“I’m looking forward to getting started and turning this thing around,” said Chad Reed, quietly, before walking to the stage at Thursday’s press conference for the curtain-opening 2008 Monster Energy AMA Anaheim Supercross. When he did enter the stage, the stoic Reed answered questions slowly and thoughtfully, not really playing his hand in regard to what he had for Saturday night’s main event.

If one would have listened to the Los Angeles network affiliates in the days leading into Anaheim, one may have been led into believing that the world was about to come to an end as a biblical sort of rain storm was rolling off the Pacific Ocean, one worthy of men going to work in beating, banging and sawing a big arc together. So certain were the “meteorologists” of the storm that bore down on Angel Stadium, they called for 100% chance of rain on Saturday and Saturday evening. But a funny thing happened. They got it all wrong. The rains that pelted Los Angeles and Orange County came to a screeching halt at approximately 6 A.M. on Saturday and the battleship gray skies over the Southland never really pulled it all together to drop anymore rain on the region. Thus, at exactly 4:30 P.M. on Saturday afternoon — with the klieg lights already turned on to beat back darkness — the 100 or so riders that would make up Saturday night’s program of racing came trudging down the stadium tunnel and walked the track, scoping out what they’d have to deal with come 7:30 P.M. Commendably, the event organizers — Live Nation — did and excellent job of covering the track and keeping the small sections of ankle deep mud and puddles to a scant few.

With all things heat races, semi races, etcetera over and done with, as the cloak approached 10 P.M., the starting gate slapped itself into the damp Anaheim dirt and what was the first main event roared out of the hole and, collectively, charged like a bat out of hell towards the apex of the 180-degree first turn. Once the physics and geometry sorted itself out, it was the blue bikes of Chad Reed and Grant Langston exiting the turn at the front of the fray. Meanwhile, behind them, James Stewart, all alone, was pulling his lime green Kawasaki KX450F out of the Betty Crocker-like slop. Now 18 seconds adrift of the pack, Stewart got and got going. Reed would hold the lead for a couple of laps before getting cross-wired in a turn, killing his 450 cubic centimeter motor. End result: Langston and Mike Alessi went whizzing past. But it was meaningless as by lap six, Reed was through and back at the front. At the halfway mark, Reed continued to lead, while almost unfathomably, James Stewart has blitzed his way all the way up to position number two on the scoring monitors. Stewart’s teammate Tim Ferry had motored his way up to third place, a spot ahead of Langston. When all as said and done and the race was run (that rhymes!) it was Chad Reed winning the first of the 16 rounds that make up the 2008 Monster Energy Supercross Series by some 20 seconds over James Stewart. Ferry would hold onto third place and the final step of the podium.

“I have been thinking about this race since last May,” said Reed, helmet removed and breath caught. “I knew I needed a good start tonight and had to fight. It was a tough track out there, but we were well prepared and this win shows that hard work pays off. I am fit, feel fantastic and our development of the new bike is coming along really well. Bring on Phoenix, I say!”

In six days, Phoenix will be put forth for Reed and his L&M/San Manual/Yamaha YZ450F.

“I hope it rains! I love mud.” This was team Yamaha of Troy rider Jason Lawrence speaking inside the team’s 18-wheeler on Saturday morning. The runner-up in the 2007 West Region Supercross Series, the New Jersey native was hoping to use his skills in deep mud and still water come main event time. And while it did not really get all too muddy, the track was ravaged enough come main event time at Anaheim 1 for Jason Lawrence work his way into the lead but a few laps in. Just behind was Suzuki pilot Ryan Dungey.

“If it’s muddy, Lawrence just rips,” said Monster Energy/Kawasaki/Pro Circuit rider Ryan Villopoto — the World’s best Lites rider who will ride the East Region later this winter — a few minutes before opening ceremonies. “He’s from New Jersey and he’s really good in the stuff.” Villopoto put a visual exclamation mark on his theory by making a mock twisted throttle move with his right wrist.

Lawrence would led the 15-lap 250F main event up to lap number eight before being caught up by a slew of slower riders. The hiccup allowed Minnesota-born Dungey to slither into the lead. And although making a few mistakes in the twilight stage of the race, Lawrence would hold to place second, well ahead of third place rider Justin Brayton.

- Eric Johnson