Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey has done well to keep with the impressive pace being set by Millsaps in the championship. Dungey is enjoying a four-race podium streak that includes a win. This weekend, he heads to the site of some of his most successful races, including victory one year ago. With a 21-point deficit to Millsaps and just three points separating he and Villopoto, Dungey recognizes the importance of keeping the podium streak intact tomorrow night.

While he hasn’t had the results he was hoping for in recent weeks, Team Honda Muscle Milk’s Trey Canard still maintains possession of fourth in the 450SX Class standings after a seventh-place finish last weekend. A strong ride, and potentially even a win, would quickly turn Canard’s fortunes around and make him a true player in the title fight. Canard has won before inside the Georgia Dome in the 250SX Class, and hopes good fortune will come his way tomorrow night.

“The night [in Arlington] was okay overall. I got out of there safe,” said Canard. “This year if you don’t get a good start, it is hard to be anywhere in the front, which was definitely the issue in the Main Event. I put my head down to try and save as many points as possible and make the best of the situation, which is what we did.”

Canard’s Team Honda Muscle Milk rookie teammate Justin Barcia didn’t fare much better in Arlington, finishing just one spot ahead of his teammate. With one win already this season, Barcia has the speed to win and this weekend marks his return to his current home state. Barcia has prevailed for the past two years inside the Georgia Dome in the 250SX Class and hopes that will translate to success in the 450SX Class as well.

“The track was really challenging [in Arlington] with the traction,” said Barcia. “The last two races have been pretty tough with the tight track, so I need to get used to that. I was on the way outside of the gate in the Main Event and got a good start, but got pushed out into some tuff blocks and basically had to play catch up from there. I pushed it as hard as I could, but I’m really looking forward to heading to my home race in Atlanta.”

TwoTwo Motorsports Honda’s Chad Reed showed a lot of aggression in the early stages of the Main Event in Arlington. The former champion positioned himself behind Villopoto in second for the early portion of the race, but eventually gave way to Millsaps. Once in third, Reed began to engage in battle with Dungey for the position and was unable to fend of the challenge, narrowly missing out on the podium in fourth. Reed hasn’t won a race in over a year and would like nothing more than to return to the top of the podium on Saturday.

“It was a little frustrating and not exactly the result I was after,” Reed explained. “I got a great start and was fighting it out up in front. Millsaps got past me in the whoops and then with six laps to go, Dungey put in a block pass and I nearly went down. We have come away with some good points. The focus is to keep moving forward.”

After an emotional season thus far in which he lost his ride and was forced to start his own team to keep racing, veteran rider Andrew Short experienced some good fortune this week when it was announced that he would ride for BTO Sports KTM for the remainder of the season. Short has been solid all season long despite his circumstances and will hope for bigger and better things with the new opportunity.