Work in Progress

After taking tenth overall at Glen Helen, Chad Reed admitted that with only three weeks on the bike, he took it easy at Glen Helen in an attempt to get through the first round intact. “Just rode well within my limits and didn’t really push it anytime,” Reed said to Racer X’s Steve Matthes. Obviously, Reed’s season is going to be a work in progress. We’ll see just how much progress can be made in one week when the gate drops at Hangtown. - Hansel

Blown Opportunity

Jason Anderson was credited with tenth overall, but had his motor not blown late in the second moto while running fourth, it would have been third on the day. Anderson isn’t known as being a motocross specialist—he’s only got one overall podium to his name—but if he continues to ride like he rode at Glen Helen, he could change that reputation this season. Let’s see if he doubles his podium count this weekend. - Hansel

And Then There Were Two

It’s hard to quantify what the loss of Dean Wilson means to Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki. But consider this: Since the three headed monster of Rattray, Wilson and Baggett won a staggering 23 of 24 motos in 2011, the only Pro Circuit rider to win a moto is Baggett—and he only won one moto a season ago. The six rider team has been trimmed to two, with another title contender lost. Baggett picked up some of the slack in 2012—can he do it again? – Chase Stallo  

Expected Goals

Cole Seely, by his own admission, had not “proven myself enough in the outdoors to have it in people’s minds that I’m going to go out there and get podiums.” In fact: through thirty-nine career races entering Glen Helen, Seely had never captured an overall podium. A background in BMX has lent itself to a style more fit for supercross, something Seely hopes will change in 2014. “I think outdoors I just needed better fitness and now it’s there, so it’s helping.” Will Seely continue his upward swing outdoors at Hangtown? – Stallo

Dungey Is Dungey

One by one, contenders began to fall at the season opener. Stewart, Canard, Barcia, Reed all had their troubles at Glen Helen. Sure, it’s the first race of the season. Sure, anything can happen. But you don’t have the second most wins in 450MX history, ala Ryan Dungey, by chance. There will be challengers—add Ken Roczen to the list above—and Dungey will lose motos. With his performance last Saturday, the rest of the best have some things to figure out—will it happen by tomorrow? - Stallo