The long awaited early season ATVMX break finally comes to a close and the anticipation of it all is almost over. The funny (or not so funny) thing is that as a number of families made their ways in town on Thursday they were greeted with a big wet welcome back kiss from Mother Nature. However, things are supposed to get better and the stage is set as history gets ready to be made at High Point once again.

Rain showers fell all day yesterday and through the night but remarkably the track seems to have held up great.  As the sun rises this morning the track seems to have held up well and with a little time and some sunshine this morning the track should shape up. Practice was postponed until 12:00 pm but other than that it is all systems go.

Some may take this as a bad omen of sorts to have the rain falling on our return but I say it is not. Yesterday was only Thursday and the track has plenty of time to shape up before racing begins tomorrow. The track was sealed in and lies on the side of a hill that allows for great drainage. So to say I was disappointed yesterday you might say yes but in the back of my mind I know it is the best thing for the track as hopefully there is a good moisture base that will produce the kind of race track that is exciting to watch and ride.

I know last week we spent a lot of time harping on social media promotion from you the racers and families to help promote the live coverage of this weekend’s event. It is scheduled to begin at 2:30 eastern tomorrow afternoon and will feature both pro motos as well as some amateur racing in between. Again let this be a reminder that it will be up us to get the word out and build the audience. And remember if you cannot catch it live, it will be archived for later viewing on RacerTV.com the same place you can watch live.

A look at the cast of stars in the AMA Pro ATV class and how the season has gone the first two rounds leaves the door open for an amazing weekend of racing. Chad Wienen comes to High Point with two overall wins on the season and a 6 point lead over John Natalie. Then there is already another 12 point gap back to third place and Joel Hetrick. These three riders have been the most consistent and strongest riders to this point but this week could change things up a bit.

The last time we were here in 2012 John Natalie won the overall over Chad Wienen and Thomas Brown. Since that time John Natalie has only won one overall race and that was at the end of the 2012 season. To say John is due is an understatement and to think it could turn around this weekend is not a crazy thought. Natalie could be a little more inspired this weekend being from Pennsylvania and in home state the fans will surely be out in droves.

Joel Hetrick is another AMA Pro ATV racer also from Pennsylvania so the fan will have a couple of horses in the race so to speak. Joel has yet to take a moto win this season but all things considered he is right on par with where he should be. Joel made a complete program switch last year and is expected to only get stronger as his program builds. He has posted strong qualifying times and finishes and it would not be surprising to see this young pro really shine this weekend in front his home state and the world on RacerTV.com.

Josh Upperman sits 4^th place in points after the first two rounds of racing. Upperman only scored 7^th at the first round but bounced back at Muddy Creek with a vengeance. Josh seems to like the bigger more demanding tracks and with the way he rode in Tennessee everyone should be hoping he doesn’t pick up where he left off. Josh is on his own little mission right now and don’t be surprised to see a mature and aggressive Josh Upperman in 2014.

Maybe a surprise to some in 5^th place after the first two rounds is Jeffery Rastrelli. Rastrelli has seen his struggles since making the move to the AMA Pro ATV ranks a few years ago but it seems like he may be finding the speed he needs to start putting in the rides he wants. Though Rastrelli hasn’t broken past the top 5 in 2014, don’t be surprised to see him battling for a podium at some point this weekend. Knowing Jeffery he is feeling good about the way things are going and that may be become evident this weekend to the rest of the world.

Last season’s ultra-consistent 3^rd place rider was Thomas Brown. Brown currently sits 6^th in points but is no true indication of his capabilities. He has had what he calls a rough start to the season but all things seem to be shaping up in the big picture and round 3 is where Thomas hopes to redeem himself. Knowing how he rides and how he likes the big tracks like High Point, we will likely get to witness that redemption as well as a whole new look to the championship point race possibly after this weekend.

The 7^th place rider in points thus far is the 2010 champ Josh Creamer. Creamer opened the season strong in Georgia and was riding strong in Tennessee but a first moto crash at round 2 with Thomas Brown has left Creamer a little off pace in the points. So far he has scored a 4^th and 10^th overall and one might say that Creamer is looking for his own personal redemption and may get it at High Point.

The 8^th place rider is also one of the top Pro Am riders. Ronnie Higgerson who is a teammate of Josh Creamer will be racing both Saturday pro motos and Sunday Pro Am motos. Higgerson currently leads the Pro Am division remarkably after actually finishing 8^th in that class after round one. The entire field flipped in that class from round one to round two and one does have to wonder if the next impressive ride might come in the pro class this weekend.

In 9^th of the points chase is Casey Martin. Casey has been a strong competitor in the past few seasons coming so close to winning a couple of Pro Am titles. Casey has tried to focus on the Pro and Pro Am ranks the last few years but looks like all focus may be AMA Pro ATV this year. Technically he is tied with Higgerson for the 8^th spot and both sit 51 points out of first right now.

Rounding 10^th in the point chase is AMA Pro ATV Rookie Brett Musick. Musick has been turning heads and wowing race fans the last couple of season since moving to the big bikes. Now that he is in the top class don’t expect to stop there. Points have him in 10^th but that could very easily change after this weekend. Musick is another rider that excels on the big tracks and now he has had a couple of races under his belt to gage the competition at this level, the long break could produce some major surprises out of this young gun.

Who really knows how things will work out this weekend but one thing is for sure. There will be some good memories and some not so good memories made at this track this year. Who will do what and what will your memories of this first live Racer TV race is? I suppose like the long early season break we will just have to wait a little bit longer.

Now on to Ken,

I have to apologize for being missing in action from last weeks Site Lap. No excuses, I was just plum sick fighting an infection that decided my teeth needed to see how much pain I could take. I was able to drive for an hour and then sleep for two and I hobbled my way to the GNCC at Loretta Lynn's just like that!

Ok, so we are only a day away from the first ever Live broadcast from RacerTV and the ATV MX Series. I have been beating this drum since last season and now just hours away, I find myself just as positive about it as ever. Rodney was announcing the info at Loretta Lynn’s this past weekend and the GNCC racers were all chatting about it and how the excitement really seems to be at a fever pitch. The GNCC Pro's are well schooled at the live coverage and how it all flows even as RacerTV continues to tweak and change small details to make it a better show for all the fans. I know they will have a game plan in place and should verse the top guys in how things will play out before the gate drops and what they can expect after the checkers fly.

Now to wait and see who will ride high on that podium in front of the world, LIVE! I stated in an interview with Quad Radio a few months back that I thought John Natalie would make a great on air personality so I am pulling for him to find a spot on the box so he can run his gums! You can't count out the champ, Chad Wienen and he as well will do just fine in front of the camera. The wildcard, tough call! Joel Hetrick, Thomas Brown or several other top riders all could find themselves center stage smacking lips to the world! Coming from the era where we read about racing months after the event, this is pretty freakin cool!

I wanted to relay some numbers from the opening weekend of the MAVTV show but I haven't heard pr seen any to give. Maybe by next week we can have some data to share. From the social media side, everyone jumped in and helped spread the word so I figure we all did our part! 
Well, that’s all from me. It will be killer to see everyone back on the bars and on the gas as we resume our racing season. I hope everyone has a great and successful weekend at round three!

I gotta go…I hear the director and it’s almost lights, camera, and action time. God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs.