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The Pro Stock Motorcycle class of the NHRA's POWERade series has 15 rather than 23 national events in which to decide its season champion. Historically, the title tussle has involved only a handful of riders, and within the PSB championship record books, the class has had scant few "one-hit wonders."

Before 2003, only "Pizza John" Mafaro, in 1989, tallied just one bike crown on his resume. The late Dave Schultz, the late John Myers, Matt Hines, and Angelle Savoie had won all the other bike titles between 1987, when the class went pro, and 2002. In 2003, Geno Scali broke through for his first career championship.

But in 2004, the game pieces will be thoroughly shuffled in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Simply stated, there's a much bigger selection of championship "players" to choose from.

Here's what we can look expect when the first bike race arrives in March at the Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.

Pro Stock Motorcycle
Geno Scali's 2003 championship may not have been backbreaking to the competition, but it was workmanlike. Three wins out of four final rounds is anything but dominating, but certainly more than sufficient when only one other rider, Angelle Savoie, scored as many wins in '03. Scali's category-leading 30 round wins were a reflection of his overall consistency and a single first-round loss all year will usually keep any rider in the points chase.

	Scali

For starters, the Harleys will be much more competitive in '04, and, there will be more of them. The Vance & Hines team of Andrew Hines and GT Tonglet came within inches of scoring Harley's first national event win twice last year, but it's almost guaranteed that breakthrough victory will be coming in '04.

Plus, George Bryce of Star Racing will be bringing out his S&S-backed Harely in '04, with rookie Angie McBride aboard, a talented bike racer from the Southeastern Motorcycle Drag Racing Association who rode to last year's Outlaw championship. Not to leave any doors unopened, Bryce may also supplement his Harley efforts with a Suzuki entry for McBride, as well.

Of course, three-time champion Angelle Savoie and her teammate Antron Brown are looking to rebound from '03. While the season was anything but a disaster, Savoie's second-place points finish and Brown's sixth-place season were not what they envisioned. Savoie and Brown will once again be back aboard their U.S. Army Suzukis, racing under the Schumacher Racing letterhead, and each could live up to the expectations they took into last year's schedule.

Scali's championship defense will keep him on his toes. His major vulnerability in '03 was his tendency to foul out -- six of his twelve round losses last year were due to redlights -- but luckily for him, the class as a whole was struggling at the starting line because of the new LED Christmas Tree bulbs. This year, with so much more brand rivalry and performance upgrading, Scali will need a steadier hand on the clutch lever to fend off his opponents.

Craig Treble, who won the last two races of '03 aboard a borrowed Suzuki from three-time champion Matt Hines, has tested well this winter and could finally be in position to go the distance for his first NHRA championship. He knows his dreadful start cost him any chance at last year's title and you sense that his moment to step up has arrived.

With the racing careers of Reggie Showers and Fred Collis on hold, at least for now, it will be up to the other strong runners in the class to make big moves within the standings. Those drivers include Shawn Gann, Mike Berry, Karen Stoffer, Blaine Hale and relative newcomer Sean Conner.

Less than 200 points separated Scali -- a first-time champion -- from fifth-place rider Treble in the 2003 final standings. Quite a departure from the days when bike championships involved two racers at most and each had already bagged the big prize at least once before. There's no indications that kind of lopsided scenario will be making a comeback in Pro Stock Motorcycle this season.

Bill Stephens covers the NHRA for ESPN and ESPN.com.