Anaheim opens 2003 AMA SX series.

The 2003 AMA Supercross Series and the AMA Pro Racing year kicks off this Saturday [4 January] at Edison Field in Anaheim, California, with the series organisers hoping to wash over legal wrangles with some scintillating race action.

This year marks the start of the 30th season of AMA Supercross, which was launched in 1974. The weekend's race is the first of three series races to be held at Edison Field, with Floridian Ricky Carmichael kicking off his quest to earn his third consecutive AMA Supercross title. In the history of the series only Bob Hannah and Jeremy McGrath have been able to claim three championships in a row.

Anaheim is not only highly anticipated as the season opener, but many will be eager to hear what the legendary Jeremy McGrath has to say in a scheduled press conference at the stadium during Thursday's press day. It has been reported that McGrath will announce his retirement at Anaheim, although it's unclear whether or not he'll race one final time in the season opener.

For much of the 1980s, Edison Field, then known as Anaheim Stadium, was the traditional AMA Supercross season opener. In the early 1990s, the series opened for a time in Orlando, Florida, and later at the Los Angeles Coliseum, but, since 1998, Anaheim has returned as the home of the opening round of the 16-race series. The stadium is rich with AMA Supercross tradition. In 1986, David Bailey and Rick Johnson battled the entire race, before Bailey came out on top in what is considered by many to be one of the greatest AMA Supercross races of all time. Supercross king McGrath won the first of his 72-career AMA Supercross victories at Anaheim in 1993, and then there was the epic McGrath vs Carmichael race in 2001, where McGrath took his final victory.

Even though the season opener has often produced great races and historical moments, it hasn't always produced a champion. In fact, in the last ten years, the winner of the season opener has gone on to win the championship only four times. The last time it happened was in 2000, when McGrath won the first race and went on to win the title. David Vuillemin beat Carmichael in 2002, but succumbed to the American's record breaking charge later in the season.

Carmichael has a great deal of incentive coming into Anaheim I. It was there last year where he suffered a hard crash on his factory Honda mid-race and walked off the field dazed from a concussion. Of course, he made a spectacular recovery and went on to easily win the 2002 AMA Supercross title, before riding to the perfect undefeated season in the AMA Chevy Trucks US Motocross Championship.

"I still have a lot of goals in supercross," Carmichael said, "I feel it's my championship to win or lose, but that's the beauty of racing, you never know until that starting gate drops."

While Carmichael will be the heavy favourite to win this year's opener, other riders could be a factor. Of course, if McGrath chooses to race, he will certainly be the emotional fan favourite. Even though he hasn't won since 2001, he was still the third-ranked rider last season and many feel there's yet some magic left in McGrath.

Ageless wonder Mike LaRocco, who will turn 32 next month, has trained harder than ever for this season. That hard worked paid off richly with some strong performances in off-season events. LaRocco is hoping to become the oldest AMA Supercross champ in series history.

A lot of focus will fall on Suzuki's Travis Pastrana. Arguably the most popular rider in the field, due to his success in freestyle motocross, Pastrana has yet to taste victory in the AMA Supercross Series' premier 250 class, but feels confident coming into the year.

"I honestly have never felt better prepared for the season than I am now," he says.

Pastrana will have new team-mates Frenchmen Sebastien Tortelli and Stephane Roncada on the revamped factory Suzuki squad this year. Tortelli shocked a lot of people when he won his debut race in 1998, the supercross season opener that year in Los Angeles. A series of frustrating injuries have kept Tortelli from winning his second, but now healthy and on a new team, he is hoping to be a contender for this year's title.

Aussie Chad Reed has look great in off-season races on his factory Yamaha. Last year's AMA 125 East Supercross champ claims he's more than ready to step up to the spotlight in the 250 class. The same could be said for KTM ace Grant Langston, who will also move up to the premier class this season.

In addition to the main event at Anaheim, Saturday will also see the season opener of the AMA 125 West Region Supercross Series. Kawasaki's James Stewart is looking to win the title he felt should have been his last year. Instead, it was Factory Connection Honda's Travis Preston who was more consistent and took advantage of Stewart's crashes to win the championship. The rematch starts Saturday night.

Throw in riders like Suzuki Sean Hamblin, who earned his factory ride by turning in some great rides in replacing the injured Pastrana last season, former AMA 125 Motocross champ Steve Lamson and Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Eric Sorby and you have the makings of a very interesting 125 series.