Dean Wilson will be the pre-season title favourite for the Eastern Regional 250SX title. Image: Simon Cudby.

This weekend kicks off the Monster Energy Supercross Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship at Arlington’s Cowboys Stadium on Saturday night.

Following a month-and-a-half of competing in the Western region, the championship’s Eastern debut will also signify its first race inside a true domed stadium.

For the first time in 2013, weather will influence the outcome of the race, which should result in a captivating battle for the win. Cowboys Stadium will be the first of seven domes over the next eight races.

Following six weeks of Western regional 250SX Class action, the rising stars of the Eastern regional championship will take center stage in Arlington.

Led by last season’s Western regional championship runner-up Dean Wilson, none of the riders in the East have ever won a Monster Energy Supercross 250SX Class title, which should make for an exciting battle for the championship.

Wilson is the most decorated rider in the field, having won five career 250SX Class races for his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team. He will lead the way for his teammates Darryn Durham, who won his first career race last season, and rookie Justin Hill.

A formidable challenge will come from Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton, a two-time 250SX Class winner, and his teammate Nico Izzi. Additionally, the GEICO Honda lineup of Wil Hahn, Justin Bogle, and rookie Zach Bell will also be in the hunt.

While none of the riders have tasted victory, they have impressive speed. Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin rounds out the group of contenders and while he is still in search of his first win as well, the success of his teammates this season are sure to have a positive influence.

At last year’s 450SX Class Main Event in Arlington, Ryan Villopoto captured his third win of the season, while eventual Eastern Regional 250SX Class Champion Justin Barcia earned his first win of the season.

Since Monster Energy Supercross first debuted at Cowboys Stadium in 2010, an average of 51,500 fans have packed the stadium each year to watch their favorite riders battle for the top spot. 2013 will be the 33rd time the gates will drop for a 450SX Class race in the Dallas/Fort-Worth area.

Monster Energy Supercross has a storied history in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with the first-ever supercross race being held in Dallas on 1 March 1975, just a year after the sport’s beginning.

From 1983-2008, Texas Stadium hosted 26-consecutive Monster Energy Supercross races and is regarded as one of the sport’s most historical cities having hosted.