SUPERCROSS: Minneapolis race summary

Carmichael nails down third win at Metrodome.
Jesseman open 125cc Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Series competition with win.

MINNEAPOLIS (February 15, 2003) - Two-time defending supercross champion Ricky Carmichael, of Havana, Fla., captured his third consecutive victory at the Metrodome in 250cc THQ World Supercross GP/AMA Supercross Series competition. Suzuki's Brandon Jesseman recorded his second-career 125cc Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Series victory at the opening round of competition in front of nearly 50,000 fans.

Kawasaki's Ezra Lusk, who won the $1,000 SXGP.com holeshot award, led the first four laps before Yamaha's Chad Reed moved into the lead. Carmichael, who has three wins on the season prior to tonight, moved into second. One lap later Reed went down before entering the whoops. Carmichael moved into the lead and rode to his 84th-career AMA victory. Lusk, of Bainbridge, Ga., was second and Ferry, of Dade City, Fla., third.

"Chad (Reed) went by me pretty fast and I thought to myself that if he was going that fast and keeping his bike on two wheels, then he deserves to win," said Carmichael. "I knew he was coming up on me so I anticipated the pass; otherwise he would have taken us both out. The veterans are on the podium tonight."

Jesseman, of Fombell, Penn., moved into the lead on lap one after passing $1,000 SXGP.com holeshot winner Kelly Smith. Broc Sellards, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, followed closely in second while Kawasaki's Mike Brown and Honda's Michael Byrne recovered from a first turn hold up that included a host of downed riders.

As Jesseman pulled away from the pack Byrne and Brown worked their way through, finishing third and fourth, respectively, and Sellards was second.

"I have some pretty high goals for myself and that is huge motivation for me to win," said Jesseman. "I felt great out there tonight."

-cce-