Vuillemin will attempt to become only the fourth rider ever to open the championship with a perfect three-for-three Saturday night, Jan. 19, as the series moves back to Anaheim, Calif.

Vuillemin has been nearly flawless in the first two races of the 16-race series and the 24-year-old Frenchman who rides for Yamaha has opened up an eight-point lead on Indiana native Mike LaRocco.

Australian newcomer Chad Reed is an excellent third in the series after posting a sixth and a fifth at the first two rounds.  Reed is not expected to contest the entire 250 championship, since he's slated to run in the AMA 125 East Supercross Series later this season but I guess that plan may even change as he is so high in the rankings.  Another Australian running near the front is fifth placed Michael Byrne.

While Vuillemin's two wins weren't totally unexpected, the big surprise so far this season is the fact that the sport's biggest icons, Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael, are tied for 11th in the championships coming into Anaheim II.

McGrath has been fighting arm pump, a condition where the muscles in a rider's arm get so pumped up that feeling is lost in the hands, and has limped home to 13th and 10th-place finishes. Defending champ Carmichael came back to finish a respectable fourth last weekend in San Diego after sustaining a concussion when he crashed out of the first race in Anaheim.

While happy with his start, Vuillemin has spoken like a realist and feels that it won't be long before McGrath and Carmichael shake their early-season woes. "This series is 16-races long," said Vuillemin. "My goal is to go out and be consistent. I've been fortunate so far, but I know that Jeremy and Ricky will be getting it together very soon. It's good to have the early advantage, but I've got to keep focused on the championship and that means I've got to keep it on two wheels."

Travis Pastrana and Mike LaRocco should be riders to watch at Anaheim. Pastrana had a breakthrough of sorts last weekend at Anaheim. The 18-year-old from Maryland, led the 250 Supercross main and finished on the podium for the first time in his young career. While he may have felt a bit awkward leading for the first time, the factory Suzuki rider said after the race that he now knows what it takes to win one these races.

LaRocco has been the picture of consistency, but still hasn't figured out a way to put his Factory Connection Honda in the number one position. It's been nearly seven years since the 30-year-old has tasted victory in Supercross; he's got to be one of the hungriest riders out there.

It was bound to be hard for James "Bubba" Stewart to live up to the hype surrounding his entry into the professional ranks. The most watched amateur rider over the last few years, Stewart proved in San Diego that he could live up to his billing. The Kawasaki rider won the 125 West Region main event on Saturday, becoming one of the youngest riders ever to win an AMA 125 Supercross final. The victory also gave the 16-year-old Floridian the early lead in the 125 West championship over first round winner Travis Preston.

Rodrig Thain and Christopher Gosselaar are hoping to make up for their faux pas at the first Anaheim race. The two were battling for the lead on the final lap when they collided and handed the victory to Preston. Thain is ranked third in the series coming into round three – Gosselaar is fourth.

• Current 125 West overall points

• Current 250 overall points

1. James Stewart - 47 pts.
2. Travis Preston - 41
3. Rodrig Thain - 38
4. Chris Gosselaar - 35
5. Ivan Tedesco - 34
6. David Pingree - 33
7. Travis Elliott - 26
8. Brock Sellards - 24
9. Keith Johnson - 23
10. Michael Brandes - 19
11. Justin Buckelew - 17
12. Craig Decker - 14

1. David Vuillemin - 50 pts.
2. Mike LaRocco - 42
3. Chad Reed - 31
4. Ezra Lusk - 30
5. Michael Byrne - 28
6. Kevin Windham - 28
7. Travis Pastrana - 24
8. Nicholas Wey - 22
9. Damon Huffman - 22
10. Ernesto Fonseca - 20
11. Jeremy McGrath - 19
12. Ricky Carmichael - 19