Catching Up With…Ricky Carmichael
bayodome
- April 07 2009
- 8,383 views
- 27 comments
Having races in Florida is nice for a few reasons: It is usually warm and sunny; the open air stadiums are a nice departure from the domes of the northern rounds; and the winningest rider in the history of our sport still calls the Sunshine State home. Jacksonville fans were treated to having the presence of Ricky Carmichael in the house for the opening ceremonies and got to watch as he spun some casual laps around the track. The 15-time national champ was hanging out around the pits for most of the day, and we had a chance to catch up with him to find out what he has been up to lately.
Your last ever AMA Supercross took place not too far from here in Orlando back in 2007. How does it feel to be back at the races and out on the track?
Well, it’s fun. None of us have ever been here so it’s neat to see. But I’m just hanging out, man! That’s it; just doing my thing. The car racing side of things keeps me pretty busy, but I try to get to the motocross stuff as much as I can and I’m glad to be here in Jacksonville.
I know everyone is really happy to see you out here. For the few laps that you did between practices, most people in the stands were cheering for you, so that must be a cool feeling.
Absolutely. It’s pretty amazing still seeing the fan support that I have after not racing for almost two years. It’s definitely a great feeling and I have a great time with it.
We have been seeing the occasional video of you riding on the Internet. I think, whenever those come out, people start speculating, “Oh, maybe he’s going to race again!” It gets everyone excited.
(Laughs) Yeah, those are usually from photo shoots and things like that. But I won’t be doing anymore races, and I want to stay pretty clear on that. It’s so hard. Those guys are going so fast and are at the top of their game. I don’t want to go out there and get a fifth or sixth place. I want to go out and really contend for a win. It would take months and months of preparation just to do one race and it isn’t worth it for one race. Plus there is the risk I would be taking too after not riding as much.
And I think all of your fans would agree, you really have nothing to prove.
No (laughs). Absolutely. You’re exactly right; nothing to prove, man! I’m a huge fan of it now, I really am. I like the role I have in this sport, with all of my sponsors. Whether its Suzuki, Fox, or Oakley; I love what I do and I’m just going to keep doing this as long as I can. They don’t drown me with work and I can do it when I want to. I feel that I can still make good things happen here and can help out somewhat, so I like that.
Travis Pastrana and yourself have had possibly two of the best designed tracks this year, so it’s good to see that although you are out of racing, you still have your input.
Well, Travis gets crazy for sure and its been pretty neat to see what he has going on. But its cool that Feld Entertainment lets us be in there. I know I like it and I’m sure Travis appreciates it as well.
What’s the latest with your car racing career? What is the next race that you have coming up?
Kansas is our next race with the IRL. The truck series is off for a bit until April 25th, so that’s the next race. Still trying to go with it. We would like to race a whole series. We are about six races shy in terms of funding, but I would like to get the Rookie of the Year award, that’s my goal in the Campmor World Truck series. Next year I will try to do the full series with about seven nationwide races.
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April 7th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
1st…
April 7th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Id love to see him out there on a 2 stroke……
April 7th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Thanks Transworld for the report on RC.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
..couldnt agree more with FLMX647
April 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
RC is still, and will always be, the man…
Good luck in Kansas bud!! I’m PUMPED!!
April 7th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Whoever said 1st you are an idiot. Gotta love RC
April 7th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
please come back
April 7th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
hell yeah! Ricky on a 2-stroke lapping up to 3 again! man I miss those days!
April 7th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Dude is just a CLASS ACT. So gracious and just a good person. Supercross misses him and we do too. Would have been awesome to see him in the Reed/Stewart mix - Travis 199 too. Oh well, I witnessed the perfect storm in 2006 all the way to Vegas so I have memories!
April 7th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
your the best RC..i’ve watched you since you where ten at mini O’s…what a career…and the two stroke days where the best…good luck with the trucks…and hopefully C.O.T’s later..the loyal keep watching your progress 4 sure..
April 8th, 2009 at 1:05 am
RC said IRL in Kansas. Is that right, indy cars?
April 8th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Mx just aint the same without the g.o.a.t !!
wouldt we love to see an RC comeback !!
April 8th, 2009 at 6:48 am
G.O.A.T wouldnt have anything for James right now… i dont care how long he trains for to get ready..james is on the gas!!!!!
April 8th, 2009 at 6:49 am
G.O.A.T wouldnt have anything for James right now… i dont care how long he trains for to get ready..james is on the gas!!!!!
April 8th, 2009 at 6:55 am
super pumped!
April 8th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Thats the type with ferraris, porsches, audi, etc… Its, the type with the modified exotics that are race cars. Earlier in the year he said he wanted to do a couple of those. Can’t wait to see how he does
April 8th, 2009 at 8:22 am
The trucks are running here on the same weekend as the IRL. That’s INDY RACING LEAUGE. Not ferraris, porsches…… The trucks will race before the Indy cars.
April 8th, 2009 at 9:07 am
I got chills at Jacksonville, seeing Carmichael and Stewart Doing Syncronized Whips and both looking at each other on the triple in front of me…Whoa. That was sooo cool..Memories of Orlando a couple of years ago..That was pretty sick too..
April 8th, 2009 at 10:29 am
We aim to please!
April 8th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
There are two types of IRL…One stands for Indy Racing League and the other stands for International Road League. The International road league is ferraris, porsches and Indy racing league is indy cars
April 9th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
there will never be another R.C your the best
April 9th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
RC hung it up to early, but I would quit to if I had to race for second all the time as well. The greatest until now had his day, now it’s Stewarts time “THe Best there Ever was, or ever will be!”
April 9th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Race for second? Dude beat Bubba every outdoor he ran in his last season. Do more research before you write crap about things you don’t know.
April 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
seriously. bubba came close to rc’s pace, but he was never and never will be the greatest of all time. you never saw ricky crashing all the time like bubba does. get your facts straight
April 17th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
If reed can keep up with stewart and beat him with the help of rickys training im sure ricky wouldnt have a problem.
April 19th, 2009 at 5:00 am
actually ricky did crash alot when he was a rookie 250 rider, just like bubba was doin. it took him a season or 2 to get it right. so uhh maybe you should get YOUR facts straight
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
RC is the man of the world. He may have crashed but everyone crashes in the beging so u are right