“There are 11 of you on this stage right now,” the Cycle News reporter said. “So that means all of you have expectations to win races and get podiums and stuff, but at least one of you won’t even finish in the top ten tomorrow night.”

Indeed, a large group of talent had gathered on the Diamond Club stage at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium for the season-opening Monster Energy AMA Supercross press conference. The #deepfield of forecasted frontrunners comprised Jason Anderson, Eli Tomac, Ken Roczen, Justin Barcia, Marvin Musquin, Justin Hill, Joey Savatgy, Chad Reed, Aaron Plessinger, Blake Baggett, and Justin Brayton. Ironically, the eventual champion wasn’t even part of that initial presser. Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb wasn’t a big enough story. He wasn’t perceived as a contender.