Lusk hopes Atlanta will bring end to slump.

Ezra Lusk, the highest-ranked motocross racer from the state of Georgia, returns home a far from happy camper - despite being ranked fifth in the 2002 AMA EA Sports Supercross Series.

The 26-year old, from Acworth, expected much more of himself this year but, as the series moves to its halfway point at the Georgia Dome this Saturday [23 February], Lusk remains optimistic that he can get his season turned around.

Lusk traded places with reigning champion Ricky Carmichael in a blockbuster move during the off-season, as Carmichael went to Honda for a reported $4million, and Lusk took an offer from Kawasaki. The pair grew up racing each other, and were best of friends and riding buddies before the move, but now Lusk admits the relationship has cooled considerably.

The Georgian feels that, even though his results have not been what he's used to -- his best results have been a pair of fifth-place finishes -- he can feel the momentum shifting. Last week in Minneapolis, he had third locked up before making a mistake on the final lap that pushed him back to sixth.

"I can't quite put my finger on it," Lusk said, "The Kawasaki is obviously capable of winning, but there's a transition period. Each week I feel a little more comfortable with the bike and I really believe that some good results are just around the corner."

Lusk, who was the second-ranked AMA Supercross rider in 1998 and 1999, would love nothing better than to get his first podium finish in front of his home fans this weekend.

Meanwhile, as Lusk is trying to break his slump in Atlanta, points leader David Vuillemin will be trying to edge closer to breaking the bank. The Frenchman, who now lives in Corona, California, has already won the first leg of the Vans Triple Crown of Supercross, in Anaheim, to move one step closer to the grand prize of $500,000 which will be presented to anyone winning the three events in Anaheim, Atlanta and Las Vegas [4 May].

If Vuillemin can earn a victory in Atlanta he needs only to win the season finale in Las Vegas to take home the half-million dollars. In the event that no-one wins all three rounds, the rider with the most points scored at the three races will receive $25,000.

Yamaha-mounted Vuillemin leads the Supercross standings by 23 points over Carmichael coming into Atlanta, with both riders having won three races so far this year. Hoosier Mike LaRocco is third in the series, but is likely to miss the rest of the season after breaking his right wrist last Saturday in Minneapolis. Kawasaki team-mates Stephane Roncada and Lusk round out the top five riders coming into mid-season.

Jeremy McGrath, like Lusk, would be happy to get a good result Saturday. The five-time Atlanta Supercross winner and seven-time AMA Supercross champ is having his worst season to date. McGrath has yet to crack the top five this year and stands seventh in the points. But, like Lusk, McGrath has shown signs of improvement in recent rounds and could be ready to turn in a much needed podium ride.

In addition to round eight of the 16-race EA Sports Supercross Series, Atlanta will also feature the third round of the AMA 125 East Region Series.

Australian rookie sensation Chad Reed has stolen the show by winning the first two rounds and, to show just how tough the 19-year-old Yamaha of Troy rider is, he won last week's race in Minneapolis after pulling a groin muscle while training just a few days before.

Reed leads Tennessee's Mike Brown by ten points coming into Atlanta. Larry Ward and Steve Boniface are tied in third.