With the halfway point of the 2010 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship officially here, the world's fastest riders are refreshed and rejuvenated after a well-deserved off-week. Now on an impressive five-race winning streak, Ryan Dungey brings his 450 Class points lead to his home state of Minnesota for the Rockstar Energy Spring Creek National at Spring Creek Motocross Park in Millville this Saturday.

Michigan's legendary RedBud, the largest crowd of the season saw some of the best race action to date between premier-class stalwarts Dungey, reigning champion Chad Reed, Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda's Ben Townley, Honda Red Bull Racing's Andrew Short, and GEICO Powersports Honda's Brett Metcalfe. These five riders have been the most consistent throughout the first half of the season and, as a result, also occupy the top five positions in the championship standings.

After one of the most memorable first motos in series history, Dungey outlasted his rivals on the last lap to take the opening win, then dominated the day's final moto (a recurring theme this year) to capture his third 1-1 sweep of the season.

Hailing just a short drive from Millville, the Belle Plaine native will return home with more fanfare than ever before. The premier-class rookie is in the midst of arguably the most impressive inaugural campaign in the sport's history, becoming just the second rookie to capture the AMA Supercross title and currently leading the 450 Class standings six races into the 2010 season. In acknowledgement of his achievements, the reigning Rider of the Year has also been nominated for an ESPN ESPY Award in the Best Male Action Sports Athlete category. On Wednesday evening, Dungey will attend the awards show in Los Angeles, alongside world-renowned athletes like Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, Sidney Crosby, and Landon Donovan.

Also creating some buzz in the 450 Class is the return of fan favorite Kevin Windham. The beloved winner of two AMA Supercross events this season will be an integral part of the second half of the 2010 season, taking over at Honda Red Bull Racing for the injured Davi Millsaps. It's been nearly a year since Windham competed in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, making a pair of special appearances late last season, but the 17-year veteran is excited about the opportunity and can't wait to get out there and mix it up with his younger counterparts.

Just as 250 Class points leader Christophe Pourcel appeared ready to take control of the extremely competitive division with his second overall victory of the season, the characteristic unpredictability of the deeply talented class shined through once again at RedBud. After two tough years of frustration and unfortunate injuries, GEICO Powersports Honda's Trey Canard finally broke through for his first AMA Motocross victory, becoming the fifth different winner in the 250 class through six rounds and the fourth first-time winner of the season.

It took an all-out effort from the Oklahoma native and 2008 AMA Supercross Lites East Region Champion, but after an impressive first moto, in which he charged from a bad start to finish fourth, Canard took advantage of some of his competitors' misfortunes to take the second-moto victory and lock up his breakthrough win.

This weekend, what has become possibly the most competitive group of 250 Class riders in history returns to action at Spring Creek, and a first-time winner at the facility will stand atop the overall podium. With the vacancy left by 2009 champion and defending Millville 250 Class winner Dungey now on the 450, it will be up to Pourcel, Canard, and additional race winners Eli Tomac, Tyla Rattray, and Dean Wilson to battle with the rest of the 250 field.

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