Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda's Tarah Geiger (Photo: Honda Red Riders)

Another break in action allowed Patterson to have her broken hand plated. She returned to action at Washougal and was in position to win the event, only to have bad luck strike again and relegate her to fourth overall. Her misfortune was Fiolek and Gieger’s gain as the defending champ secured back-to-back wins and Gieger moved to within two points of the top spot in the points.

As we enter tomorrow’s showdown in Southwick, the penultimate stop of the eight-race WMX Championship, only 11 points separate Patterson, in first, and Fiolek, in third. Despite missing an entire round of competition, Fiolek’s refusal to lay back has brought her right back into the championship picture, making up 52 points over the last four motos.

Gieger has yet to claim an overall of her own this season, frustrated to not take full advantage of Patterson’s troubles, but nevertheless, remains in strong position claim her first-career title after years of competition.

The sands of Southwick traditionally produce wild outcomes and with the way this title fight has gone this season, it's impossible to guess what may be in store over the final four motos of the season.

While the star riders of the 450 and 250 classes put on a show for the masses tomorrow, special attention should be given to these three exceptional women who are putting on one of the best championship battles in the history of Women’s Motocross. It’s only fitting that it features the trio of riders who have ushered in the modern era of the WMX.

With nearly a month between Southwick and the season finale at Lake Elsinore, whatever goes down tomorrow afternoon will allow for ample time think about what happened and use it as motivation for what may prove to be the most dramatic final round of the Women’s Motocross Championship ever on September 8.