Ricky Carmichael

Through his unprecedented domination of the professional motocross circuit, Ricky Carmichael now enjoys the well-deserved nickname of GOAT, an acronym meaning “greatest of all time.” Born in Clearwater, Florida in 1979, Carmichael began racing motorcycles at the age of five. With the support of his father and cousins, Ricky maintained a passionate devotion to racing throughout his childhood and adolescence. In fact, the secret to Carmichael's success may lie in his notorious and ferocious dedication to training. By the time he was 17, Ricky was prepared to unleash his talents on professional competition.

Although Ricky Carmichael's racing was relatively wild and inconsistent in his first year on the pro circuit, his talent was undeniable. Despite his unpredictable performances, Ricky nonetheless won a handful of major contests in 1997, earning Rookie of the Year honors in the process. His talent became increasingly polished over the course of the next year. In 1998, Carmichael won every major Supercross event. Up until this time, Ricky had participated exclusively in competitions that required a 125cc engine size. However, in 2000, he chose to enter the higher 250cc class full-time. In his first year, Ricky managed to win the 250cc National Championship. By 2002, he was completely overwhelming the competition in every race he entered. In this year, Carmichael achieved a record that many believed was unattainable: he won 24 of 24 National Motocross races. Even more unbelievable, Ricky succeeded in duplicating this perfect season in 2004, only months after recovering from a serious knee injury.

While he was not able to reproduce these two perfect seasons, Carmichael nevertheless performed at an exceptionally high level in 2005 and 2006, winning both Supercross and National Motocross titles. Ricky retired from racing after competing half-time in 2007, due in part to his interest in beginning a new career as a stock car driver. However, he won every contest he entered in his last year on the circuit, and many believed he looked faster than ever.

Ricky Carmichael's Career Highlights

Attempting to list Carmichael's career highlights is a daunting task. His record of championships is unmatched by any other racer in the sport. Ricky won the AMA Supercross Championship in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006. Additionally, he claimed the U.S. Open of Supercross Championship in 2000, 2001, and 2005. Finally, Carmichael also won the AMA 125cc Outdoor National Motocross Championship from 1997-1999, and the AMA 250cc Outdoor National Championship from 2000-2006.