Image: Simon Cudby.

This weekend’s 48th running of the GoPro Hangtown Motocross Classic in Sacramento, California, will mark the beginning of the 12-round 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.

Reigning 450 Class champion Ryan Dungey and back-to-back 250 Class champion Jeremy Martin will become the first Minnesota natives to jointly begin their respective title defenses against an impressive list of challengers.

In nine combined starts at the iconic circuit in both the 250 450 classes, Dungey has never stood atop the podium, it remains the only track in the championship that he is yet to claim victory at.

In 2015 it was Eli Tomac dominated the 450 Class field en route to his second career overall win in the premier class. His victory in last season’s final moto by over 90 seconds is one of the all-time largest margins of victory in the history of the championship.

While Tomac enters the Nationals with a new team at Monster Energy Kawasaki, the new relationship is blossoming heading into Hangtown as he capped off his supercross season with three consecutive podium finishes.

Another rider surely ready to got bar to bar with Dungey and Tomac all summer long is RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s Suzuki Factory Racing’s Ken Roczen. The 2014 series champion endured through a tough title defence last season and entered Hangtown battling a back injury.

With five wins during the supercross season, Roczen is arguably faster and more confident than ever before entering the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and will be aiming to redeem himself in 2016.

In addition to Tomac and Roczen, Dungey’s contingent of challengers will also consist of former winners Justin Barcia, and his Autotrader/Monster Energy/Yamaha ride, as well as Team Honda HRC’s Trey Canard.

Rising stars such as Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson and Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s Blake Baggett are also looking to build off promising rookie seasons and break into the win column.

Former champion James Stewart, one of only two riders in history to complete a perfect undefeated season, will also make his highly anticipated return to action with Team Yoshimura Suzuki for the first time since the 2014 season.

In 2015 Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Jeremy Martin endured an epic battle for the championship with Marvin Musquin to eventually claim his second-consecutive title and become the first repeat champion since Ryan Villopoto in 2007 and 2008.

Martin will once again again be the rider to watch as he chases even more history and looks to become the fifth rider to claim three straight championships. With back-to-back overall wins at Hangtown in 2014 and 2015, Martin is the clear favourite for this weekend’s event.

With Musquin’s moving into the 450 Class with Red Bull KTM for 2016, Martin’s biggest challenge will come from several riders including teammate Cooper Webb who will enter the season nursing a wrist injury sustained during the supercross season.

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki duo of Joey Savatgy and Adam Cianciarulo will be aiming want to put their team back on the top step in the 250 Class. Savatgy captured one overall win in 2015 while teammate Cianciarulo is returning from injury once again.

The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team will also introduce amateur phenom Austin Forkner to the professional ranks at Hangtown, Forkner will be an exciting addition to the already talent-filled category.

Additional contenders will include former winner Aaron Plessinger of the Yamalube Star Racing Yamaha team, GEICO Honda’s Christian Craig, Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM’s Justin Hill and many more.

Australia’s Luke Clout is also set to make his Lucas Oil Pro Motocross debut at Hangtown, the former Australian motocross MX2 champion will return for his first race back following a broken femur sustained at the Oakland supercross round.

For more information on the 2016 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship visit www.promotocross.com.