This weekend the excitement that is motocross goes to the rolling hills of Ste Julie Quebec, that's right the 2008 Monster Energy Motocross Nationals start. For the second year in a row there won't be a number one plate out there in the MX1 class, as Paul Carpenter is racing the AMA Nationals for Atomic Racing. But the after a few years of racing down in the States, the 2007 champ is back! Dusty Klatt looks to win another championship this time aboard a Monster Energy/Cernics Kawasaki. One familiar face who won't be racing is 5 Time CMRC champion Jean Sebastian Roy who has decided to hang up the helmet and boots. JSR still plans on showing up at all the nationals to help mentor Blackfoot Yamaha's other riders. Other then Klatt, riders vying for the championship are Blackfoot's Yamaha's Colton Facotti and his teammate Jimmy Nelson, OTSFF Suzuki's Mitch Cooke, KTM's Jeff Northrop and Dusty Klatt's teammate Jeff Gibson. Other riders in the mix will be Brady Sheren, Marco Dube, Kyle Keast,Tim Tremblay, Blair Morgan and Tyler Medaglia. I think when the series ends, Dusty Klatt will be crowned the champion.

For 2008 the MX2 is competing a nine round series compared to a regional class like it's been in the past. This year's contenders are Clearbrook Yamaha's Kyle Beaton, Blackfoot Toyota Yamaha's Aron Harvey, OTSFF Suzuki's Jeremy Medaglia, Leading Edge Kawasaki's Teddy Mair and Nick Evennou, KTM Canada's Ryan Lockhart, Mason Phillips and Eric Nye. This class is stacked, and I honestly think there will be a different winner every moto and the name of the game will be consistency. Personally, I think Kyle Beaton will come out on top, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Ryan Lockhart or Teddy Maier take the title. It's going to be a great season with lots bar banging and exciting racing!

With everyone focused on last weekends Supercross race in Phoenix, there was another series going on. The National Arenacross Series made stops in Baltimore Maryland and Dallas Texas. I'll never understand why Live Nation decided to start having two races in different locations on the same weekend, Also, what's up with the one night races? Some say that having two different location on the same weekends makes the points race tighter, and in a way they have a point. It can also help a rider that is down in the standings move up in the points. If it's one of the two venue weekends, as a rider looking to move up in the points standings can decide to race the round that has the least competition and he takes the win both nights, he can easily move up. But, then you have the argument that they're running away from the competition. It's catch 22. This whole two races at different arenas also brings me to another point. What in the world happened to Arenacross? Where's the Dash For Cash? What happened to racing both classes on both nights? Now I know with Arenacross being part of the new qualifying system for Supercross, and making a rider who plans on trying to get a "lites" license ride a 450 sounds a little odd, but come on that's Arenacross! That's what made it so great!

With only days to go till the start of the Monster Energy Supercross Series, There are a lot of questions leading into this season. Will James Stewart repeat as Champion? Can Chad Reed find an extra gear and run with James? Who will step up and be the third place on the Podium? Can Tim Ferry ride with the same fire and determination he did last year? Can Grant Langston stay healthy and be consistent? How will Nick Wey adapt to the KTM? Who going to be the favorite to win the SX West title? Come Saturday night, Hopefully most of those questions will be answered or give us a few hints for down the road. This season is ramping up to be really exciting, and personally I can't wait for the gates to drop!

With three rounds in the book, the 2007/2008 AX season has been a wild one like it was predicted before Round 1. We've had four different winners, major players miss making main events, surprise winner and to top it off, the rider with most wins thus far isn't even doing the whole series! When the series rolled in to Albany three weeks ago, I would have never guess that Carolina Express Suzuki rider Tyler Bright would come away with the win. But, this is arenacross, and nothing should really be a surprised as anything can happen. This weekend's rounds in Rochester and Rockford should be an entertaining and full of drama!

With James Stewart just announcing that he won't be racing tonight or tomorrow and RC already out, the clear cut favorite to win this year is Chad Reed. Chad is prett familiar with winning the open as he won in2003 and 2004 shouldn't have a problem winning it. But, there could be some sleepers this year. A rejuvenated Mike Alessi who is riding a new bike (EFI RMZ450) and for a new team (Makita Suzuki) could be a threat to win. Fellow Maktia Suzuki rider Michael Byrne also has an outside shot too. Then you have Andrew Short and Grant Langston who is coming off the 07 Outdoor Championship both have excellent chances. Bur my dark horse would be Timmy Ferry. Ferry finished 3rd in 07 SX season, and just missed out on the Outdoor titles has something to prove. It's going to be a great weekend of racing, and it will be interesting to see who comes out and wins the $100.000

The 2007 US Open would have marked an end of an era. It was it supposed to be the last race that RC raced on US Soil. But, the era came to a close 3 days before it was supposed to. On Tuesday October 9th, Suzuki issued press release announcing that RC had withdrawn from the US Open ( and Bercy SX as well) because of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. RC is a great ambassador to the sport, and it's unfortunate that RC couldn't give the fans one last show. RC's attitude dedication and professionalism will be greatly missed.

The 2007/2008 Arenacross series is going to be one of the deepest and most talented field in sometime. With names, like Brock Sellards, Kelly Smith, Danny Smith, Chad Johnson, Keith and Kevin Johnson, Tommy Hoffmaster, Robbie Reyard and Josh Demuth just to name a few. Then throw in some up and coming riders trying to their SX license and some unknown locals and you have one heck of a series. It sure will be tough to make a main event this year. I am going to go out on a limb here, and say that the racing in the Arenacross series will be better then the SX series.