This is the 250cc Main from the 2001 Supercross season finale in Las Vegas, NV.
In 2001, Team Kawasaki's Ricky Carmichael was going after history in tieing a record that stood for just 5 whole years -- Jeremy McGrath's 1996 record of 13 consecutive wins (14 in a single season). RC came into this race riding on a 12-race win streak and leading over 200 laps in that win streak. The one rider who was looking to stop Carmichael from doing that (and being embarrassed for 12 straight races) was Mazda Yamaha's Jeremy McGrath himself -- the 7-time Supercross champ; 18 others were also hoping for the same thing because this was their last chance to do so or Ricky would carry that streak into 2002. However, in the past 2 races, Carmichael had to overcome some real obstacles.
2 rounds ago at Dallas, Team Honda's Ezra Lusk showed he had some backbone and managed to show some wheels to Ricky after he even won a heat race over Carmichael (2 if you count Ricky's crash in the whoops at Detroit) in convincing fashion. In the main, he even passed Carmichael several times, becoming the only rider outside of McGrath to be able to physically challenge Carmichael for a win. His hopes were crushed when he dumped his Honda with a few laps to go, and Carmichael cruised to his 11th straight win of 2001, and eventually, his first 250cc Supercross title; Jeremy McGrath also had his hopes of the 2001 Vans Triple Crown $500,000 bonus crushed with a 3rd place ride and practically lonely the entire race.
At the last round in Salt Lake City, things got interesting -- Ricky crashed hard in practice, giving himself a whopping headache. Light was beginning to show for the other competitors as Carmichael paid a visit to the Asterisk Mobile Medic Unit and Dr. John Bodnar. Fortunately, Carmichael showed no signs of a concussion, or Bodnar would've had to pull Carmichael from his heat race (likely against Ricky's wishes). In the main, despite a holeshot from Jeremy McGrath (his first since New Orleans in March), and challenges from Jeremy, Team Suzuki's Kevin Windham, and Team Yamaha's Tim Ferry, Carmichael shut everyone up again with his 12th straight win; after his holeshot, Jeremy would fall back to finish a disappointing 6th.
This race would ultimately turn into one of THE most exciting ones since late January when Jeremy won the Anaheim 2 Supercross. Would Jeremy be the ultimate spoiler? Would Ricky tie a record that was set 5 years ago in 1996? Watch to find out. Enjoy.
NOTE: I do have the full Pay-Per View broadcast already posted on my channel, but I decided to go ahead and post the 250cc main just for the fun of it.
22 авг 2024