So as the minutes count down and the track is being prepped we need to cast an eye forward and i guess backwards and come up with some thoughts about how this season is going to unfold. The outdoor Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season is a completely different beast to Monster Energy Supercross season. Just because you are good indoors does not make you an automatic fit to the hard, long and brutal environments that the outdoor tracks give you.
So what do i think...
Eli Tomac
So this is the obvious choice... The current Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Champion would not be in this position if he was not completely capable of it. His dominant end to the Supercross season shows everyone that the speed is still there if and this is the key... If he can keep it on two wheels. This has always been the issue with Tomac, on his day there are few riders that can match his raw speed but that raw speed comes at a cost. That speed, like similar riders such as Jame Stewart, is fragile. To go that fast you need to ride outside your comfort level, right on the edge of control. Can he do that and ride his luck for the whole season, or will he reign it in a bit and allow the other riders a chance to pass? Starts are also key for Tomac, if he starts strong he is hard to beat but last year showed his starts were not on point... interesting times...
Marvin Musquin
Well it's no secret here that I am a KTM man and the likable and technical Frenchman is definitely one of my top picks of the season. If you cast your minds back to the end of the outdoors last year Musquin was in the mix and nearly took the title. Then in the off season he dominated EVERYTHING, winning pretty much every single race that was thrown at him and also becoming the second rider ever to win the $1,000,000 in the Monster Energy Cup. He won the season opener in Supercross at Anaheim and unfortunately got injured. That, like Tomac also, took them out of the running for the Supercross title, but even with that huge drop in points he came within distance AGAIN of taking the title from Anderson. If you bet against Marvin this season... it's a bad bet.
Jason Anderson
So this is a strange one, Anderson is undoubtedly fast, very fast but can he continue this off the back of the roller coaster of his first Supercross title? A lot of people think he will turn up but not push things outdoors. I'm undecided on this one, sure he will be caught up in the celebrations but does that mean he is any less hungry now? To get back to back titles indoor and outdoor puts him into a very select group of riders, the hall of famers... something to shoot for i think.
Ken Roczen
What a couple of years it has been for the lovable German. He went from decimating the field of riders, sometimes but a lap or more, then it was all over in a heartbeat. Injuries have followed him ever since and it would be silly to think these have not taken their toll. On his day Roczen is the best outdoor rider the modern motocross world has seen, that is without question and yes i am even counting Tomac in that group. Sure, you can even bring Herlings and Cairoli into the mix but i still think its a valid point. Roczen has raced and beaten Herlings, can he do it now? This doesn't need to be considered yet but injury will be at the front of his mind and unless he can push past this and get up front quick i think he will take a few rounds to get back into the zone this time.
Justin Barcia
Again, this one is very hard to predict. On his day Barcia can out ride or at least push out most of the top riders with his aggressive riding style. He was dominant in his 250 career but he has struggled to recreate that form on the 450 stage. He can run with the best of them and i think after coming close to the top in Supercross before his injury he will be hungry outdoors.
Blake Bagget
So i saved Bagget till last, not because i he is an after thought but because he is the biggest under the radar threat this season. He was blisteringly fast last year and arguably only lost the title because Anderson took him out and picked up a thumb injury. He is fresh of the back of a long contract extension from his Rocky Mountain ATV team and he will be itching to put right the wrongs from last year. He has the speed, he has the backing of the team and the fans are on his side. He has the feel of a working mans choice, distanced from the sparkle and glamour of the big Factory teams. I think he will shock a few people this year...
Bring it on steemers!
Please vote for the Factory Steemit witness
To vote for me just click the image below, with your support we can get the word of steemit out there at the races!