End is nowhere in sight

Five-time supercross champion Ricky Carmichael retired last year at age 28.

Jeremy McGrath -- the winningest racer ever in the sport with 72 main event victories to go with seven series championships -- was 30 when he pulled off his riding boots for the final time five years ago.

Kevin Windham is different. He's out to prove that 30 isn't too old to compete -- and beat -- riders who are as many as 10 years his junior.

"Motivation has been at an all-time high for me," Windham said Friday at Sam Boyd Stadium, where he was preparing for tonight's AMA Supercross season finale. Action will begin at 7 p.m.

"I'm 30," he said, "and I feel like I'm in the prime of my career."

The Mississippian came into the season ready to prove he is worthy of more than a one-year contract extension with his Factory Connection Honda team. He was fifth in points a year ago and says poor performances the past few years -- more than his age -- made his team skeptical of looking beyond the next five-month season.

But this year Windham comes to Las Vegas having won back-to-back races. He can set a personal best by capturing tonight's 20-lap main event, which would give him a fifth title in 17 races.

And he has an outside chance to win his first series championship. He trails reigning champ Chad Reed of Australia by 10 points. The odds are against Windham, though. Even if he wins, Reed needs to finish no worse than sixth to retain the title.

"We both want this really badly," Windham said. "It's his to lose."

Windham is eloquent and thoughtful as he analyzes his high-flying year.

"This season has been a real eye-opener for what the future might hold for me," he said. "People are quick to call a 30-year-old in this business old. I really want to break the mold."

Most experts who follow the sport expected James Stewart, 22, to win this year's championship with Reed, 26, as the only legitimate threat.

When Stewart opted to skip the season for knee surgery, Reed seem poised to dominate -- and he did early, winning eight of the first 13 races.

But Reed broke a scapula (shoulder blade) three weeks ago during a pre-race practice in Detroit. He mustered a 12th-place finish later that day and then rallied with runner-up finishes to Windham the last two weeks to maintain a solid points lead.

Windham's dream almost was dashed a week ago in Seattle. On the second lap, the racer clipped a safety barrier while leading, and its vinyl cover became caught in his rear wheel. He fell to sixth after stopping to yank out the material but came back to win.

"It showed the best of both worlds," he said. "I really wanted (to win) and was willing to fight for it, and my maturity kept me from making a terrible mistake while I was working to get back to the front.

"Even at 30, that was a breakthrough performance for me."

Regardless of tonight's outcome, Windham knows he will return to his 900-acre farm to be with Dottie, his wife of eight years, and their three children.

"There have been life lessons from the time I became a dad," he said. "They're the biggest part of my life until I strap on my helmet and go do battle for 20 laps."

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.