Another decade of Monster Energy Supercross racing has again passed us by. Not to worry since the new decade will continue where the last one left off, along with the excitement of watching these death-defying riders push the limits in pursuit of standing on the podium with their arms raised in victory.

But before any rider takes his shot at the top prize, there is the grueling day of activities which include practice and qualifying for the evening’s main events. Once the field is set through a series of qualifying and a final last chance qualifier race.

The real fun began when the stadium lights were dimmed and the fireworks took over to begin opening ceremonies. The top riders are introduced individually with a short pyrotechnics display, along with playing their favorite song followed by a short introduction about the rider as they took a lap while the fans cheered wildly.

For those who have never witnessed a Monster Energy Supercross race in person, what happens next is beyond what words could ever describe. Amongst all the fanfare it’s about that time to release these modern-day gladiators, and let them duke it out on the dirt battlefield we call the racetrack.

22 hungry locked and loaded, adrenaline-filled racers waiting to be unleashed with the only thing standing in the way of racing for the checkered flag is; ‘The Hole Shot.’ May the best rider win.

The next Monster Energy Supercross event is in St. Louis, this Saturday, January 11th with qualifying at 1 pm ET for NBC Gold members and the Night Show at 7 pm on NBCSN.