DOUBLE PODIUM FOR SUZUKI AT ANAHEIM

Suzuki’s RMZ450 raced to its first double podium at Saturday night’s AMA Supercross fifth round at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California as reigning champion Ricky Carmichael grabbed a 10-second win and team-mate Ivan Tedesco his first 250 Main Event rostrum.

With the victory, Carmichael moved into the lead of the World Supercross series ahead of James Stewart - who crashed three times during the 20-lap event - and extended his advantage in the Amp’d AMA Supercross series over Chad Reed.

Carmichael led from turn three of the opening lap with Tedesco second as Stewart, Reed and David Vuillemin all fell. The Makita riders kept out front from there on in, although Reed recovered from his fall and closed right up on Tedesco by the half-way point and passed him on lap 11.

Carmichael continued to up the pace and with three laps to go held a commanding 11.5-second lead over Reed and Tedesco and was never challenged.

Said Carmichael: "It’s a shame that James fell as I think it would have been a great race between us again. I felt good and wanted to put on a good show for the fans and I’m glad to come away from here with the win. I’m really happy for my team mate Ivan – I’m really pumped for him – as he’s been working real hard and deserves it. I like to see people achieve their goal."

Said Tedesco: "Tonight was the night. It’s been a goal of mine all season to make it onto the box and I achieved it. I tried to latch onto Ricky, and I learned some good lines, but I couldn’t stay with him. I felt real comfortable on the bike and it’s all coming together."

250 Main Event: 1 Ricky Carmichael (Makita Suzuki), 2 Chad Reed (Yamaha), 3 Ivan Tedesco (Makita Suzuki), 4 Mike LaRocco (Honda), 5 Michael Byrne (Kawasaki), 6 Travis Preston (Honda), 7 Ernesto Fonseca (Honda), 8 James Stewart (Kawasaki), 9 David Vuillemin (Honda), 10 Nick Wey (Honda).

AMA Supercross Points (after 5 rounds): 1 Carmichael 117, 2 Reed 104, 3 Stewart 103, 4 Byrne 74, 5 LaRocco 73, 6 Wey 72, 7 Tedesco 71, 8 Preston 62, 9 Fonseca 62, 10 McGrath 49.

World Supercross Points (after 7 rounds): 1 Carmichael 161, 2 Stewart 157, 3 Reed 144, 4 Tedesco 115, 5 Byrne 114, 6 Wey 114, 7 Thomas 86, 8 Clark 83, 9 Gibson 74, 10 Evans 61.