is a dangerous and daring sport that has crushed its number of competitors, some of whom now live life in a wheelchair. But Carmichael is not worried about getting injured. He explained to CNNSI.com, "It's not the crashing but the losing, because when I lose, I'll retire. And that scares me. I've been doing this since I was five years old. What the hell are you going to do next?" With any luck, he won't have to answer that question for several years to come.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Ricky Carmichael, Motorcycle Sports, 100-4C-3B, 1919 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, California 90501.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Periodicals

Bechtel, Mark. "Just Perfect: Motocross is a Dirty Business, but Ricky Carmichael was Unswerving in his Dash to a Spotless Season." Sports Illustrated, (September 23, 2002): 12.

Cote, Alan. "Hey, Skinny." Bicycling, (September 2002): 52-55.

Other

Ballard, Chris. "American Idols: Lionized by Teens and Big-Name Athletes Alike, Motocross Stars Like Ricky Carmichael Draw NFL-sized Crowds for a Roaring, Soaring Spectacle." CNNSI.com, January 20, 2003. http://www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/siadventure/23/American_idols/ (January 20, 2003).

"Carmichael Ranked No. 1 in ESPN Mag Poll." Racer X Online, November 18, 2002. http://www.racerxill.com (January 20, 2003).

"Carmichael Scores First Win of 2003 AMA Supercross Season." U.S. Motocross.com, January 19, 2003. http://www.usmotocross.com (January 20, 2003).

Cudby, Simon, and Donn Maeda. "Born to Win: A Ricky Carmichael Interview." Transworld Motocross, October 22, 2001. http://www.transworldmotocross.com (January 20, 2003).

Graveline, Eddie. "Interview: Ricky Carmichael." Motopress.net, January 5, 2001. http://www.motopress.net/main/riders/rickycarmichael.htm (January 20, 2003).

"Ricky Carmichael." U.S. Motocross.com. http://www.usmotocross.com (January 20, 2003).

"Ricky Carmichael." MXKing.com. http://www.mxking.com/hom.php3 (January 20, 2003).

"Ricky Carmichael Finishes Unprecedented Season!" Motoworld Racing.com, September 1, 2002. http://www.motoworldracing.com/ricky-perfect-season.html (January 20, 2003).

Short, Jim. "Carmichael Rides McGrath's Coattails." The Press-Enterprise, January 4, 2003. http://www.pe.com (January 20, 2003).

Short, Jim. "Carmichael Still Favored in the AMA." The Press-Enterprise, January 2, 2003. http://www.pe.com (January 20, 2003).

Short, Jim. "Carmichael: 'Villain.'" The Press-Enterprise, January 5, 2003. http://www.pe.com (January 20, 2003).

Sketch by Kari Bethel