With all the hype around this year’s AMA Supercross series, it looked like things were really up in the air. Well, with the second round in the books, I think one things is still very clear. Things have changed but they are also the same. Ricky Carmichael is so talented on a motorcycle that titles are his to loose.

With the Phoenix event held indoors, it was guaranteed to be dry. Something which would help answer all the questions raised before Anaheim but not resolved when it turned into a mud bath. Well, from practice until the final waving of the checkered flag at Phoenix, Ricky was the fast guy. All the folks thinking (hoping?) that his jumping ship from Honda to Suzuki would slow him down have to be shaking their head in disbelief.

Sure, its too early in the season to be predicting another season of Carmichael dominance but it was amazing to see just how fast Carmichael could be and just how confident he was at this race. With Stewart out for a few months with a broken bone, the real question is whether Reed or Windham will find what it takes to shake up the new king of supercross.

Bravo to Ricky and his team for showing us all how silly it is to question his ability to step up to new challenges, whether its a new bike or new competition.

[image from Dirt Rider Magazine web site]