Ricky Carmichael and Ben Townely Rule Southwick’s Giant Sand - Although in something of a self-imposed, semi-retirement mode, the juggernaut that is Ricky Carmichael continues to both amaze and bedazzle the motocross fans of the United States of America, winning yet again on Sunday, June 10, 2007 at the fabled Motocross 338 venue in Southwick, Massachusetts. Carmichael’s 99th career AMA Motocross win as well as the 147th of his career did not come easy as Kawasaki’s James Stewart led the opening moto up to the 20-minute mark. However, and as he has done numerous times in the still young AMA National Motocross Championship, Carmichael caught Stewart, motored by, and stole away the moto victory. In moto number two Carmichael found his way to the front early, and was never truly challenged by Stewart, who again placed second and second overall. Team Yamaha’s Grant Langston enjoyed his best Sunday afternoon of the 2007 National Championship, swapping through Southwick’s deep, dark sand in fine form, placing third in both motos. Team Honda’s Andrew Short placed fourth overall and KTM’s Mike Alessi had a strong performance to finish fifth. His 12th and final win at the Southwick 338 circuit, Ricky Carmichael will race only three more times in 2007 before finally calling time on his otherworldly career.

Ben Townley traded and Ryan Villopoto of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki traded moto wins in round three of the 2007 AMA Motocross Lites National Championship, with Townley winning the National by winning the tie-breaking second moto. Villopoto — the reigning AMA Lites National Champion — grabbed the holeshot and led every lap of the opening Lites moto at Motocross 338, but was no match for Townely in moto number two, the 2004 MX2 World Champion a masterful sand rider who hones his craft training and racing in the deep silica of Holland and Belgium. Third overall at Southwick was Makita Suzuki rookie Ryan Dungey, the 17 year-old racing to 3-3 moto scores. Fourth place was claimed by Team Yamaha of Troy’s Jason Lawrence and fifth went to Sobe/No Fear/Samsung/Honda’s Josh Grant. The 2007 AMA National Championship circus will now pull up stakes and move southward to Budds Creek, Maryland for round four of the 12-round campaign. In the ultra-competitive AMA Lites classification, Ryan Villopoto leads teammate Ben Townley in the points chase with 138 points to Townley’s 130. Ryan Dungey checks in at third with 116, with Josh Grant fourth (112 points) and Jason Lawrence fifth (101 points).