Herm & Schrader Podcast

Episode: Ricky Carmichael: The Motocross GOAT

Date: October 16, 2025
Hosts: Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader
Guest: Ricky Carmichael

Episode Overview

This episode features an energetic, in-depth conversation with Ricky Carmichael, often cited as the "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time) in motocross and supercross. Hosted by Kenny Wallace—one half of the unruly “Herm & Schrader” duo—the episode covers Carmichael’s path to glory, his work ethic and mindset, the evolution of motocross, the transition into NASCAR, and his current pursuits after racing. The show is filled with stories about rivalry, legacy, mentorship, and the life lessons learned through competitive motorsports—with Carmichael’s humility and grit at the forefront.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ricky Carmichael’s Legendary Career

• Summary of Achievements

  • 15-time AMA Champion: 10 motocross, 5 supercross titles
  • 102 motocross wins, 48 supercross wins
  • Two perfect seasons in premier class (2002, 2004) [07:54-08:09]
  • Five-time AMA Rider of the Year
  • X Games medals, including three gold and two bronze

• Mindset and Discipline

  • Carmichael credits success to relentless discipline and hard work more than pure talent.

    "There were no magic answers. It was just straight up hard work and outworking the competition. If my competition did 100 laps in practice, I’d do 150."
    —Ricky Carmichael [09:44]

  • Diet was crucial, both during and after his career:

    "It's not as much as what I'm eating, it's how much I'm eating ... When you have a slow metabolism and you have to be accountable for your intake, I think that instills discipline in other forms of the sport."
    —Ricky Carmichael [03:59-05:12]

• Perspective on Winning and Legacy

  • Grateful but humble about the "GOAT" status:

    "I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished, but I never set out to do that. I was raised to go out there and do it 100% or don’t do it at all."
    —Ricky Carmichael [08:35-10:13]

The Mental Side of Greatness

• Hard Work vs. God-Given Talent

  "There are people on a motorcycle that have way more God given talent than I do ... Where I feel like I was given a gift is I was able at a very, very young age to learn the sacrifices that my parents were making for me to make it."
  —Ricky Carmichael [11:10-12:17]

• Early Struggles and Parental Sacrifice

  • Carmichael admits he sometimes dreaded practice as a kid, feeling a pressure not to let his parents down more than anything.

    "Honestly, I hated racing. I just didn’t want to let them down ... There were times going to practice during the week, I was praying for rain."
    —Ricky Carmichael [11:11-12:17]

• Mentorship and the Unteachable

  "There are some things you cannot teach. There are some things you can ... I think I had the mental fortitude, and I think that's something that I was born with."
  —Ricky Carmichael [13:19-13:52]

Inside the Racing Mindset

• Aggression vs. Technique

  • Discussing what wins in motocross:

    "If you can be technical and aggressive, you got the best of both worlds. For me, I couldn't get to that technical level ... but my aggression would take me to a 10.5."
    —Ricky Carmichael [14:57-15:24]

  • Willingness to ride on the edge:

    "I was willing to hang it out. You gotta be comfortable being uncomfortable, and that suited my style."
    —Ricky Carmichael [15:19-16:29]

• Competitive Instinct

  • Carmichael reveals he’s always analyzing, even after retirement:

    "Now that you’re not racing competitively, are you still thinking ... competition?"
    —Kenny Wallace
    "Oh absolutely, 100%."
    —Ricky Carmichael [16:36-17:15]

• ‘Winning on Setup’

  • Enjoyed adapting bike/setups and forecasting track conditions, likening it to the technical side of car racing.

    "The older that I got I could win just knowing, OK, the track's gonna get like this, so I'm going to change my ride height..."
    —Ricky Carmichael [17:39-18:51]

The Life Span and Burnout of a Motocross Athlete

• Early Start and Intense Schedule

  • Kids start racing at 7 or younger, riding multiple days a week.
  • Physical risk is ever-present ("it ain’t if, it’s when you’re gonna bust your ass") [23:12-23:36]
  • "Burnout" is common – constant practice, simulation, and racing leave little downtime.

• Age and Longevity

  • Typical retirement age has increased from ~27 to early 30s today, due to less midweek riding/grind.

    "They probably about around 30, 43 where my day, like, 27 was ... 30 was just like you're on the, you're on the back end now."
    —Ricky Carmichael [25:35-26:49]

• Financial Realities

  • Importance of capitalizing during peak years due to short careers:

    "It's so important to go out and make as much money as you can if you never want to work again ... that's where those championship bonuses rack up."
    —Ricky Carmichael [28:05-28:15]

Rivals, Highlights, and Rivalries

• Greatest Rivals

  • Jeremy McGrath: hard but fair
  • James Stewart: unmatched speed but prone to mistakes
  • Chad Reed: "A damn thorn in my side," forced Carmichael out of his comfort zone

    "Chad Reed ... I knew he would sweep the leg if he had an opportunity."
    —Ricky Carmichael [35:41]

• Giving Away the Past

  • Carmichael admits he gave away most memorabilia and wishes he’d kept more:

    "Now here I am, 20 years post-retirement … damn, I wish I would have kept majority of the stuff."
    —Ricky Carmichael [40:11-41:01]

The Transition: From Two Wheels to Four

• The NASCAR Leap

  • The transition into NASCAR was brokered by Kasey Kahne and later solidified under Mark Martin’s mentorship.
  • Tested and drove for late model, East Series, and eventually Truck/Xfinity/Nationwide programs.

    "Why NASCAR? ... Kasey Kane, he reached out ... gave me an opportunity and I drove his late model at Hickory. Never been in a dang car before ever in my life."
    —Ricky Carmichael [53:03-53:45]

• Truck Series Success

  • 68 Truck Series starts; 18 top-10s; 2009 Truck Series Most Popular Driver [57:21-57:29]
  • Fought for wins at Loudon, Atlanta, Texas – performed particularly well on short tracks and places where timing/technical skills translated.
  • Arrow ("aero") and advanced chassis/coil-binding were steep learning curves.

• Sponsorship Realities and a Tough Ending

  • Carmichael’s NASCAR ride ended due to a combination of sponsor movement and the need for winning drivers; ultimately, Monster Energy and Kyle Busch Motorsports selected Kurt Busch over Ricky after a dramatic off-track incident.

    "I can't blame Monster ... blood is thicker than water ... Kurt could run circles around me."
    —Ricky Carmichael [69:06-70:14]

• Gratitude for the Opportunity

  "I was always—there’s so many great drivers that were willing to help me ... we don’t ... that just don’t happen in Supercross, Motocross."
  —Ricky Carmichael [71:23-72:11]

Life After Racing & Current Pursuits

• Triumph and Adventure Riding

  • Carmichael is enthusiastically involved in adventure and touring bike projects with Triumph, testing bikes that can tackle both asphalt and dirt [44:47-48:11].
  • Adventure motorcycling is booming, especially since COVID; he loves creating and sharing this new chapter on social media.

• Financial Stability and Giving Back

  • Carmichael stresses the value of wise financial management, enabling post-retirement freedom:

    "Monetarily I was very blessed and don’t have to work if I don’t want to. I work because I love doing it."
    —Ricky Carmichael [43:39-44:47]

• Social Media & Community

  • Praised by Wallace for engaging, down-to-earth Instagram recaps and connecting with fans.
  • Believes community and memories are at the heart of both old-school and modern motorcycle culture.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you can be technical and aggressive, you got the best of both worlds. For me ... my aggression would take me to a 10.5." —Ricky Carmichael [15:19-15:24]

• "I gave away helmets, gear ... Now here I am, 20 years post-retirement ... damn, I wish I would have kept majority of the stuff." —Ricky Carmichael [40:11-41:01]

• "Chad Reed ... his comfort zone was just fast enough to where if you wanted to beat him, you had to push that limit. He was like a damn thorn in my side." —Ricky Carmichael [35:41-36:32]

• "Kasey Kane ... gave me an opportunity and I drove his late model at Hickory. Never been in a dang car before..." —Ricky Carmichael [53:32-53:45]

• "You gotta be comfortable being uncomfortable—and that suited my style." —Ricky Carmichael [16:25-16:29]

• "It's not if—it's when—you’re gonna bust your ass on two wheels, 120%. You just keep going." —Ricky Carmichael [23:36]

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------|----------------| | Introduction & Carmichael’s Health & Discipline | 03:50–06:35 | | Career Stats Recap and Mindset | 07:41–10:13 | | Gifted Talent, Hard Work, and Mental Fortitude | 11:10–13:52 | | Aggression vs. Technical Skill | 14:44–16:29 | | Burnout and Short Career Span | 22:23–27:24 | | Financial Reality & Career Planning | 28:15–29:05 | | Major Rivals: McGrath, Stewart, Reed | 34:02–36:32 | | Giving Away Memorabilia | 40:05–41:01 | | Financial Lessons for Young Riders | 41:45–44:47 | | Triumph & the Rise of Adventure Bikes | 44:47–48:13 | | NASCAR Transition, Mark Martin’s Mentorship | 53:03–55:43 | | NASCAR Truck Series Achievements | 57:21–58:53 | | Sponsorship Loss & End of NASCAR Ride | 66:03–70:14 | | Reflections on the Sport & Friendship | 71:23–76:01 |

Tone & Takeaways

True to Herm & Schrader’s irreverent, unfiltered style, this conversation is equal parts storytelling, motivational advice, nostalgia, and locker-room banter. Carmichael is humble, grateful, and candid—never shying from tough subjects or hard lessons. The hosts and Carmichael share a mutual respect, underscoring motorsports as a tight-knit (if fiercely competitive) community. Young fans, old fans, racers, and weekend warriors will each find wisdom and humor in Carmichael’s journey—on and off the track.

End of Summary