Here are most of the racers who are expected to be in contention in 2011:
Rockstar/Makita Suzuki
Ryan Dungey
Number: 1
Age: 21
Recent highlights: Hasn't lost a title since 2008. Only racer in history to land both the 450cc SX and MX titles in his rookie year. The pinnacle of the sport right now.
Ryan Dungey (5) had a historic year in 2010. How will 2011 be for the reigning champ? (Photo: CoxMX.com)Brett Metcalfe
Number: 24
Age: 26
Recent highlights: One of the only riders to actually challenge Dungey in 2010 outdoors, he moves up to 450s full-time for the first time as Dungey's teammate in 2011. Second in the AMA Nationals outdoors in 2010, third in 250cc Nationals in 2009.
San Manuel Yamaha
James Stewart
Number: 7
Age: 25
Recent highlights: Widely recognized as the fastest man on the planet, James Stewart will have to prove that once again come Anaheim 1. Two-time AMA Supercross champ, and has scored 37 wins in the 450cc class indoors, putting him third on the all-time list behind Jeremy McGrath (72) and Ricky Carmichael (48). Now training with Johnny O'Mara.
Kyle Regal joins James Stewart on the L&M Yamaha team. Regal looks good at the test tracks. (Photo: CoxMX.com)Kyle Regal
Number: 30
Age: 19
Recent highlights: Stunning outdoor performances landed him on the podium twice as a complete privateer in 2010. Not much in the way of SX results yet, but he looks awfully smooth out at the practice tracks in SoCal...
Monster Energy Kawasaki
Ryan Villopoto
Number: 2
Age: 22
Recent highlights: Scored seven wins in the 2010 series - more than anyone - before breaking his leg with three rounds to run. Now training with Aldon Baker, formerly the trainer for James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael.
Ryan Villopoto (2) and Jake Weimer (32) are teammates riding for Monster Energy Kawasaki in 2011. Weimer is freshly injured, though. (Photo: CoxMX.com)Jake Weimer
Number: 32
Age: 23
Recent highlights: Dominated the Lites West in 2010 for his first professional championship, including taking the win at the season-finale Lites East/West Shootout in Las Vegas. Hurt during outdoors, training with Baker alongside Villopoto for 2010, but recently broke his left forearm after hitting false-neutral over a jump he was attempting to seat-bounce after a set of whoops on the track at Villopoto's house in Menifee, CA. Has never raced a 450cc machine professionally, but word from the tracks were that he was flying. His return isn't yet known, although it's probably safe to say it will be eight weeks or so. Will Kawasaki bring in a fill-in again?
Team Honda
Trey Canard
Number: 41
Age: 20
Recent highlights: Story of the 2010 AMA Nationals as he came from way behind to beat Chris Pourcel for the 250ccchampionship at the final round. He's also the 2008 Lites East SX Champ. Running number 41 as his permanent number from now on, which was his late father's racing number.
Josh Grant (33) joins Team Honda for 2011, along with former Factory Connection teammate Trey Canard. (Photo: CoxMX.com)
Josh Grant
Number: 33
Age: 24
Recent highlights: Looking for a change in his career, he signed with Honda for nothing hoping to prove something in the next couple of years. Never lacking speed, Grant lacks consistency, but he hopes to change that in 2011 as he reaches his mid-20s.
RedBull KTM
Andrew Short
Number: 29
Age: 28
Recent highlights: One of the most popular racers on the circuit due to his happy demeanor and consistent, strong performances. Apparently that wasn't enough for Honda, though, and Short switched to the KTM squad and will be racing the new 350 SX/F (by far the best350 on the market today) in supercross, then likely switching to the 450 outdoors.
Andrew Short will debut the KTM 350 SX/F at Anaheim 1 in just over a week. (Photo: CoxMX.com)Mike Alessi
Number: 800
Age: 22
Recent highlights: Won a moto at the 2010Hangtown National, and scored multiple podiums in 450cc SX in 2009. Hopes to get to the front on his KTM in SX this year, but things didn't look so hot for him recently in Australia.
TwoTwo Motorsports Honda
Chad Reed
Number: 22
Age: 28
Recent highlights: With no one willing to pony up the cash for Reed, he started his own team, is rounding up his own sponsors, and will be taking on the 2011 SX and MX championships on privateer Hondas wearing Shift riding gear. He is happy and has something to prove. Much like Kevin Windham, a happy Chad Reed is a fast Chad Reed.
GEICO Powersports Honda
Kevin Windham
Number: 14
Age: 32
Recent highlights: Won two AMA Supercrosses in 2010 on his way to second in the championship. Always a bridesmaid, he turns 33 early in the 2011 championship. He's easily the oldest guy out there, but also still very capable of winning. His team is the only team fielding 450s and 250s out of the same semi in 2011. And as mentioned above, a happy K-Dub is a fast K-Dub. When he's smiling, watch out.
Kevin Windham is a fan favorite at every stop on the tour. (Photo: CoxMX.com)Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGR Yamaha
Davi Millsaps
Number: 18
Age: 22
Recent highlights: Won the San Diego Supercross in 2010, but crashed out of the outdoor title chase at Budds Creek.Has the speed to win on any given weekend, but has always been missing something. The hope is that the structure that comes with living and training with the JGR team will get him where he needs to go.
Justin Brayton had a solid year in 2010, but hopes to become a winner in 2011. (Photo: CoxMX.com)Justin Brayton
Number: 10
Age: 26
Recent highlights: Proven to be a consistent contender, Brayton looked to be on the verge of winning his first SX in 2010, but it wasn't to be. Brayton still had a solid indoor and outdoor series and carries that momentum into 2011.
Valli Motorsports Yamaha
Nick Wey
Number: 27
Age: 30
Recent highlights: Topping 30 years old now, Wey is a seasoned vet, and what he lacks in speed he makes up for inconsistency, craftiness, and personality. Riding for Valli in 2011 will atleast give him a solid, consistent ride for the year (unlike in 2010, when he went back and forth between the Kawasaki factory team and his own privateer Kawasaki squad).
Nick Wey landed a ride with the Valli Motorsports Yamaha team in 2011. (Photo: CoxMX.com)Austin Stroupe
Number: 74
Age: 20
Recent highlights: The only guy to stay close to Chris Pourcel in the 2010 Lites East, Stroupe spent most of the year hurt. He only earned a national number by virtue of his performances as a fill-in on the Suzuki factory team's spare 450 early in the SX season. He almost had to quit racing this year with no offers rolling in, but landed this ride at Valli for his move to 450s full-time in 2011.
Hart & Huntington/Dodge Trucks Kawasaki
Ivan Tedesco
Number: 9
Age: 29
Recent highlights: A supercross specialist, Tedesco was looking really good in 2010 when he broke his ribs and shoulder and punctured his lung over the same jump that claimed Villopoto in St. Louis. The rest of his season was shot, but at the point that he was hurt,he was a podium threat. He switches to Pro Circuit-backed Hart & Huntington for 2011 on Kawasakis with a supercross-only deal.
Ivan Tedesco is back on Kawasakis, where he enjoyed his most success. (Photo: CoxMX.com)Chris Blose
Number: 38
Age: 22
Recent highlights: Gave Hart &Huntington its best-ever finish in 2010 with a sixth place finish at Indianapolis. A hard worker, the team is giving him another year to show what he's got in 2011.
Josh Hill
Number: 75
Age: 21
Recent Highlights: Was actually tied for the points lead when the series left the west coast in 2010, but a big crash in Indy resulted in broken ribs, and his inability to breathe (or train) hurt him as the year wore on. Then, to complicate matters, Hill suffered multiple injuries attempting a backflip before the 2010 X Games. He's riding now, but still not in racing shape. He'll join the series late, but he should be in there when he does.
Motoconcepts Racing Yamaha
Kyle Chisholm
Number: 11
Age: 23
Recent highlights: Mr. Consistency in 2010, Chisholm came into the season without a ride and actually missed Anaheim1 due to a commitment to race in Germany that same weekend. Still, he was solid all year both indoors and out and it paid off for 2011 with a ride at Motoconcepts, where he rode most of the year in 2010.
Tommy Hahn
Number: 12
Age: 25
Recent highlights: He has seen the top ofthe podium, winning the Steel City 450cc National in 2009, but it seemed in2010 that every time he was up front, his bike broke. His former team won't be fielding a 450cc rider in 2011, so he found a home at Motoconcepts.
Tommy Hahn joins the Motoconcepts Yamaha team in 2011. (Photo: CoxMX.com)
Vince Friese
Number: 45
Age: 20
Recent highlights: A controversial figure, his competition almost universally hates being around him on the track for fear he will take them out. However, the racers in the 450cc class are abit more crafty, so he may not be able to be that type of a threat in 2011.
BTOSports.com/BBMX/Palmetto Suzuki
Michael Byrne
Number: 26
Age: 31
Recent highlights: Longtime contender in both motocross and supercross, Byrne is a supercross specialist, even though he has had most of his recent success outdoors (due to indoor injuries). At this point, Byrne is racing for the fun of it, and had he not found a ride in the USA, he would've returned to Australia to race Down Under. Retirement was not an option. He suffered an injured wrist at Bercy, but he should be getting his cast off this week. How long until he's back? Not long...
Jason Thomas is back on the BTOSports.com Suzuki team. (Photo: CoxMX.com)
Jason Thomas
Number: 47
Age: 31
Recent highlights: Known now as the King of the LCQ, Thomas is a reason why the old semi-final races would be good in the modern racing era. In 2010, he made nearly every main event, and many of them he made from the LCQ. He's got his work cut out for him in 2011, though, as there are more team riders than there are spots in the main-event gate.
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