The ninth annual Monster Energy Cup delivered the excitement promised by the biggest purse and most unique race format of any motorcycle race in the world.
The event brought some new twists to Sam Boyd Stadium this year with the three Cup Class Main Events held on three different track variations, each requiring the racers one pass through a slower-route Joker Lane. With a million dollars to any rider who could sweep the three Main Event format, it was Monster Energy Kawasaki‰Ûªs Adam Cianciarulo who edged out his teammate, two-time and defending Cup Champion
Eli Tomac, for the event win and $100,000, proving this 450cc class rookie has the speed and the mental nerve to take on the competitive 450cc Supercross Class racers.
From the first gate drop the excitement of 35,424 fans spiked as
Adam Cianciarulo grabbed the holeshot in his class debut and looked fast enough to gap the two racers behind him, GEICO Honda‰Ûªs
Jeremy Martin, and Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/Motoconcepts Honda‰Ûªs
Malcom Stewart, who were both in their first appearances since big injuries in previous seasons.
Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/Motoconcepts Honda‰Ûªs
Vince Friese, visiting 3x World Champion Team Honda HRC‰Ûªs
Tim Gajser, and defending Monster Energy Cup champion, Monster Energy Kawasaki‰Ûªs
Eli Tomac, were right behind the top three. In the same stadium where a simple mistake cost him a Western Regional 250SX Class Supercross title just five months before, Cianciarulo made another small mistake; the Kawasaki rider washed out the front end in a corner and dropped back to fifth as Friese grabbed the lead. Tomac reached second place but then lost his bearings on which track section he was on and drastically mis-timed a triple jump.
Tomac recovered and on lap six got into the lead. The top riders waited until the final lap to make their pass through the Joker Lane, a slow section comprised of three steep wall jumps separated by deep, white sand. Tomac took the win, separating himself as the only rider in the running for the million dollars. His new teammate Cianciarulo crossed the checkered flag close behind in second. On the podium Tomac said about his mid-race mistake, ‰ÛωÛ_our normal line right now is double double, but I went double triple. I totally brainfarted. That‰Ûªs the track getting me right now. Gotta get my head straight here, ‰Ûªcause that was scary.‰Û
