Ryan Villopoto's victory in a recent Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series event was good for three reasons. First, the 20-year-old demonstrated that his month on the sidelines stemmed from a viral infection, not something for serious or permanent. Second, Villopoto captured his first crown at the top level in his hometown of Seattle. Third, Ryan Villopoto demonstrated that a rider other than Bubba Stewart or Chad Reed can an AMA Supercross event.

Stewart and Reed not only have been hogging the AMA Supercross winner's circle for a long time, but it's also usually a one-two show with the other finishing second. Furthermore, the third place finisher and his followers often are quite distant. Many fans are really enjoying the Stewart-Reed rivalry, but is it good for AMA to have two individuals so superior? In golf, for example, even Tiger Woods wins "only" one out of every three tournaments he enters. Supercross and motocross could benefit from a wider range of true contenders.

Ryan Villopoto is a small (5-foot-5, 135 pounds) but fiery rider who is seen among the heir apparent, with 31 Lites victories on the supercross and motocross junior circuits. His father, Dan Villopoto, and his grandfather both are dirt bike enthusiasts. Ryan was 5-years-old when he took his first ride and soon he was competing. Dan Villopoto says that at first it was "just a hobby" to help father and son bond together and that, "I never knew it would become as big as it is today."

Does Villopoto's Seattle win portend that Bubba Stewart and Chad Reed will face more challenges? It's difficult to judge. The Seattle track was so poorly prepared that Chad Reed skidded out at the start, and had to struggle mightily to recover for seventh place. Meanwhile, Bubba Stewart apparently decided to play it safe in the Seattle "sand" and settle for second, seizing the season points lead from Reed.

But now that Villopoto is healthy and with some experience, maybe he can start to transform the sport's Big Two into the Big Three.

SOURCES
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2009078582_supercross18.html?syndication=rss
http://www.racerxonline.com/article/450-words-seattle-supercross.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Villopoto
http://www.racerxonline.com/rider/ryan-villopoto.aspx

Mike Alessi is living, but out-of-action, proof that injuries are a big part of motocross and supercross racing success.

After turning 21 years old on May 19, Mike Alessi placed second in the season-opening motocross meet on May 23 at San Bernardino, California. He followed with his first-ever victories on May 30 in Sacramento and June 6 in Worthen, Texas.

Then, two days later, Alessi broke his kneecap in practice, of all things. He says it was a freak accident in which he suddenly found himself on grassy terrain and took a nasty spill.

Mike Alessi still has a bright future, but his route to the AMA 2009 motocross season championship has been short-circuited. He simply hopes to return before the 12-meet season closes on Sept. 5 at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. Steady veteran Chad Reed slipped into the season points lead after Alessi's mishap.

Mike Alessi, half Italian and half German in heritage, is a tightly-packed 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds. He is especially known for his daring fast starts, leading to "Holeshot" as one of his nicknames.

Alessi started riding motorcyles when he was 3 years old and was a popular Loretta Lynn's youth amateur champion. In fact, Mike Alessi won 11 junior races to tie a record established by none other than James "Bubba" Stewart. Alessi then turned professional at 16.

This isn't the first time that a practice injury has sidelined Mike Alessi. He broke a collarbone early in 2008 while he was warming up for a supercross event.

After the collarbone healed, Alessi suffered his only major in-race injury. In a July 2008 crash, he broke both shoulder blades and a rib, bruised a lung and suffered a severe concussion.

The summer motocross circuit now has lost three of its biggest names. Ryan Villapoto, Alessi's up-and-coming peer and former youth amateur rival, has a torn knee ligament and Bubba Stewart is sitting out the season.

Mike Alessi still has star potential, but he has to learn to stay upright on his bike.

SOURCES

http://www.alessiracing.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=64

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/events/raceschedule/2/mc/2005_ama_chevy_truck_us_motocross_schedule_and_results.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_alessi

http://www.myspace.com/mxmike800

Ricky Carmichael is giving motocross and supercross fans a reason to become fans of NASCAR. Will Ricky Carmichael possibly achieve so much success in NASCAR, that he will cause more NASCAR fans to become fans of motocross and supercross?

This season, *Carmichael*'s main focus is on the NASCAR Work Truck Series campaign. He's sponsored by Monster Energy and will drive for the KHI team, sponsored by legendary NASCAR racer Kevin Harvick.

"I believe he will put the same effort toward his stock-car career," Harvick says. "He knows how to race, and he takes care of his equipment. Every time I've seen him race, he has shown great promise."

Carmichael, 29, hails from Clearwater, Florida, and he helped to put motocross and supercross on the map while he earned the enduring moniker of G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) and became a multi-millionaire. He was a five-time champion and winner of more than 150 races in the AMA, American Motorcyclist Association.

However, Carmichael also ended up needing a different AMA, the American Medical Association, because of his various injuries. Motocross and supercross can be even more risky than NASCAR.

Ricky Carmichael blew out a knee during the 2004 motocross season. He returned in 2005 and for two seasons he had a series of memorable battles with his heir apparent, James "Bubba" Stewart, who aims to follow Carmichael's steps to NASCAR some day. Then Carmichael had another terrible crash, this time messing up his shoulder. In 2007, Ricky Carmichael decided to take comfort in his motocross legacy and retire, while he was still in one piece.

Motocross won't forget Ricky Carmichael, and Ricky Carmichael won't forget motocross. He has formed a company, Ricky Carmichael Signature Course Design, and for the second year in a row he will lay out the course for the Daytona Supercross By Honda on March 7. Carmichael won the event five times.

But think of Ricky Carmichael's motocross injuries. Who else but Ricky Carmichael can say they moved over into NASCAR for safety's sake?

Sources:
http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/truckseries/Ricky_Carmichael_lands_Monster_Energy_as_primary_sponsor_for_2009_Truck_series_.html
http://www.racerxonline.com/article/ricky-carmichaels-plans-for-2009.aspx
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Carmichael