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From: www.speedtv.com
Original Link: http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/super...motocross/33299
Ricky Carmichael Signs NASCAR Deal with MB2
Written by: Steve Cox, MXi Magazine
Las Vegas, NV – 10/12/2006
Ricky Carmichael (second from right) and Kent Atherton (far right) of MB2 Motorsports stand by Carmichael's #4 car. (Photo: Steve Cox, MXi)
It has been talked about for quite a long time in the pits at the races that Ricky Carmichael was looking at joining the ranks of NASCAR once his motocross racing career was finished.
After announcing his limited schedule for the 2007 SX/MX season with Makita Suzuki, the timing couldn’t have been better, as Carmichael has signed with MB2 Motorsports to be teammates with Mark Martin and at least two other drivers in 2007 and beyond. Actually, Carmichael’s deal is a three-year deal, starting with 15 races in 2007, and then more in 2008, and hopefully a full racing schedule in 2009.
“It’s been a long process, as some people know, and maybe a bunch of people thought we were messing around, but we’ve been working a long time on this deal,” Carmichael said. “I did some testing with some other teams and it went good and we had some talks, but this deal felt right for me. They’re making a huge commitment and are really doing things to help me. A lot of things are focused around me to teach me and develop me to someday try to be in the Nextel Cup. That’s our goal, and I’m just really excited about it. This is something that’s a dream of mine and it’s a fantastic challenge. I’m very optimistic going into it and the times that I’ve tested, it’s hard, but it’s something that I think I can do. I’m going in there with the attitude that I’ve got a great opportunity and I’m going to make the best of it. If it happens [getting into Nextel Cup], that’s great, but if not, I know I have the best people behind me, and that’s MB2.
Carmichael will race 15 races next year. (Photo: Steve Cox, MXi)
“I signed a three-year contract, and it’s a limited schedule next year of 15 races starting out with some late-model racing,” Carmichael continued. “For some of you guys who don’t know it, it’s more of a local stock car racing level. Depending on my progress and how I do, we’ll go into some ARCA races. Depending on how I do in that, do some Craftsman Truck Series races also. I’m scheduled to do 15 races next year, then 25 or 30, and then in ’09, a pretty full schedule. It’s a great program marketingwise and it’s a great story, so if I can hold my deal up on the driving side and really progress the way I’d like to and the way I think I can, it can be really fun. And it’s going to open up some new avenues to the guys in motocross and supercross and bring some of the fans from NASCAR to there, which is important to the sport that I love and that has made me. Really, it’s the only reason I’m here today and have this opportunity. It’s definitely very, very special.”
Click here to read the Q & A from the Ricky Carmichael / MB2 Motorsports Teleconference!
Original Link: http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/super...motocross/33299
Ricky Carmichael Signs NASCAR Deal with MB2
Written by: Steve Cox, MXi Magazine
Las Vegas, NV – 10/12/2006
Ricky Carmichael (second from right) and Kent Atherton (far right) of MB2 Motorsports stand by Carmichael's #4 car. (Photo: Steve Cox, MXi)
It has been talked about for quite a long time in the pits at the races that Ricky Carmichael was looking at joining the ranks of NASCAR once his motocross racing career was finished.
After announcing his limited schedule for the 2007 SX/MX season with Makita Suzuki, the timing couldn’t have been better, as Carmichael has signed with MB2 Motorsports to be teammates with Mark Martin and at least two other drivers in 2007 and beyond. Actually, Carmichael’s deal is a three-year deal, starting with 15 races in 2007, and then more in 2008, and hopefully a full racing schedule in 2009.
“It’s been a long process, as some people know, and maybe a bunch of people thought we were messing around, but we’ve been working a long time on this deal,” Carmichael said. “I did some testing with some other teams and it went good and we had some talks, but this deal felt right for me. They’re making a huge commitment and are really doing things to help me. A lot of things are focused around me to teach me and develop me to someday try to be in the Nextel Cup. That’s our goal, and I’m just really excited about it. This is something that’s a dream of mine and it’s a fantastic challenge. I’m very optimistic going into it and the times that I’ve tested, it’s hard, but it’s something that I think I can do. I’m going in there with the attitude that I’ve got a great opportunity and I’m going to make the best of it. If it happens [getting into Nextel Cup], that’s great, but if not, I know I have the best people behind me, and that’s MB2.
Carmichael will race 15 races next year. (Photo: Steve Cox, MXi)
“I signed a three-year contract, and it’s a limited schedule next year of 15 races starting out with some late-model racing,” Carmichael continued. “For some of you guys who don’t know it, it’s more of a local stock car racing level. Depending on my progress and how I do, we’ll go into some ARCA races. Depending on how I do in that, do some Craftsman Truck Series races also. I’m scheduled to do 15 races next year, then 25 or 30, and then in ’09, a pretty full schedule. It’s a great program marketingwise and it’s a great story, so if I can hold my deal up on the driving side and really progress the way I’d like to and the way I think I can, it can be really fun. And it’s going to open up some new avenues to the guys in motocross and supercross and bring some of the fans from NASCAR to there, which is important to the sport that I love and that has made me. Really, it’s the only reason I’m here today and have this opportunity. It’s definitely very, very special.”
Click here to read the Q & A from the Ricky Carmichael / MB2 Motorsports Teleconference!
