Carmichael aiming to tie Kiedrowski record.

Ricky Carmichael comes to Red Bud Track 'N Trail this Sunday [6 July] with the opportunity to tie the record of three 250 class wins at the track held by former AMA Motocross champion Mike Kiedrowski.

Red Bud hosts round six of the twelve-event AMA Chevy Trucks US Motocross Championship, making it the mid-way point in the 2003 season, and Carmichael remains undefeated, having won the five rounds leading up to this weekend, and built a 53-point lead in the standings over fellow Honda rider Kevin Windham.

Carmichael continues to build on the longest winning streak in the history of AMA Motocross. Coming into Red Bud, the 23-year old Florida rider has amassed 20 consecutive wins dating back to the end of the 2001 season. He also has a solid record at Red Bud, having won the 250 class for the last two years and, prior to that, earned two wins in the 125 series.

Windham and KTM ace John Dowd join Carmichael as former 250 winners at Red Bud, and the former has received a warm welcome back to motocross after sitting out the 2002 season. He's parlayed three consecutive podium finishes into second in the series standings, but has not only shown consistency, but sheer speed as well.

The Honda rider is one of only two riders to manage to beat Carmichael in a moto this year. The other was Yamaha's Tim Ferry, who won the first moto three weeks ago at Budds Creek, before crashing in the second moto. Dowd, meanwhile, is one of the oldest regulars on the circuit at 37, but the New Englander is still showing good speed. He was runner-up to Carmichael at Southwick last month.

A bright ray of hope shined down on the ill-fated Suzuki team in the last round, when Stephane Roncada moved up from the 125 class and finished second to Carmichael in the 250s. Roncada, who won the 125 class at Red Bud three years ago, could be the 'X-factor' in the coming races, after surprising everyone with his fine performance three weeks ago.

Local favourites in the 250 class will include Mike LaRocco, from nearby South Bend, and Michigan-based Nick Wey. Red Bud features the longest jump on the circuit, named LaRocco's Leap in honour of the local hero who was said to be the first rider to ever clear the 130-foot uphill monster. LaRocco, who rides a Factory Connection Honda, is fifth ranked in the 250 series, while Wey is eleventh on a Mach 1 Yamaha.

Kawasaki's James Stewart returns to Red Bud as the defending winner in the 125 division. Stewart missed the first four races of the season due to injury and is working hard to put himself into championship contention by season's end. Stewart's return to the series after missing the first four rounds was the big story at the last race but, at Red Bud, the focus will shift to seeing if he can start a winning streak and make a bid at the championship after giving the rest of the series regulars such a large head start.

Currently leading the 125 series is Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Mike Brown, who has won two rounds and holds a 15-point lead on old rival Grant Langston. Veteran Ryan Hughes was in the thick of the title chase before breaking his leg last month, but still holds third in the series, although he's dropped 37 points behind Brown. Hughes hopes to race at Red Bud this weekend and stay in the title chase as his leg heals.

Michigan's Kelly Smith will be a fan favourite at Red Bud in the 125 class. Ranked 20th coming into this round, he has finished as high as sixth in the 125 series this season.