Dirt Bike News - Houston Supercross Race Results: Stewart Takes Houston Supercross and Carmichael Takes 2005 Championship - Dirt Rider Magazine

Kawasaki's James "Bubba" Stewart took another solid victory in Houston, once again leading all 20 laps of the main event. It was Stewart's second consecutive supercross victory, but he had to share the spotlight with Ricky Carmichael, whose third place finish behind Yamaha's Chad Reed was enough to claim the 2005 THQ AMA Supercross Championship. He finished 28 points ahead of Reed in the title chase, earning his fourth 250cc Supercross Championship with still one race left to go. Honda's Andrew Short won his first 125cc West Supercross, also dominating the entire race. Short took the holeshot and led all 15 laps of the main event.Stewart's evening began with an intense battle with Chad Reed in the second qualifying heat. After several laps of incredible racing, Stewart unfortunately crashed and found himself qualifying in the semi. "I went down pretty hard, and actually I kind of got lucky the way I fell. I went back to the pits and I've got to give it up to my mechanic—he changed the whole bike from the subframe to the front end."In the 250 main event, Honda's Kyle Lewis picked up the $1,500 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award but was passed in the first lap by Stewart who ran away with the lead, leaving Reed and Carmichael to battle for second. The race heated up as Reed and Carmichael passed Lewis in lap two and changed positions through lap three. "I kind of missed the jump on the start, but then I went to the inside and did what I had to do," said Reed, "I got into second, and I made a mistake and Ricky got by me, and we just kind of went back and forth, playing a little cat-and-mouse." Ultimately it was Reed who was able to retain the second place position for the remainder of the race, followed by Carmichael, Windham and Vuillemin.Stewart's victory surprised a lot of people, including himself. After having a very trying weekend that included a practice crash and a heat race crash, Stewart was glad he was able to pull it together. "My mom was a great inspiration for me tonight," said Stewart. "I had a rough weekend and she just told me to go out there and have fun," Stewart continued. "My crew did a great job with my Kawasaki and I finished strong tonight, so now I'm pumped about Vegas."Carmichael's title victory marked Suzuki's second-ever 250cc AMA Supercross Series title, the first since Mark Barnett's in 1981. "I can't believe it. I don't think anyone thought I would be up here, but it's good to prove them wrong," said Carmichael on winning his fourth AMA Supercross championship, "It was exciting and definitely challenging. I just thank Suzuki for believing in me... they put a lot of things aside from the way they used to do things and they turned things around to where it's a championship team." Carmichael has signed with Suzuki for 2005 as well.In the 125cc Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series main event, Short earned the $1,000 Butterfinger Crisp Holeshot Award. Kawasaki's Ivan Tedesco, who clinched the championship last week in Seattle, crashed in the first turn and started in last place. The 23-year-old New Mexico native quickly regrouped and charged from the back of the field to finish eighth in the 15-lap event.On lap two Suzuki's Broc Hepler, of Kittanning, Pa., moved into second place and started making time on Short. Hepler made a move for the lead on the last lap and crashed, letting Honda's Billy Laninovich by. Hepler got back up to finish third behind Laninovich. "The way I look at it, even though I didn't win, I believe I should've won because I had the fastest laps at the end," said Helper, "I think it gives me a lot more confidence... I'll be there again for Vegas.""I don't think I was thinking too much on the last lap. It was all heart. I've finished second too many times, and my crew works really hard at Honda, and to finish second doesn't mean anything to them, and to win is awesome. That's all I wanted to do." said Short of his win.The THQ AMA Supercross Series moves on to Las Vegas for the final race of the season at Sam Boyd Stadium, Saturday May 7th.250 THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results: Houston
1. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
3. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
4. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
5. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
6. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
7. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda
8. Tim Ferry, Largo, Fla., Yamaha
9. Kyle Lewis, Henderson, NV, Honda
10. Ryan Clark, Waddell, AZ, Honda250 THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki, 345
2. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha, 317
3. Kevin Windham, Baton Rouge, La., Honda, 264
4. Mike LaRocco, Corona, Calif., Honda, 229
5. David Vuillemin, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 227
6. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 190
7. Sebastien Tortelli, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki, 176
8. Heath Voss, Mico, Texas, Yamaha, 144
9. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki, 129
10. Tyler Evans, Corona, Calif., Suzuki, 125125 Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Event Results: Houston
1. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
2. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
3. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Suzuki
4. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
5. Josh Summey, Allen, Texas, Honda
6. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM
7. Paul Carpenter, Ithaca, New York, Kawasaki
8. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
9. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
10. Ryan Morais, Canyon Lake, Calif., Suzuki125 Western Regional THQ AMA Supercross Series Season Standings
1. Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 160
2. Nathan Ramsey, Menifee, Calif., KTM, 131
3. Andrew Short, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 126
4. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda, 119
5. Jay Marmont, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 98
6. Brett Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha, 94
7. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Yamaha, 77
8. Ryan Sipes, Nine Grove, Kan., Suzuki, 67
9. Broc Hepler, Kittanning, Pa., Suzuki, 66
10. Thomas Hahn, Belpre, Kan., Honda, 65