There is no event like it in the season. Not one single race captures the
imagination like the Motocross of Nations. This years event set to be held
at the Budds Creek circuit in Maryland, USA on September 22, 23 has a
special attraction. Many say he is the greatest motocross rider of all time,
and when Ricky Carmichael steps from his machine at around 4.30pm on
September 23 he will have ridden his last major motocross event. This ride
in Budds Creek will be his last serious attack on a motocross circuit, his
last goodbye and he wants it to be a special one.
"I am ready to race," Carmichael said. "I want to lead the team to victory.
We have some good riders available and I know that we can get the job
done. The Motocross of Nations is about being careful and scoring enough
points to be on top of the podium come Sunday afternoon."
There is no question as to who will win the inderviduel overall at Budds
Creek, it would take a mammoth effort from a Ryan Villopoto, Ben
Townley, Antonio Cairoli or Grant Langston to beat RC, and it seems like
Carmichael just doesn't make mistakes anymore. He should go out a
winner, a hero's goodbye to match that of Stefan Everts in last years
Motocross of Nations. When all is said and done there are not too many
riders of the modern era that have given this even such a lift.
We all remember his battle with Sébastien Tortelli at the 2000 MXoN,
held at the St Jean d'Angély circuit in France, his battle with Stefan Everts
at the Zolder circuit in 2004, or his total domination in Ernée, France in
2005 when he went 1-1 and lead Team USA to victory. It has been all
Ricky Carmichael in the last three MXoN events he has competed, and his
respect for this race was never more evident than in his 2004 victory over
Everts, a year when his team were badly beaten after team riders Tim
Ferry and Ryan Hughes struggled against the might of Europe. click on
ozzy go to the full story on MotocrossMX1 - pic from tedescophoto.com