As far as AMA Pro ATV things are concerned, it looks like everyone is geared and ready to go. The battles should be off the charts again, and to try and imagine what this weekend will bring is really a hard task to undertake. Some of the obvious things are that you can expect are a great battle and a possible surprise that may shake things up a bit. The possibilities are endless, and with the competition field being so deep the likelihood is greater than it has ever been. 

Everyone will be watching Joel and Chad, but the spoiler(s) may come from Jeffery Rastrelli who is looking for big redemptions from he first two rounds. Jeffery has reached a point in his career where he is not happy with a good finish or even a podium. Jeffery wants to win and that's all there is to it. He is even in a better position to make it happen with the support that he has garnered in the past couple of seasons. 

On top of having Rastrelli looking for redemption there is the return of the competitive and focused Thomas Brown. Brown by his own rights is looking to start taking wins. The program switch for Brown may be the turning point for him as he has already shown stronger and more consistent results in the first two rounds of pro racing. Thomas is happy with podiums but he too is getting hungry to get on top and take things to new levels. 

Josh Upperman is not one to leave out either. Uppy has shown vast improvements in his efforts this season. What looked liked a fading away Josh Upperman only a year ago is now looking like the hungry competitor everyone remembers him to be. He scored great at Daytona and at Underground MX he still showed signs of the speed and desire to move forward in the rankings. A good start for this rider could yield big things and may put a real spin on the championship this season if he can get the ball rolling.

Then there is Nick Gennusa. Whether you want to recognize it or not, this young Jersey Boy is the real deal it appears. He continues to back up everything he has ever achieved and is hanging tough with the best of them. He switched brands from Yamaha to Honda in the off-season and actually appears to be even faster riding red. Reports are that he should be battling for podiums by mid season if not before. His progression level seems to be advancing at a rapid pace and being able to do so on a new machine could be the key he was looking for to be the threat many have deemed him. 

The amateur side of things will again boil over. The youth and age classes have their own excitement brewing as the competition field is the fiercest I have ever seen it in a class-by-class breakdown. The classes to watch will likely be the A’s and Pro Sport again this week. However the B class field should bring its own brand of crazy this weekend as right now Brogan Guyer seems to be the one to beat but new players will be throwing their hats in the ring too. As well in the A classes Sky Volkamer will be one to watch. Sky had some class issues in Texas that I think were straightened out but he will be a major threat in whatever class he ends of settling into.

That’ll do it for me for now. I am trying to get taxes wrapped up, a rental car secured and minute to breathe before I roll out for Monster Mountain. Let’s check in with Gloop’s Loop and with Ken “photo-sniper” Hill. Till next time, God Bless Your Heart and All Your Vital Organs.

In The Loop with Gloop:

Keeping up with Ken Hill:

So it is off to Alabama for another round of ATVMX action as the series hits Monster Mountain MX. Now last year all I heard was great things and while I was not able to attend, the images and RacerTV shows sure made me wish I had been able to. Everything seemed perfect from the weather, to the track, to the action that looked impressive! I can only hope this year I get to enjoy those same things only in person! With the competition off the chain already one can only assume that what we will be treated to at this coming round may be something just shy of insane. Wienen, Hetrick, Brown and Rastrelli all poised to unleash it once again and I am sure the racing will be everything we are coming to expect. This could be a round where we see a few other riders step up and challenge for a podium so who really knows what will happen!