Bench Racing Ammo: A1. 2K5

The weather forecast for Anaheim 1 on Saturday is calling for a 90 percent chance of precipitation. That could definitely make things interesting, just like it did for the 2005 Anaheim 1 Supercross, which was billed as "The Perfect Storm." So for this week's installment of Motosport Outlet Bench Racing Ammo, we decided to revisit the 2005 Anaheim opener through the lens of Simon Cudby. We may be seeing some very similar shots this weekend.

The entire motocross industry was looking forward to January 8, 2005, as the dawn of a new era, and every ticket and pit pass for the much-hyped event was scooped up by supercross fans.

The Dirt Wurx crew tried to keep the track covered with plastic until the last possible moment, hoping to salvage the track. Ironically, as soon as they pulled the covers off, the rain started coming down harder...

Jeremy McGrath's mechanic gets ready for the mud.

The track walk was delayed until right before practice, which didn't allow much time for riders like Paul Carpenter to figure out lines. It probably wouldn't have mattered, though, because as soon as the bikes hit the track, it started falling apart.

Ricky Carmichael split heat race wins with James Stewart.

RC knew it was going to be a long 12 laps...

It really was Carmichael wearing the helmet cam in the 250 main, but after falling and struggling to pick up his bike, he looked more like Cameron Steele.

Yamaha's Tim Ferry had a night he would probably like to forget, as he failed to qualify for the main event.

Defending champion Chad Reed looked strong at first...

But then the mud locked up his front wheel and took him out of contention, relegating him to a 16th-place finish.

Jeremy McGrath and James Stewart met on a supercross track for the first time ever in their 250-class practice, which included Bubba tripling on the first lap and then soaking MC.

The race became a survival run for riders and race bikes alike. An ECC Honda mechanic begins the long walk to the pits.

Travis Pastrana was ecstatic when he crossed the finish line for his first AMA Supercross points in nearly a year. Do you know how he finished? The first five readers who email us his correct finishing position will get a copy of the One Chance To Win DVD. Email your answer (and name and address) to online@racerxill.com.

The Supercross Lites class enter the sea of mud.

Defending Western Regional Lites champion Ivan Tedesco looked like he was going to be the man in the Lites class, winning his heat and leading the main, but once he lost his grip, he slipped all the way back to eighth place. KTM's Nathan Ramsey took the win.

James Stewart did not get the weather he was hoping for in his 250 SX debut, but he was impressive nonetheless. The kid came back from two falls to win his heat race, then overcame at least six spills to finish fifth in the main event.

Mike LaRocco very quietly slid his Factory Connection Honda into a satisfying second at the end.

Kevin Windham's smile said it all after he outfoxed the other 19 riders in the 250 main event and became a points leader in a major series for the first time in his long career.