It's on now!
The big four have all now won a race each in the opening four rounds. The two most consistent guys are predictably Dungey and Reed, and they both lead the points. Villopoto, the fastest guy in the class, hasn't seen the lead since A1, sits only two points back.
The big news is James Stewart, the most inconsistant of the main guys, finally took the win everyone has been expecting since A1. He passed early leader Reed on lap ten after holding off a vicious attack for the opening ten laps from Ryan Villopoto. Stewart should now have the confidence everyone else doesn't want him to have, but then again, do they really fear him like they did four or five years ago?
James might have given himself a confidence boost, as well as the team, but will the other guys confidence really take a knock? Villopoto caught him in his heat and was all over him in the main until he got tight trying (and failing ) to pass Chad Reed.
Right now everyone of those guys believe they can and will win the next race, and that is what makes Anahiem two just as exciting, if not more so, than A2. The first guy to win two in a row could get a big boost in momentum, and Stewart, via Ralph Shaheen has already stated he thinks that he can get on a wining run ala 2009 and reclaim this championship!
Those are pretty big boasts coming out of Stewart, especially as so far, he is the one most likely to faulter! Is this the kind of expectant over confidence that, when it doesn't materialise, James will panic and crash, or, is this the confidence that will take him to this title? These comments put James in the unique situation of the four guys, he doesn't know how to lose, and genuinely believes that nobody can touch him when he is riding well.
The other guys however, can accept defeat, it doesn't mean they like it, but they won't overextend themselves trying to win every race from here on out. They have mentally accepted they will lose some and win some, and understand that it is maximising the points in races they lose as well as maximising the opportunities when they win.
That is why Reed, Dungey and RV are all within three points of each other despite all contending with bad starts throughout the year.
Exhibit A, this weekend was Ryan Dungey. The points leader had a terrible start despite winning his heat race, but he worked his way up to fourth position without any major moments and leaves tied for the points lead. Chad Reed did the same thing in Phoenix, and RV did it at rounds two and three. James on the other hand has crashed while trying to do it and ended up twelve points back.
So yes, James Stewart can win, in fact he is so talented, it is hard not for him to win some races every season. But the question remains, can he lose? When you tell the CBS commentator that you can get on a run of wins, when clearly not being the fastest guy (prior to his Oakland win) you set yourself a standard that is extremely hard to reach in a field with three other title contenders who are not one bit intimated or overawed by his blistering one lap speed. They broke him last year, and think they can break him again.
So, can James Stewart's predictions come true, or will recent history prove to be more accurate? The answers could start appearing this Saturday night.
RV will want to win this one bad, he clearly felt he let Oakland get away despite being so fast. Reed was not happy at getting second when he had the holeshot, and has publicly stated his desire to get more wins this season, Ryan Dungey won't want to be left out of the battle like he was last Saturday and lose his points lead. Combine all that motivation with Stewart's mindset that he can go on a run of wins and reclaim this championship, and you have a four majorly motivated title contenders this weekend.
Anahiem two could prove massive for the momentum of this series. I can't wait (to read all bout it on twitter).
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