n this issue, we’ve got reports from a number of events that happened in the past few months…the UP300 trail ride, the U.S. Open Supercross, the Bonneville Speed Trials and the 2004 Parts Unlimited Dealer Showcase. Those were all great events in their own way, and helped cap off a great year.
     So with 2004 essentially over, it’s time to start looking ahead into 2005. The year kicks off with the THQ AMA Supercross series, which begins in January. Our own Chad Reed won the 2004 series after beating all comers, but there was one big name missing. Ricky Carmichael had to take a pass on the Supercross season due to a knee injury, but he recovered in time for the outdoor nationals and swept the tables for his second career perfect season. He switched to the Suzuki team after the Motocross Nationals were over and for 2005 he will go head-to-head with Reed to settle the debate about Supercross.
     As if Reed versus Carmichael wouldn’t be good enough, we’ll also see the arrival of James “Bubba” Stewart into the big show in 2005. After totally dominating the 125cc scene the past couple of years, Bubba is now ready to take on the big boys. That match-up of Chad, Ricky and Bubba at Anaheim I on January 8th is being referred to as “The Perfect Storm,” named after the movie where various severe weather conditions converged and created the Mother of all storms.
     I was at the U.S. Open in October and watched Ricky and Chad go at it and I believe that those two will be pretty evenly matched in 2005. Then add Stewart into the mix and yes, it should be quite a storm, er, battle.
     There is also a fourth possible ingredient in the Storm: Jeremy McGrath. You thought he was retired, right? When Honda lost Carmichael to Suzuki, and then failed to sign Bubba Stewart, the Red Riders were left without one of the big-name competitors. Discussions with McGrath about a return to racing reportedly began as an effort to just find him a place with one of the support teams. But after RC’s departure, things got more serious and an invitation was extended from the “big red truck.”
     The official Honda press materials now list McGrath’s plans for 2005 as racing in “selected” Supercross events. We’ll have to wait and see how many races Jeremy actually goes for in 2005. Anyone that is familiar with MC knows that when he shows up for a race, he will be looking to win. And who knows? If he comes out of the month of January as a contender in the points chase, maybe he’ll starting looking at a full-season deal? That would be something.
     Whatever Jeremy decides about his schedule, the battle for the 2005 Supercross championship should be one of the best in years. Our best wishes to him and also to Chad Reed for much success. For more info about dates, tickets, etc., check out Clear Channel’s Supercross website (sxgp.com).
     On a sad note, the world of motorsports was stunned by the tragic crash of a private airplane in late-October carrying ten family members and friends to the NASCAR race at Martinsville, Virginia. Among those killed in the crash was Ricky Hendrick, a former NASCAR race driver and son of legendary race team and auto dealership owner Rick Hendrick.
     People around the country may not know that in addition to his NASCAR involvement, Ricky also owned a motorcycle dealership. About a year ago he bought a store in the Charlotte area and renamed it Ricky Hendrick’s Performance Honda Suzuki Aprilia. People close to the Hendricks say that Ricky had plans for more dealerships as the business grew.
We offer our condolences to the friends and families of all the victims, the Hendrick family, and to everyone at Ricky Hendrick’s Performance Honda Suzuki Aprilia for their losses.