Dirt Rider Magazine

Nope

double nope

Yes and No
First the no, these guys are pushing the bikes as fast as they can.
Dungey and Reed tend to be a bit more conservative in their approach to a championship,  but they are still haulin.

Now for the yes this is the first time I can recall in the history of SX that you have 7 legitimate title contenders and 9 riders with at least one main event win (not including Barcia's monster energy cup win) That's half the field that has stepped on the top of the box in the big bike class alone.
Back to pushing it  there are no cruisers out there this year, just to make the main you have to have the corner speed to be able to hit all the obstacles  or you aint in the show.
Am I surprised about the podium? NO
Millsaps finished 2nd in the points last year granted there were a lot of injuries last year. He has always been fast he just needed to get health, possibly some head issues out of his way and on his bike (he grew up riding yellow) to be in the hunt .  As for TC he is healthy and fast.  Dungey on the podium I think that speaks for itself.
Villopoto's effort was there, the guy was flying he was trying to make things happen when he wasn't on the ground.
Reed put in a solid fourth Barcia a crash away from the podium, Stewart injury and all still rode a solid ride.

yeah i agree with mark I think davi finally got some stuff in his head figured out. He supposedly is starting to talk to his mom again, and getting some family issues resolved , I think that is playing a huge roll in his mental stability. I have always liked millsaps, his on and off track personality will make any MX/SX fan love him. I am really rooting for him at Phoenix, i want him to back up his podium finnish at A1. 

Coyote,   Maybe this didn't play out the way you expected...?  The TV didn't really show everything that was going on behind the podium riders.
I think you did see the apocalyptic, perfect storm...last Saturday.   If we have no injuries you may see 7 possibly 8 or 9 different event winners.
3/4's of the main has seen the box and/or was a lites champion at one time.  You had the preseason big five add Barcia and then Davi making a big seven...out in front and racing.
An injured Stewart gets 8th loosing to 5 previous winners plus Barcia MEC winner/previous lites champion and Weimer muti-time podium and previous lites champion.
Villopoto gets a bad start ends up 16th after multiple altercations...
I think there were big lessons learned in this event
1 unike in the past you can't get a bad start and expect to charge up to the box because...2 everyone in the main is going Fast, very Fast.


    

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If everyone stays healthy it's gonna be a fascinating season though.

Feel ya court!!