"I hated every single bit of it." | Ricky Carmichael on 2006 battle

In the latest episode of 'The Inside Line' podcast on the Vital MX network, Ricky Carmichael recaps his three years of racing aboard an RM-Z450. Topics include his 2006 title fight with James Stewart and Chad Reed, as well as his move into retirement. Above is a ten-minute excerpt from the two hour podcast.
Footage: Feld Entertainment Inc.

[@Stack151]

I love how RC grabs JS hand and they both take a bow together. Such great champions!

[@sammylacks4937]

Ricky was that type of guy, a racer that comes along very seldom , maybe once. He was in my opinion a champions champion.

[@justiningle8884]

Ricky has always been a great ambassador for the sport, what a true hero, ran into him in the the pits Atlanta SX on a friday track walk he was as any normal person so freaking humble

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

i remember being at Millville one year, was probably 2007, because 06 was the Mudder, and there's those stairs and that sort of cat-walk walkway thing at the starting gate and I was behind the gate, behind the fence, and he was sitting on the 2nd step of those stairs facing me, a 12 or 13 year old kid at the time basically face to face with to me what could've been god himself, and I was like, what do I do. Do I say anything? I was like 10 feet from the dude while the Lites class was on the track. He looked like he was in the zone so I didn't make any scene or anything I just stood there and left him be but I sort of sized him up and was like damn, so that's him huh, that's the guy? He's not much taller than me and he's stockier than I imagined. In that moment I was like, "Huh so he really is just a dude." It was just so cool it's a mental picture that I'll never forget as long as I live.

[@fredmerkel1447]

I know that Situation of having to perform on that final weekend after traveling the world on a long season and keep it together, I did it twice for Both of my World Championships at the last races of the year. Could never describe my feelings and what was going through my mind but ruthless determination🏴‍☠️🏁

[@xipingpooh5783]

That was the Golden Age of WSB👍🏼

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

Nothing I've ever done could really stack up like that, but I do remember being a kid racing for local points championships in like the 85 class and stuff and it was just, being in a close battle like that with another dude who is so similar in speed is just, I could really really relate when he said it was NOT fun AT ALL. Because I was "the guy" in the mini class, it wasn't until I went up to the big bikes and the B class and stuff where I really started to have a lot more fun racing because it wasn't about winning it was about doing the best you can and top 5s were good enough and the occasional win was just the icing.

[@jaredkinneyjr]

I love that hardpacked circle track style turn at Vegas 06. I would love to see a section like that today or "speed" section

[@cooganbeggs4942]

I was thinking the exact same thing! my god how difficult did that corner look? and they were sending it …next level bike control 💪

[@motonorcal9938]

Wow, just epic. This shows the importance of having a plan and visualizing a positive outcome so you can seize any opportunity that comes your way on the track, instead of bowing to pressure.

[@papabear9498]

Those few years were electric-great battles Carmichael’s black helmet w/white pinstripes was the shit!

[@justiningle8884]

McGrath was the king of style boss

[@CG-11235spiral]

I was just thinking how bad ass his gear was while watching this footage. It was bad ass when I saw the race live and it’s still bad ass now.

[@TeddyParker]

I love how often RC mentions following a dude and pacing them. Whereas with JS and CR you often hear they just ride out of their skin as much as possible... RC's results really speak to his methods. He's always keeping everyone honest, including himself. So he's always there to make advantageous moves even if he's not doing the fastest laps/out in front.

[@jeffro5032]

Lewis and ML.....great interview guys! And thanks RC for giving us the down low!

[@LewisPhillips71]

Thank you! Did you listen to the full podcast?

[@danielj5817]

Amazing vid. Great editing, great interviewing by Lewis and Michael to not only ask questions that get Ricky talking in depth but to just let Ricky talk and talk. Some interviewers try so hard to shift the focus back to themselves and you were both just so into what Ricky had to say. Awesome work!

[@LewisPhillips71]

Thank you!

[@tmfp36]

Good job Vital, keep these going please

[@LewisPhillips71]

Thank you!

[@slagletoby]

Great interview thank you for sharing. Totally world class content to be archived forever.

[@LewisPhillips71]

Thank you! Did you listen to the full podcast?

[@slagletoby]

@@LewisPhillips71 yes sir! Good stuff 🤟

[@CoastinNOMADS]

Wow awesome content 👏 amazing work fom the goat amazing era to live trough. I wanna hear tomacks version of 2017 Vegas round 17. He fell short of the championship but man he put on a show and controlled the entire race. Dungey just didn't break.

[@DS-oi4wl]

Lovely interview style, LP/ML!!!

[@LewisPhillips71]

Thank you!

[@leadhead7338]

RC your the 🐐 PERIOD! Team Green ALWAYS!

[@gawdszn302]

Need more of this with diff riders I love this stuff

[@timstewart9017]

The whoops look small compared to the current whoops.

[@nv2134]

GREAT STUFF!

[@LewisPhillips71]

Thank you!

[@BennyBen9]

The greatest champion to ever be .RC amazing watching his career with js7 and cr22 by far the best time to be a fan of motocross

[@RichM0410]

Don’t know Ricky personally but his contribution to the sport (“ambassador” correct word?) in designing at least 1 track (Daytona) and demonstrating expertise in calling the races is awesome! Appears to be a genuine good person. Loved watching you ride Mr Carmichael. 👍

[@patrickgodin7649]

That was a great race, with a ton of great racers, Ricky did not have an easy field at all.

[@donworryboudat]

Ricky literally only ever had to worry about chad Reed and Stewart, it was definitely an easy field 😂

[@patrickgodin7649]

@@donworryboudat well let's see, there was also Kevin Windham Mike larocco Sebastian tortelli, not to mention James and Chad and all the rest of the riders that were there so

[@donworryboudat]

@@patrickgodin7649 you must not of watched supercross back then

[@moto3463]

Such a big fan of both JS7 and RC both icons of the sport seriously Ricky definitely could run a Podcast

[@goldsbym]

That year Vegas 2006 the track was as slick as a skating rink. Very hard to push and make time on a track like that.

[@jesussoto6855]

Love the aestethics of those days

[@justrelax8465]

,when I was on 80s so was Ricky. He was THE only rider on an 80cc that Moto-mags covered back then. I knew he was good but had no idea he would and up the goat. And to do it after JM"s dominance whom we all thought couldn't be beat. Sadley I think Ricky burned out too soon, he was already a superstar on rm80s at Loretta lynns

[@akumaku7930]

Ricky Carmichael I haven’t heard that name for so long. I even had the action figure as a kid..

[@thefridaynetwork]

Aw no clip of the boat crash from Dallas? 😆

[@cooganbeggs4942]

I wish we could have this RC in the commentary box every week! He seems like such a genuine person and obviously got a ton of knowledge but somehow in the commentary box it seems like he’s being someone he’s not comfortable with. Don’t get me wrong I’m not hating and I couldn’t do what these guys do but it would just be so good to see a more relaxed RC 🤷‍♂️

[@Floridawoodsbanshee]

Lol he does get a little excited and should slow down a bit 😅 🤣 But seeing him still involved in the sport is awesome 👌

[@spice3767]

Where is the full interview….? Is this a snippet from the WTS…?

[@LewisPhillips71]

It's on the Vital MX podcast channels. This is an exclusive Vital MX podcast...

[@spice3767]

@@LewisPhillips71 thank you, appreciate it 👍 🐐

[@mikebrown41182]

Michael do you reacll what happened to Rickys rear shock at St.Louis?

[@LewisPhillips71]

The shock spring broke.

[@mikebrown41182]

@@LewisPhillips71 ah now i remember, he was going over the bars big time in the whoops? I remember exactly the crash itself how he went over the bar but not the entry to the whoops / rythm. I remember he was pissed of big time, and Suzuki basically replaced och everything in the pits cause precautions if Something was bendt!

[@kodylaird9342]

Why does the track look 10 bikes wide back then?

[@zackk695]

Ground was like concrete. You would think by now they would know how to make it soft

[@vitalmx]

Was 2006 the greatest season of supercross ever? - LP

[@mxriderdakar]

Nope 2023 😊

[@vitalmx]

@@mxriderdakar Well, we wouldn't be mad if 2023 ends up being that good! - LP

[@goldsbym]

2011 IMO was the best Supercross season. Villopoto, Dungey, Stewart, Reed, Canard. 5 guys had a shot at the championship with 3 rounds to go.

[@jGasQ]

2009

[@koreymiller26]

Maybe but 2007 Orlando was my favorite race of all time. Stewart and Carmichael left nothing on the table.

[@natehendricksen3338]

Just another reason he's the GOAT.

[@ridemx323]

Geeze those whoops are small lol

[@michaelledoux5261]

When I was racing I always thought I needed to pee at the start.

[@40beretta1]

I maybe the only one....No matter what factory he rode for.... He'll always be Kawi Green to me

[@Dirtbiker-guy]

I remember this, and I never liked Chad for being a little bitch for always whining about not being able to beat Ricky or James, loved when James pulled over to show him what speed is.

[@ronk6553]

It’s too bad Ricky is so poorly spoken because he has so much knowledge and so many good stories I would think.

[@MobileHomeUploads]

Looks appearance wise, Joey savaty was the next carmicheal lol they look like brothers or whatever

[@2wheels1love21]

RC come on man.quit the caps

[@brokinarrow1]

Supercross tracks are in my opinion, more technical now,and way harder to ride fast.Eli Tomac will eventually get the credit he deserves for setting the bar to a higher level.Daytona is your house Eli,so go out and kick some ass this wknd.Time for a BTO,roll on down the highway shot of adrenaline.

[@Cosm1cCream]

Nostalgic much?

[@goldsbym]

It sounds like RC has a greater fear of Losing as apposed to his Will to Win. ????

[@YeahImAnthony]

I think that's most racers.

[@zumptt]

Every great in every sport ever thinks this btw.

[@jealousyxanderblood7894]

dont let him throw you around. He may have been a little worried about chad and james but not as much as james and chad were worried about him. Thats why chad and james made as many mistakes as they did racing him. Ricky knew 9/10 he was going to win.

[@Loki1815]

I talked myself into being a millionaire, do you want to guess how that turned out?

[@uhh482]

Gay

[@TheGnarTube]

no one cares about motocross anymore btw

[@johnnyskied]

JS7 was often his own worst enemy. He had too much Ricky Bobby in him, win or die trying. If his race craft was a little better and he'd been able to take those 2nd or 3rd place finishes and manage his off nights he'd have won more championships. Glad I got to witness him in his JS259 days and as JS7. Their 07 outdoors battles were out of this world. Hangtown 07 is one of the greatest races in any form of motorsports.

[@evanburke4269]

Sorry RC but it was really fun to watch

[@zumptt]

Las Vegas was always the lamest track of the year... had to call a damn flat turn Monster Alley lol give me a break

[@Cyogenic]

The monster alley name came from the Monster Truck series that used that area too. Don’t know what was lame about Vegas tracks to you either