Can this be Australian Chad Reed’s year again in America?

With James Stewart and Kevin Windham among those who were notable absentees from racing, that was the question being asked after the US motocross No.1 took an early lead in the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, which kicked-off on Saturday with the 42nd Annual Rockstar Energy Hangtown Classic.

Australia’s Reed, the defending 450 class champion, began his 2010 campaign with the overall victory in the open class, while Honda’s junior world motocross champion of 2009, Colorado’s Eli Tomac, grabbed the 250 class overall win.

Reed put himself in position to win on Saturday by taking the win in the day’s first moto.

In moto two, the Monster Energy Kawasaki rider needed to work his way through the field after finding himself deep inside the top 10 after the holeshot. As the final minutes approached, he worked his way into winning position, passing Honda’s Brett Metcalfe, of Australia, for third, where he remained until the end of the second moto.

“It was a good time (today),” said Reed. “Supercross didn’t go the way we wanted it to. With everything that’s happened in my life the last two weeks, I think I’ve spent two days on a bike. So to win so easily in the first moto and get the finish I needed in the second feels great.”

KTM’s Mike Alessi took the runner-up spot (4-1), winning the second moto and giving the brand new KTM 350cc motorcycle its first moto win in its debut. Honda Red Bull Racing’s Davi Millsaps grabbed the final podium spot in third, (3-2).

New Zealand’s Ben Townley (Honda) made a welcome return to racing after an absence of nearly three years, since the end of 2007 when he crashed at the Motocross of Nations at Budd’s Creek, Maryland.

The Kiwi hero finished 6-7 for sixth overall, a pleasing result considering that his build-up in New Zealand was hampered by yet another accident.

The deeply talented 250 Class’ opener was as competitive as expected. A heated battle in moto one presented an opportunity for Tomac to sweep the day’s motos, but the rookie fell while leading and finished third. In moto two, a strong start and early attack on the lead put him up front from which he consistently extended his advantage over the field. With the inaugural victory, Tomac became the first rider in the history of the sport to win in his professional debut in either the motocross or supercross disciplines.

“I definitely didn’t expect this, it doesn’t seem real,” exclaimed Tomac. “I felt like I had the speed to get a top five. In moto one, I just pulled the good old rookie mistake. I got tired and just washed out my front end. In moto two, I just followed Trey (Canard) and tried to keep close to him and then made the pass.”

It was remarkable performance from Tomac, who was making his professional debut on Saturday.

Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel, of France, who won the day’s opening moto (1-3). However, by virtue of a tiebreaker, Tomac’s better final moto result relegated Pourcel to second. Honda’s Trey Canard rounded out the overall podium in third (7-2).

In addition to the season premier of both men’s classes, the MotorcylceUSA.com Women’s Motocross Championship began its 2010 championship. Five-time champion Jessica Patterson dominated both of the day’s motos, sweeping en route to the overall win. Honda’s Ashley Fiolek finished second (3-2) while Honda’s Tarah Gieger captured third (2-6).

The Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship continues in two weeks, with round two from Freestone Raceway in Wortham, Texas and the Flagstar Bank Freestone National on Saturday, June, 5.

Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, the 42nd Rockstar Energy Hangtown Classic:

Prairie City SVRA – Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Round 1 of 12

450 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki (1-3)

2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM (4-1)

3. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda (3-2)

4. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda (5-4)

5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha (2-10)

6. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda (6-7)

7. Ryan Sipes, Flaherty, Ky., Yamaha (7-8)

8. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki (10-6)

9. Ken DeDycker, Belgium, Yamaha (8-11)

10. Andrew Short, Smithville, Tex., Honda (15-5)

450 Class Championship Standings

1. Chad Reed, Australia, Kawasaki, 45

2. Mike Alessi, Victorville, Calif., KTM, 43

3. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Honda, 42

4. Brett Metcalfe, Australia, Honda, 34

5. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 33

6. Ben Townley, New Zealand, Honda, 29

7. Ryan Sipes, Flaherty, Ky., Yamaha, 27

8. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., Suzuki, 26

9. Ken DeDycker, Belgium, Yamaha, 23

10. Andrew Short, Smithville, Tex., Honda, 22

250 Class (Moto Finish)

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (3-1)

2. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki (1-3)

3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda (7-2)

4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (4-8)

5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda (5-7)

6. Dean Wilson, Canada, Kawasaki (10-4)

7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha (11-5)

8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda (13-6)

9. Tommy Searle, England, KTM (2-31)

10. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki (8-16)

250 Class Championship Standings

1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda, 45

2. Christophe Pourcel, France, Kawasaki, 45

3. Trey Canard, Shawnee, Okla., Honda, 36

4. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki, 31

5. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda, 30

6. Dean Wilson, Canada, Kawasaki, 29

7. Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Yamaha, 26

8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda, 23

9. Tommy Searle, England, KTM, 22

10. Tyla Rattray, South Africa, Kawasaki, 18

WMX Class (Moto Finish)

1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha (1-1)

2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda (3-2)

3. Tarah Gieger, Winter Gardens, Fla., Honda (2-6)

4. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Yamaha (9-3)

5. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., Yamaha (5-5)

6. Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Honda (8-4)

7. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha (4-10)

8. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Torrance, Calif., Suzuki (7-9)

9. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (10-7)

10. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., Yamaha (14-8)

WMX Class Standings

1. Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Yamaha, 50

2. Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 42

3. Tarah Gieger, Winter Gardens, Fla., Honda, 37

4. Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Yamaha, 32

5. Alexah Pearson, Rocklin, Calif., Yamaha, 32

6. Elizabeth Bash, Riverside, Calif., Honda, 31

7. Vicki Golden, El Cajon, Calif., Yamaha, 29

8. Sayaka Kaneshiro, Torrance, Calif., Suzuki, 26

9. Tatum Sik, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha, 25

10. Jacqueline Strong, Sedona, Ariz., Yamaha, 20

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com