mx775

Before Anaheim 1, the script for the 2010 season was supposed to read like this: James Stewart and Chad Reed renew their '09 rivalry for the 450 title, while young guns Ryan Dungey and Ryan Villopoto attempt to find the pace to challenge their elders for race wins and maybe--just maybe--a championship.

A few weeks later, all that has gone out the window.

Stewart and Reed are on the DL and out of the championship; Dungey has shown the speed to lead the class but peppered in just enough mistakes to keep things interesting; Villopoto has shown flashes of brilliance, but not much consistency.

And the surprises keep coming: Josh Hill is suddenly a very fast and very consistent championship contender, and Davi Millsaps has found his speed from '08 again. Taken together, these revelations have made for a suddenly very-wide-open title chase that will culminate in the crowning of a first-time champion in Las Vegas this spring.

San Diego looked like Dungey's race to win...for the first 120 feet. After his first-turn crash (and another early fall,) Dungey turned in an admirable charge to get back to sixth, but Hill's second-place performance narrowed Dungey's points lead to four.

Millsaps deserves credit for holding it together to win on the semi-muddy SD layout. With a couple more wins (and a couple more stumbles by the front runners,) Millsaps could find himself in this title chase yet.

And let's not forget Ivan Tedesco. His third-place was a great showing for a newly non-factory pilot. 

In the 250s, Jake Weimer showed yet again that he believes the title is his. But how about 16-year-old Max Anstie? The kid was on the gas, and nearly made the race for the lead interesting in the closing laps. Watch out for this kid if the skies really open up--I hear his home country of England gets an occasional shower.

Finally, locals Nate Tiearney and Adam Conway had mixed results. Adam missed the night show by less than a second in qualifying, while Nate made the night show but ran into trouble with a 17th in heat two and a DNF in the LCQ.

The California SX tour finally wraps up this weekend with Anaheim 3. Check out the live timing and results on http://www.amasupercross.com/.