Illness ends farewell tour early

0 Comments | USA TODAY, October, 2007 | by A.J. Perez

Ricky Carmichael's career postscript was supposed to be written after this weekend's Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open in Las Vegas, an indoor motocross event the 27-year-old has won a record three times.

"Ricky made a lot of guys wish he'd never been born or wish they had been born in a different decade," said Yamaha rider Grant Langston, who claimed his first AMA Motocross title last month. "If Ricky had not come around, there'd be a lot more wealthier and famous riders out there."

Carmichael, who had been running a part-time schedule this year as he made inroads into stock car racing, announced this week that an illness would prematurely end his farewell tour. He recently was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.

"I've just felt like I've been...