Graduating from the 250SX Class is standout Justin Barcia. Barcia finished second overall as a rookie in 2010 and moved on to win back-to-back Eastern Regional Championships in 2011 and 2012. En route to a dominant 2012 season, Barcia won six of nine races and closed the season out with a 45-point lead over the second-place finisher with a 1.6 finishing average.

After establishing himself as one of the brightest rising stars of the sport over the last three seasons, Barcia is ready to compete in the 450SX Class. His arrival will add to what is already the deepest field of riders in Monster Energy Supercross history.

If history repeats itself, Barcia will have his work cut out for him in 2013. Only twice in the sport’s history has a rookie claimed the 450SX Class Championship, with Jeremy McGrath in 1993, and most recently Ryan Dungey in 2010.

Barcia puts less stock in history than he does his skill set, saying he’s a legitimate title contender. “That’s the plan; that’s what I was hired for,” said Barcia. “It’s like 250cc (250SX Class) racing with more experienced riders.”

In this sport, anything can happen and Stewart put it best in saying, “What if the top four became the top, five, six, seven, eight ….”

Only time will tell as the 2013 Monster Energy Supercross season prepares to challenge the fastest riders on the planet with 17 weekends of the greatest spectacle on dirt.

SPEED will broadcast the race live from Angel Stadium on Saturday, January 5 at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Tickets are available at the Angel Stadium Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000, www.supercrossonline.com, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Practice and qualifying begin at 12:30 p.m. and the main event starts at 7:00 p.m. Club Seats are $85 Adult/Child. Gold Circle tickets are $60 Adult/Child; Price Level 3 $45, Price Level 4 $35 Adult/Child; SuperValue $20 Adult/Child. Fans can also get into the Pits for FREE from 12:30-6 p.m. Race Day when they recycle a MONSTER Energy Can at the stadium’s Pit Entrance (valid only with event ticket).