The last few years of the Monster Energy Supercross Series have been annoyingly predictable. That’s the one big downside of having dominant players like Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed, and James Stewart hitting their stride.

Trey Canard is lucky to be alive after the his horrific crash in 2012. That he’s back and sitting in the top three of the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross Series after two events is staggering, and a very nice surprise. Photo: Shan Moore/Dirt Rider

More: for a full wrap of the week in motocross racing, check Dirt Rider magazine’s Weekly Dirt

And Supercross fans had no reason to think anything would change as the 2013 season got under way earlier this month in Anaheim, California. After all, the aforementioned are all former series champions, and they’ve been keeping pretty tight security podiums in this new decade.

But two events into this young season, through all the dirt flying, it’s hard not to notice some pretty significant surprises, because Davi Millsaps, Justin Barcia, and Trey Canard have, to date, flown right past that podium security. All three are off to blazing starts, and seem eager to get a toehold up there in the top slots.

Heading into Round Three, Millsaps, Barcia, and Canard are sitting one-two-three respectively in the overall rankings. Meanwhile, Villopoto, Reed, Dungey, and Stewart have all struggled to find their form.

While 24-year-old Millsaps had been to the top of the podium once before, back in 2010, before getting to the top again at Round One in Anaheim, that’s not the case for 20-year-old Barcia, who nabbed his first SX victory at Round Two in Phoenix. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Canard has opened the season with two strong podium finishes after a remarkable recovery from the broken back he suffered last year.

Chris Denison, editor of Dirt Rider magazine, likes all three fresh faces. But I pressed him for an answer on who he thinks has the best shot of sticking around. His response:

“Barcia is fast but might be his own worst enemy if he pushes it too hard. Millsaps is on a roll yet we’ve never seem him keep a streak going all the way through a season. My pick is Canard, based on how much heart he has and also the speed that he’s been bringing to the table. I expect him to do what Dungey has done before: consistently earn points at every round and be the last man standing come Las Vegas.”

Of course, it’s still early. And there’s no question the traditional top dogs will have their day. Yet every indication so far still points to a 2013 season that will be the most competitive series in recent memory. For more on all things moto, including the Dakar race and Enduro news from Europe, go check out the “Weekly Dirt” update from Dirt Rider magazine.