2005 AMA 250 MOTOCROSS OPEN FULL SEASON - STEWART V CARMICHAEL

Unfortunately, the outdoor battle never materialized as everyone had hoped it would. Carmichael waxed everyone at the opener at Hangtown, while Stewart struggled and eventually pulled out of the second moto with an illness. Stewart was on his game at High Point. He passed Carmichael in the first moto and began pulling away slightly. Before long, Carmichael latched onto Stewart’s pace and hung there. He retook the lead in spectacular fashion, jumping over Stewart’s head on a tabletop, and pulling away from there. Stewart then pulled out of action again at Southwick. At Budds Creek, Stewart was asked what it would take to beat Carmichael, and he said, “A 450.” But Kawasaki didn’t have one. So Stewart tried to soldier on, often getting booed by the same fans that had cheered him wildly while he was winning everything in sight on a 125. It was a strange year.

Carmichael kept on winning. He crashed in the first moto at Southwick, allowing Reed to take the first 250-class moto win of his career. Beyond that, he was pretty much aces, going as fast on a Suzuki as he had on a Honda. Then came Unadilla. Carmichael fell, and Stewart took the lead. Carmichael was charging, and late in the race began to close in. This was the showdown everyone wanted to see. Carmichael got inside and made the pass, but Stewart tried to cross back underneath. But Carmichael didn’t drift wide, so when Stewart hit a jump, he came down right on top of Carmichael’s back, sending them both the ground. Kevin Windham inherited the moto win, Stewart was knocked out, and Carmichael picked himself up to come back in moto two and win the overall. For Stewart, Unadilla was rock bottom.

[DanielMcghee-kd]

RC was Completely on another level that year. Don’t think there will ever be a more hungry man!Bubba had more speed but Just couldn’t keep it on two wheels. What a great time in motocross!

[junlu]

James will always be the true goat of moto.

[olivertoeknuckleiii]

Another memory- I was at Hangtown, RC’s first ever 250 race. RC won the first race. He led and then lost to McGrath because of fatigue. I watched RC in the pits after the loss, and he was pissed!!! He then hired Alton Baker and never lost due to fitness again, and he changed the sport forever.

[clutchitsystems]

I am a LONGTIME James Stewart fan. And when I watched for the first time the videos that showed his races, I always rooted for James, LOL. Thus I saw Ricky Chad and Kdub as his opponents, not giving them their due respect. But after watching SO MANY of that era's videos, I have no choice but to take my hat off - with great respect - to Ricky, Chad and Kdub.

[worldssickestmedia]

Looking back on it now I notice that anytime RC had to line up next to Bubba he looked like he was about to vomit from the nerves. Nobody had RC as shook as Bubba did. Nobody forced him to ride as fast as Bubba did. What a great era in moto. Last of the 2 strokes.

[clutchitsystems]

Their rivalry was so interesting to watch that I think I have watched every one of their races possibly ten times.

[Lightnin]

Super exciting series, remember it well 🇺🇸

[robertrishel]

What a great year in racing! Good to watch lest we get complacent about how dominant RC was🙏. The guy was truly one in a hundred billion. 🤯 like him or not, there is no denying his ability and will to win, against some of the greatest riders in the sports history. Reed, Windham, Stewart!!! Good grief!

[ltfj]

What James did on that 250 in a field of thumpers was crazy

[Clownworldmatrixviewer]

Carmichael had the spine of a insanely tough ginger‼️
I’ve ridden since I was a kid.
If you can take any impact, you can keep going hard 💪🏼‼️

[johntomasik]

Was a bummer that Kawi didn't have a 450 ready for Stewart. But, RC raced a 250 against the 450's and managed a title, so there's that. Both amazing riders. It's rare we get an overlap of the best like this, where one great isn't already on his last year.

First time I saw RC was unforgettable. It was Hangtown on a 125. I think Dowd ended up winning that day. Anyway, RC was new to the pros, and there was a lot of talk about him and how good he was. I was standing at the straight just before the uphill where there's that 180 next to a tree. There was a jump on that straight. Carmichael would fly so much farther than everyone else, and when he landed, the ground would shake. I was wondering why he was so mad at dirt...lol He rode angry.

[dominicbakken]

Vivid memories... Yes it was so odd to place 450 in the smoker class. Sign of the times. As a tech the 4strokes were so complicated, if not tempermental. I lividly remember hot 4 strokes not starting due to crash. Its only afterthought - there were two if not three technologies being refined during this era. engine frame and rider prep (physical conditioning) Off camera theres even a battle going. economy
Nascar is in great change. since 2000 one would wonder who paid the most for the top win. (lets cycle thru the top fan favorites/ anything to get the stands filled) oh and through some merch in Walmart for the suckers while your at it
anyhow thanks for the flashback... totally got a smile outta this

[olivertoeknuckleiii]

Yeah, I remember when they didn’t groom the tracks. Of course, it led to the American’s ability to compete and BEAT the Euro’s in international competition. I HATE the perfectly groomed MX tracks today. The Euro’s dominate outdoor MX today. Supercross is different, obviously they need to groom the jump faces for safety. But damn- look at the old Unadilla footage- it was extremely challenging. And watching JS7 and RC is a treat- two historic riders. But the MX field of riders today is way deeper than ever in the history of the sport. I miss the 2 strokes. When I was racing, the sound of the ring-ding sound would stay with me all night, it sounded like they were still racing in my head. I miss that too. Thanks for the great video. Good work!

[AaronGreen-rg]

Crazy how 450s and 250s raced together

[marioguzman]

I love seeing James Stewart kick ass on the 2 stroke KX250!!! YEAH!!!!

[waynecaudle]

Amazing JS7 even hung with RC with Bubba being on that 2 stroke crazy

[mx_guy]

Stewart got screwed in this season that dude gave it hell while being at a major disadvantage ricky did it on a 2 stroke the years before but they were still figuring out the 4 strokes then once stewart moved up kawasaki didn’t have a 4 stroke yet but the following year was freakin awesome

[macroevolve]

2 race memories that stick out to me are the one where Stewart landed on Carmichael's Back in 2005, and when Reed and Stewart tangled on the last lap of the 2011 Atlanta SX, letting Villipoto and Dungey het by for First and Second

[singletracktrekker]

Absolutely amazing that Stewart could do that well on a 250!

[mkay]

This video reminded me of how fast and dominant RC.