Now that Bike Week has been put to bed, the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series moves north of the border to Toronto’s Rogers Centre for the schedule’s only race on foreign soil – and when I say “foreign soil” I mean it literally and figuratively. Since the dirt is often frozen when it’s brought into the stadium, it sometimes makes for a funky racing surface because it can be thawed on the topside but still frozen and thawing underneath. This year it’s a little warmer than years past, so that might not be as big a factor. We’ll chalk that up to global warming.

At any rate, the Canadian race marks the midway point of the season and with just eight races to go Ryan Dungey holds a healthy 20-point lead over last week’s Daytona winner, Ryan Villopoto.

Villopoto turned in a dominating performance at Daytona, leading all 20 laps on his Monster Energy Kawasaki. Meanwhile, Dungey looked content to keep his Rockstar Makita Suzuki in a safe second and collect the points. However, Villopoto’s not out of it by any means. If he rides like he did this past weekend and sweeps the remaining races – and he’s clearly on a roll – then the title is his. Should be an exciting second half.

“The championship is still in reach,” said Villopoto. “I just need to keep getting good starts and riding strong throughout the race. You never know what is going to happen so I have to put myself in position to capitalize on my competitors mistakes.”

Perhaps the biggest story to come out of the last two races, however, has been the surprising performance of Trey Canard. The redheaded Oklahoman now has two-straight 450-class podiums to his credit – a second and a third – while filling in for the injured Andrew Short on the Red Bull Honda team. Canard turned in an impressive win in the Lites division at Anaheim III, and seems to have carried that momentum over to the big bike. Will we see him on a 450 in the outdoor series?

After riding practice at Daytona and then watching the main event from the sidelines, Chad Reed is a possible “go” for Toronto. And since he set fastest time in qualifying, it will be interesting to see how his speed and endurance is in the actual race at Toronto after the eight-week layoff.

Unfortunately, a few more riders were added to the “walking wounded” list this week, with Grant Langston suffering the most critical wounds after a wicked crash on the first lap of the Daytona main event. Another Yamaha rider, Valli Motorsport’s Ivan Tedesco suffered damaged to his right hand, while JGR/Yamaha’s Justin Brayton hurt his hand as well. All but Langston should be good for Toronto.

In the Eastern Lites class, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel is on a rampage. The smooth-riding Frenchman has won all three rounds held so far in the series. This division has produced some of the closest racing of the season, with Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Austin Stroupe and Pourcel’s teammate Dean Wilson offering some pretty stiff challenges.

“Toronto should be a good event for me,” said Pourcel. “It is the biggest stadium floor we race on so there are a lot of obstacles which usually means a technical track. I think the more technical track the better so I can keep riding well and keep getting on the podium.”

GEICO Powersports Honda’s Justin Barcia was one of the preseason favorites in the class and he opened the season with a third at Indy, and added a fifth at Daytona, but suffered a disappointing 18th in Atlanta when he crashed after a run-in with Pourcel. Meanwhile teammate Brett Metcalfe has produced a fifth, a third and a seventh so far and sits fourth in the standings behind Poucel, Stroupe and Wilson. Blake Baggett is another rider to watch. Between Blaggett, Wilson and Barcia, the rookie trio adds another level of excitement to the 250F class.