When the starting gate was about to drop on the opening round of the 2022 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, I figured things were going smashingly. The track looked great, the weather was perfect, and a massive crowd had gathered to take part in the celebration of 50 years of AMA Pro Motocross. Multi-time champion Ryan Dungey was back out of retirement; fellow legend Antonio Cairoli had decided to enter his first outdoor national; past champs Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen looked healthy, fit and fast; Jason Anderson was primed to try to win outdoor for the first time; the ascendent Lawrence brothers were ready to take on everyone in the 250 Class. Plus, we had Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Johnson in the booth with Jason Weigandt as the first of many legends who would be special guest color commentators this season. The whole motocross world would be watching!