With the AMA 250 Supercross series at the halfway point, and the prestigious Daytona Supercross just one week away from the Indianapolis Supercross this weekend, Honda’s defending champion, Ricky Carmichael, has largely met the challenge of 250 class rookie Chad Reed (Yamaha).
Although Reed has a couple of victories over Carmichael, Carmichael has several more victories and, more importantly, several more points in the championship series. Carmichael, with his amazing outdoor skills (you haven’t forgotten his perfect outdoor season last year, have you?) is a big favorite at Daytona, where the track more closely resembles an outdoor motocross track than a supercross track.
Reed, not surprisingly, thinks he can challenge Carmichael outdoors, as well. Reed also destroyed his competition at Daytona last year (albeit in the 125 class aboard a 250F). Reed will expect to win Daytona this year – just like Carmichael will.
So, Daytona is an important showdown between these two great riders for two reasons. First, it is another important race in the still close AMA 250 Supercross Championship series, where Reed is just 17 points behind Carmichael going into the Indianapolis Supercross Saturday night. Second, it is a preview of the battle Carmichael and Reed will wage outdoors later this year.
