I was making money for the first time and it was my dream to race in Supercross.”Ĭarmichael says the plan all along was that the feeder series helped put a structure in place from when he first started and how things would look down the road. I transitioned into professional by doing the last outdoor nationals in Steel City and had eighth overall. “I signed with them in 1996 while I was still racing in amateurs. I just got shuffled up to the professional side of things with Splitfire Pro Kawasaki.” They groomed me and put me under their wing.

“I signed with them when I was 10 or 11-years-old. “I came through Kawasaki amateur program called Team Green, basically their feeder program,” Carmichael said. Quickly, with the help of his former manufacturer Kawasaki, he was able to get that opportunity with the feeder series they had at the time. As he was doing so, Carmichael was eyeing making his eventual switch to Supercross after competing in the amateur category. Other topics the former rider discusses are how he got connected with Kawasaki to give him his first opportunities in racing, how that ladder helped propelled him throughout his 125 and the start of his 250 careers, memories of making his first start and winning at Atlanta and much more in this week’s first seasons edition.Įarly on in Carmichael’s career, he raced in the amateur ranks and found success and was winning races. (Photo by NKP / NKP Photo)Ĭarmichael talks about his heyday as a rookie rider coming into the sport in 19. In this week’s edition of “first-seasons” where Kickin’ The Tires catches up with a motorsports figure past or present to discuss their rookie seasons in racing, Kickin’ The Tires catches up with former Supercross rider and champion turned NBC Supercross analyst, Ricky Carmichael.

Ricky professional motocross racer