Carmichael and Villopoto Top Red Bud Qualifying, Stewart elects to sit out again - cyclenews

Ricky Carmichael was clearly in a class of his own during qualifying today, in preparation
for round five of the Toyota AMA Motocross Championship Series to be held tomorrow at
Red Bud Track N Trail near Buchanan, Michigan.

The Makita Suzuki rider logged a qualifying time of 2:31.269 (on the beautifully prepared
course), which was nearly three seconds faster than the 2:34.146 posted by KTM’s Mike
Alessi.

In turn, Alessi was almost a second faster than Kawasaki’s Timmy Ferry, who posted a
2:35.141, while Team Yamaha’s Grant Langston ended the day in fourth with a fastest
time of 2:36.445.

Coincidentally, Jeff Alessi joined his brother in the top five with a time of 2:36.601.

Kawasaki’s James Stewart once again elected to sit out Saturday qualifying, which he is
entitled to do since he is ranked in the top-10 overall in series standings, however, so
far, he is the only rider to take advantage of this rule.

If Carmichael is able to get his fifth win of the series tomorrow, it will leave him one win
short of 150 combined motocross and Supercross wins.

In the Lites division, series points leader Ryan Villopoto (pictured) looked fast and
smooth, and put his Monster Energy Kawasaki at the top of the time sheets with a time
of 2:35.113. Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence continues to impress and set the second
fastest time with a 02:35.244, while Sobe/Samsung/Honda’s Josh Grant was third with a
2:35.877.

Villopoto’s teammate Ben Townley set the fourth-fastest time with a 2:36.123, which he
posted during the first session. Unfortunately, shortly before the second practice,
Townley began having severe stomach pains and headed to the hospital for evaluation.