Form this season: Christie has finished on the World Cup podium once this season and won European gold in the 1000m in the middle of January.
The 34-year-old has finished on the podium just once this season.
Honda's Andrea Dovizioso took third place, ahead of Ducati's seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi, who has finished on the podium just once this season.
Riesch, also 26, who won a bronze medal in the super-G at last month's world championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, has finished on the podium in four of six races this winter with one triumph, on Feb. 27 in Are, Sweden.
Pérez has finished on the podium three times this year, and will move to the leading McLaren Mercedes team next year.
Christie has finished on the podium for each World Cup race this season.
The rookie Honda rider, 20, has finished on the podium in every race so far this season but crashed in all three practice sessions on Friday, cracked the top of his humerus near his right shoulder.
Ligety has finished on the podium in all seven giant slalom races this season and became the first man to accomplish that feat since Michael von Gruenigen of Switzerland in 1995-96.
She has finished on the podium in all five World Cup races this season and is a strong medal contender for next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Marquez has finished on the podium in 15 of the 17 races so far this season.
Marquez has finished on the podium in 15 of the 17 races so far this season and will become the first man since Kenny Roberts in 1978 to win the championship in his rookie season on Sunday with another.
