Image: SImon Cudby.

Three former Lucas Oil Pro Motocross 450 Class Champions will be vying to reclaim the number one plate when the Red Bull Glen Helen National is hosted in California next Saturday, 24 May, including Discount Tire Racing’s Chad Reed in his return to racing.

The Australian native earned the 2009 title in the 450 Class and was enjoying a career revival in the 2014 AMA Supercross Championship before a February crash left him with a damaged shoulder. Since then, he has turned his attention to the upcoming Red Bull Glen Helen National opener in hopes of picking up where he left off.

Also eager to regain the title will be Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey, last year’s runner-up. Dungey earned 450 Class championships in 2010 and 2012, as well as the 250 Class title during the 2009 season.

James Stewart will head to Glen Helen Raceway aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki and the veteran is considered one of the fastest, most innovative racers in the history of the sport.

Stewart has not won a motocross title since 2008, when he ran the table with a perfect season, sweeping all 12 rounds and every single moto along the way.

The season opener will mark the first time since 2009 that the championship has visited the vaunted track in San Bernardino, California. Known for its steep hills and spectacular jumps, Glen Helen will be an immediate test of strength and endurance for the star-packed 450 Class participants.

For this season there will be a new 450 Class Champion in 2014 following the recent announcement that reigning champ Ryan Villopoto suffered a serious knee injury in the closing stages of supercross and will be forced him to take the summer off for surgery and rehabilitation.