Ricky Carmichael did the one thing few racers at his level have done and that is to forgo or rather he had a very subdued farewell tour.

To many racers follow the ritual of milking their careers to the bitter end. Most are over the hill racers who haven't won in years who continue to find a way of pocketing that last ounce of cash from the fans. That is not Ricky Carmichael, who went out as a champion and rode every race to win right up to the end at the Motocross of Nations where the USA destroyed the world for a record 18th time.

Karoline and I were at the Red Bud National this year and you would have never known that Carmichael was ending his riding career. In my very humble opinion Ricky is as fast, if not faster than he has been in years past. There is no question that he could still win a slew of championships if he chose to.

Sadly for the motorcycle community he has headed off to ...... what else, Nascar. And so he joins the gang of Indycar drivers who have headed to Cashcar where he will drive around in circles until he is dizzy while making a boat load of cash.

Carmichael is one of the few riders to take motocross and supercross to another level and there are maybe two riders who have touched the level he set. Ryan Villapoto and James Stewart. Whether or not that can take that to yet another level has yet to be seen.

Carmichael's take no prisoners approach to racing might just be all that he needs to succeed in Nascar.

As could be seen in this years crop of top notch Indycar drivers who moved over to Nascar it can be very difficult to win against Cashcars regulars. Just ask Juan Montoya (multitime Indycar champion, Indy 500 winner and multiple Formula One winner) who has managed to do it. The bottom line is that if he succeeds he will be one of the few motorcycle racers to penetrate four wheeled motorsports and become a winner. John Surtees who won both motorcycle GP champions as well as the Formula One championship comes to mind, although many others have tried.

We are going to miss Ricky next year, however I think Ryan Villapoto is prepared to step into his shoes.

Best of luck Ricky, there is no question you have the talent and tenacity to do it.