However, there is the group of riders who struggled in the mud at Anaheim I, and any of them could end up back up front in Phoenix, including Red Bull Honda's Ivan Tedesco (15th at Anaheim I), Andrew Short (8th at Anaheim I) and Davi Millsaps (7th at Anaheim I), MDK KTM's Nick Wey (9th at Anaheim I), Rockstar/Makita Suzuki's David Vuillemin (10th at Anaheim I), Yamaha's Josh Hill (16th at Anaheim I), and Gibbs Racing Yamaha's Josh Hansen (20th at Anaheim I).
In the Lites class, it's a bit more wide-open. Many top riders fell victim to the mud at Anaheim I, including Yamaha's Broc Hepler (11th at Anaheim I), Torco Racing Fuels Honda's Jake Weimer (who failed to make the main at Anaheim I),
and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Brett Metcalfe (who finished 19th at Anaheim I).
Add to those riders the many who managed to stay on two wheels and put in good performances at the series opener, and Dungey is unlikely to have it easy. At round one, he already had to fight off the advances of Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy's Jason Lawrence, MDK KTM's Justin Brayton, Weimer's teammate Dan Reardon, and Metcalfe's teammate (and rookie) Austin Stroupe.
Ryan Dungey went 2-2 for second overall - his best-ever overall AMA National finish. (Photo: Steve Cox, MXi)
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Dungey is in the driver's seat, though, and just as in the 450cc class, Phoenix is going to tell a lot about the expected frontrunners in the series.
The Phoenix Supercross will air Sunday at 6 p.m. EST (3 p.m. PST) on SPEED.
