2003 Dallas 250cc Main (Ricky Carmichael Vs. Chad Reed #2)

This is the 250cc main event from Texas Stadium in Irving, TX.
In 2003, Honda's Ricky Carmichael #4 was only 3 races away (counting this one) from his 3rd consecutive 250cc AMA Supercross Championship. Unfortunately, Ricky was on a 3-race losing streak because his title rival, Team Yamaha's Chad Reed #22 was making a late season charge with 3 straight wins of his own, including a clutch win at the last race in Pontiac, especially with Chad winning that race without a crash from Ricky. Unfortunately for Carmichael, the start at Pontiac was key and Reed got the better start with the holeshot and Carmichael starting in 6th.
The season began in Anaheim in early January. Chad Reed took an easy win over the competition, with Ricky Carmichael taking a 2nd place after getting boo'd by the crowd following an incident with Team Suzuki's Travis Pastrana #199 in qualifying. Team Kawasaki's Ezra Lusk #11 battled with Reed in Phoenix and beat him in the heat race, and the main event. Phoenix was Lusk's first win since Indianapolis in April 1999, when Lusk was riding for Team Honda; Phoenix eventually turned out to be Lusk's last career Supercross win. Ricky Carmichael got on the board next at Anaheim 2 while Chad Reed had his first bad race with a 6th place, and surrendered the points lead to Carmichael. Ricky would reel off 3 in a row from A2 to Anaheim 3 before Chad Reed would win San Diego after Ricky crashed and finished 3rd behind Reed and his Yamaha teammate #12 David Vuillemin. Carmichael then reeled off 4 in a row from Minneapolis-Daytona, to total 7 wins for the season, but after Daytona, things were different.
Chad Reed beat Carmichael at St. Louis for the 3rd time. They engaged in a titanic battle for half the race, until it ended when Ricky crashed into the tuffblocks. Ricky and Chad got bad starts at the next round in Houston; Chad had a 9th place start but Ricky Carmichael crashed in the first turn with AMSOIL Honda's Travis Preston #34, who was racing the 250cc class out East. At the last round in Pontiac, Reed led all 20 laps while Ricky got sandwiched in the first turn and ended up 6th out of the first turn. Carmichael reeled Reed in little by little, but a mistake off a double ended Ricky's chances, and Chad Reed won his 3rd consecutive race of the season, 5 overall.
In this race, Moto XXX Honda's Larry Ward #10 got out to the holeshot, but Carmichael quickly disposed of his former Team Kawasaki teammate and tried to run away with his first win in 3 races. Chad Reed started out 4th and battled his way into 2nd and to challenge the 2-time defending champ. Reed managed to pass Carmichael, and the two engaged in another battle -- the first since St. Louis. Despite passes back and forth, Chad Reed reached back and beat Ricky for the 4th time in a row, and his 6th win of the season. Chad would win out the final 2 races at Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, but he fell shy of the Supercross title by just 7 points. Unfortunately, Team Honda has not won a Supercross title since.
Enjoy.

[@davidbailey6343]

Great race! Really fun to call. Chad was so good, so fast and smart, yet Ricky still won the title. Hats off to both of ‘em for making it so exciting 👏🏼👏🏼

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

No doubt it was. It's a total shame Chad Reed's calling it a career next year. If it wasn't for Chad and this race, I'd likely have stepped away after the 2003 season. I was totally smiling widely after watching this battle and now I can't get enough of it. Sure hope Chad can get one more win in 2020 Supercross though.

[@straightnobraker4677]

The legend among us!!

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Chad Reed -- for sure!!

[@geoffbeyer1873]

16 years later and Reed's still lining up. Great racing.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Indeed. I hope he never goes away, but people know he will walk away someday.

[@thomasfletcher9277]

Chad was scrubbing

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

That's smooth and stylish for you.

[@mikeburney9282]

Thanks for the memorys Chad and congratulations on the career you had! Year 2020 your're out and the young gun Jett Lawerence another Aussie takes your place from across the pond! Very Cool and look forward to his career as well! I am thankful and feel blessed to live in America and see the great riders from all over the world that come here and race dirt bikes... 🍻

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Chad Reed definitely gave us a lot of memories for sure. I really hold Chad in my debt for keeping me a fan to this day from this exact race. I know Chad would like to have a much better season than he is having now, but I really think he should've taken the KTM slot with Marvin Musquin on the sidelines until Hangtown 2020.

[@imvuraimvura8017]

Timeless era of supercross

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

You got that right. This was THE race that made me stay a fan to this day, and Chad Reed was the man for the job. I still hold the man in my debt for keeping me a fan to this day, and I am totally sad to hear 2020 will be his last full Supercross season. I REALLY want him to stick around another two more years, but I know that's not happening unless Chad can pull a deja vu from 2011.

[@62shalaka]

Chad and Ricky sure look young in this video!

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

They do. Chad Reed was only 21 at the time, and Ricky was 23.

[@2wheels1love21]

Glory days

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Totally! This was definitely the race that told me "Don't leave!" because I was considering walking away from the sport after McGrath's sudden and unexpected retirement, but Chad Reed really filled all the voids in my book this season, and this race is textbook proof. I'm a Chad Reed fan for life.

[@jackbannock3458]

Love watching old races. And I forgot how stupid Cameron Steele questions were hahaa.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

lol -- I actually think Cameron's question to Ricky here was legit.

[@danarrington2224]

Damn I wish we had HD in 2003. It's hard to watch these old blurry videos.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Haha. I have this race on a blank DVD and I used an LP speed for these.

[@ThereEbumpin]

I was there great race

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Lucky you! Yeah, this was one of the best races of 2003 and one of the best ever, period!

[@superdave3894]

I think I was there

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

If so, then lucky you. :)

[@jeremymorales2354]

Reed top 5 all time

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Certainly GOAT status in the long run.

[@dougdickason]

I was at this race and the race two years later when James Stewart won his first premiere class victory.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Lucky you! This race REALLY made me happy without a doubt, and I was pumped for James when he won this race in 2005 -- his first 250cc win.

[@dougdickason]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames my first Dallas supercoss was 1987 when Rick Johnson came from behind to beat Jeff Ward. Saw some Houston and Oklahoma City supercrosser too. I never got to an outdoor national for some reason as something always came up. Although I have been to many amateur nationals in Ponca and Texas.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@dougdickason Lucky you! I've only been to two races myself -- both in my home state of Hawaii. The first turned out to be a flop (the 2004 Alohacross), and just last year (May 2019) for the Hawaiian Supercross (which I deemed to be a BIG success). Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, it's not happening this year.

[@dougdickason]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames well, you sound a lot luckier than me for the most part living in Hawaii. I also James Stewart at the Ponca City amateur nationals in 1991 or 92 and I remember him because he was already the fastest kid of his age in the world, and he was one of the few people of color racing. He was only on a 60cc bike and must have been 7 or 8 range.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@dougdickason Been a Hawaii resident my entire life. Sometimes it's lucky and unlucky since Hawaii is very unlikely to host a seasonal Supercross race (last time that happened was before my time), and there aren't very many people who make a name for themselves in motocross from Hawaii. There's only ONE rider listed from Honolulu in the RacerX Vault, and that's John DeSoto. Privateer Grant Harlan is only the second Hawaii-born person to make a name for himself in Supercross (though the site lists him from Justin, TX; I'm guessing he was BORN in Hawaii since there were Hawaii fans in the stands at the Atlanta race). I'm guessing Grant Harlan was born in Kona (Hawaii island). Big claim to fame there for seeing JS at Ponca City. I never doubt the speed of the rookies when they turn pro. James had a good career overall, but his ending was pretty disastrous though.

[@Excitable101]

Chad may not be the Goat, but i don't think anyone will come close to the number of races entered any time soon...

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Unfortunately, no, but over 250 starts is certainly nothing to sneeze about. Although he only won 45 times, I'll take 250+ starts any other day. Over 100 of those were consecutive until he missed the Anaheim 2 race in 2010.

[@Excitable101]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames agree 100%

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@Excitable101 Chad certainly gave a lot of people reason to love the guy again. I admit I didn't like some of the things he did as a 125 rider, but he cleaned up his act considerably after 2008.

[@cocopirata763]

i was there all spectator stand all main

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Yes they did stand all throughout the main. I was totally enjoying this back home on ESPN2; this was also the race that convinced me to stay after Chad Reed won the race over Carmichael.

[@seaeff6428]

So crazy that chad raced in an era where they filmed the races on a 50 lb potato and he’s still active today where we get 4k from cell phones.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Well, this was the golden era of Supercross and DVDs and movies were things we could only dream of.

[@seaeff6428]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames I’m 28. I’m aware. I watched the terrafirmas until they didn’t work.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@seaeff6428 Haha. I'm 32 (turning 33 next month) and I watched the Terrafirma and Steel Roots videos over and over again myself.

[@seaeff6428]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames Oh man those were the days. A couple years ago my girl was put on face to face the song in mcgrgaths part of terrafirma 5 I think. Anyway she put it on unexpectedly I ended up watching the remastered version like 5 times that week.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@seaeff6428 Oh wow. I liked the ones w/ McGrath in them as well, and the Steel Roots videos were T-H-E best for me to watch in my book. I still have the first 2, but I never got to see the 3rd one with Jeremy on his Yamaha and/or KTM.

[@marcosmuterle7695]

Tempos bons

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

What is that???

[@johnnybgood774]

Ricky wasnt even primed yet his centering was the best.. whoops not so much

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

I don't think I follow you.

[@baylonjones3771]

GYPSYTALES

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Huh???

[@truckingfun5033]

Lol.... Babylon Jones, that’s why I’m here also. This came up in my recommended feed, and I remembered Chad, and Ricky on Gypsytales pod cast when Chad said this is one of his most memorable/fun races against Ricky...

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@truckingfun5033 Babylon Jones??? WTF??? Yeah, I loved this race myself and that unforgettable battle between Reed and Carmichael -- with Reed winning.

[@truckingfun5033]

MathewV21688 Babylon Jones was the one that commented “GYPSYTALES” ..... Then you commented “Huh???” Never mind, lol

[@truckingfun5033]

MathewV21688 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKa8iGOviJ5mmKs

[@sambuvca22]

Tv quality was so poor in 2003

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Somehow, I don't think so.

[@markpromo2298]

I respect them both but Chad couldn’t hold Carmichaels jockstrap

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Not sure what you mean, but Chad DID show he could compete with Ricky down the stretch of 2003 -- granted Ricky had a full race lead on Reed after Daytona.

[@fridelikakurnia6477]

So this is Chad first debut on 250 Factory Yamaha...?

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Uh... no...!! He started on Team Yamaha at the 2002 U.S. Open.

[@fridelikakurnia6477]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames Hm... In 2002 after 125 east? So he was still in Boost mobile Yamaha team?

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@fridelikakurnia6477 Okay, you are NOT making ANY sense now! I don't even understand your question.

[@fridelikakurnia6477]

@@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames Sorry...

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@fridelikakurnia6477 And furthermore, something's telling me you are NOT a fan of this sport; if you say you are, I'm going to guess you only got into this sport a few days ago or something. I have a considerable number of races from this time period that's already posted on my channel; you can find your answers on much of them.

[@fredgarvinMP]

Ricky let Chad win because of the little incident right out of the gate and didn't want to win that way.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

Somehow, I disagree with that. Chad Reed was clearly faster than Ricky Carmichael down the stretch of 2003, but in Ricky's own defense, over 10 other factory riders were sidelined with injuries, and logic showed Ricky could get up to 2nd each time (which he did). I know Tim Ferry returned the next race at Salt Lake City, but the field was too thinned out for Chad Reed to walk away as the 2003 Supercross champ. I also think Honda was content with Ricky finishing 2nd each time after being ahead 25 pts. after Daytona. Simultaneously, I know Ricky wanted to win at least one more race before the season was over, but this race solidified that Chad Reed was the man for the job to attempt to knock him off the #1 spot, and at the same time, this race told me "Don't go!" because I could very well have walked away after McGrath unexpectedly retired after his sub-par performances in Europe on his new KTM. Chad Reed filled every void in my book, and I hold him in my debt to stay a Supercross fan TO THIS DAY!!

[@backwithabang5842]

Man, thats bullshit... chad was faster 2003 and would have been faster 2004, too.

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

For sure.

[@billveek9518]

Yamaha just makes better bikes than anyone really

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

No disagreements there. I ride a Yamaha in trails myself.

[@johnnybgood774]

Reed is a clown he needs to retire lol

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

He's already announced that 2020 will be his last season.

[@markhills3922]

There's only 1 clown here. How many titles or races have you won? Chad is still qualifying for the mains and is doing it mostly on his own dollar without any factory Husqvarna support.

[@johnnybgood774]

@@markhills3922 so what he is still a sucker he only won when r.c. or bubba was out lol

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@markhills3922 My thoughts exactly! Chad is doing this on his own dime, and the fact that he is just making mains in today's talent pool is impressive enough. Do I believe he can still win a race? Absolutely!

[@MathewVsSportsMediaandGames]

@@johnnybgood774 A title is a title no matter WHO'S out there!