2014 Monster Energy Cup Championship report
By Team TMX on 20th Oct 14
Monster Energy Kawasakis Davi Millsaps won the Monster Energy Cup and $100,000 in Las Vegas this weekend. Over in the Super-Mini Class, KTMs Mitchell Falk swept both Main Events to win the championship. And with a pair of wins in the Amateur All-Star Class, Yamahas Aaron Plessinger captured the title.
In the opening lap of the first Cup Class Main Event, Team Honda's Trey Canard won the Toyota Holeshot Award with JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha's Justin Barcia and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Jason Anderson in tow. Red Bull KTM's Justin Hill quickly moved into second place and set chase to Canard.
On the first Lap, Anderson, who set the fastest lap time in practice, crashed. Canard held off the hard charge from Hill and won the race. Hill finished second and Millsaps finished third.
"I feel pretty good, the key tonight were the starts,” said Canard. "We got a good run off the gate and I was pumped on that finish, it was fun out of there. I almost lost it the first lap on the AMSOIL Arch, there's a lot of technical elements out there.”
"It would be great to take the $1 million home and to make a difference to the less fortunate,” added Canard after the race.
Carson Mumford piloted his Kawasaki through the Toyota Holeshot in front of Falk in Main Event One in the Super-Mini Class. Falk moved into the lead on the opening lap, and on the following lap, Kawasaki's Garrett Marchbanks passed Mumford for second. Falk held onto the lead for the win. Marchbanks finished second and Mumford finished third.
"The race was really awesome; you had to get a good start,” said Falk. "This track is different from an amateur race, so I played it safe and it worked. Everyone is riding great tonight.”
In Main Event One in the Amateur All-Star Class, Kawasaki's Darian Sanayei led the field through the Toyota Holeshot. Jon Ames held down the number-two position until Plessinger made a pass on him. On lap four, Plessinger made the pass for the lead and eventual win. Sanayei finished second and Yamaha's Benny Bloss finished third.
Once again, Canard earned the Toyota Holeshot Award in the Cup Class' second Main Event. Hill and Millsaps followed in second and third respectively. On lap eight, Millsaps moved into the lead while Canard opted to run the Joker Lane, a slower section of the track that every rider must take at least once after the first lap. Millsaps entered the Joker Lane on the last lap of the race as Canard regained the lead. As Millsaps was exiting the Joker Lane he slid out and dropped back to fourth place. Hill finished second and GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac finished third.
"We'll see how the next Main Event goes and go from there,” said Canard. "I need to keep charging hard and continue getting good starts. I'm excited; I need to put it in the back of my mind and not let it get to me and definitely not forget the Joker Lane.”
Falk captured the Toyota Holeshot Award and rode six perfect laps in the second Main Event in the Super-Mini Class. Yamaha's Chase Sexton started in second and followed Falk for the duration of the race to finish second. Marchbanks finished third. Marchbanks finished second overall and Sexton finished third overall.
"I'm really excited and super grateful to take the overall win,” said Falk. "In the last Main Event, I got the holeshot and put in a lot of solid laps. I got all of my nerves out the first race and tried to maintain consistency throughout the entire race.”
Sanayei scored his second Toyota Holeshot in the second Amateur All-Star Class with Plessinger and GEICO Honda's Jordan Smith following in second and third respectively. Plessinger passed Sanayei for the lead on lap two. On the last lap, Smith passed Sanayei for second place, where he would finish. Sanayei finished second overall and Bloss finished third overall.
"It makes me feel great to win,” said Plessinger. "I got off to a good start, and I did the same thing I did in the first Main Event. It was a great track tonight; I got the triple, triple down and rode my own race.”
After winning the first two Main Events, Canard put himself in position to win $1 million. All he needed to do was win the third and final Main Event. Anderson captured the Toyota Holeshot Award in the third and final Cup Class Main Event with Millsaps on his rear wheel. Millsaps moved around Anderson on the opening lap to take over the lead.
Canard took over second place on the opening lap and set chase on Millsaps. While setting up a pass for the lead, Canard crashed on lap four, and on lap seven, he crashed again. Tomac finished second and Red Bull KTM's Ryan Dungey finished third. Millsaps' win came on his debut ride for his new team. Tomac finished second overall and Canard finished third overall.
"This feels amazing, I didn't even realise I won overall following the last race,” said Millsaps. "It's great to be back on a new bike with a new team and to get here and get the overall win, it's so worth it.
"The bike is awesome and I haven't been on it that long, but so far so good and no complaints. I thought it was going to be a long day, but it turned around really quickly. I'm excited to build my garage with this money.”
"The final race was chaos,” said Tomac. "Seeing Trey go down was tough for me. There was a lot of banging going on through some of the corners.”
"It was in the back of the mind (the money), but I wanted to go in there like any other race,” said Canard. "It's so good to see Davi (Millsaps) back and race against him. I'm just thankful to be healthy and this gets me excited for Anaheim.”
Jarryd McNeil captured the Dirt Shark Biggest Whip Contest with a 91.7. Beau Bamberg turned in a 89.3 for second place and Edgar Torronteras finished third with a 84.7.
"After doing this event for the last three years, I finally won,” said McNeil. "It takes a lot of practice to nail down the biggest whip, and I was glad that I was able to do it in front of all of these loyal fans tonight.”
The 2015 Monster Energy Cup will take place on Saturday, October 17, and tickets are on sale to the public through UNLVtickets.
2015 Monster Energy Cup Class Overall Results
1. Davi Millsaps, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki (3,4,1)
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (4,3,2)
3. Trey Canard, Edmond, Okla., Honda (1,1,8)
4. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM (8,5,3)
5. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda (7,7,5)
6. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM (2,2,18)
7. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.M., Husqvarna (15,7,4)
8. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki (10,10,6)
9. Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Yamaha (6,6,16)
10.Blake Baggett, Grand Terrace, Calif., Suzuki (5,8,21)
Super Mini Class Overall Results
1. Mitchell Falk, Costa Mesa, Calif., KTM (1,1)
2. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki (2,3)
3. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Yamaha, (4,2)
4. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., Kawasaki (3,5)
5. Derek Drake, San Luis Obispo, Calif., KTM (5,6)
6. Brock Papi, McMurray, Penn., KTM (8,4)
7. Casey Keast, Kelowna, B.C., Yamaha (6,7)
8. Carson Brown, Ravensdale, Wash., KTM (7,9)
9. Justin Rodbell, Prince Frederick, M.D., KTM (11,10)
10.Hannah Hodges, Deland, Fla., Suzuki (9,13)
Amateur All-Star Class Overall Results
1. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (1,1)
2. Darian Sanayei, Monroe, Wash., Kawasaki (2,3)
3. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., Yamaha (3,4)
4. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda (10,2)
5. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha (5,9)
6. Chase Marquier, Newcastle, Okla., Honda (7,8)
7. Ryan Surratt, Corona, Calif., Yamaha (6,11)
8. Marshall Weltin, Ubly, Mich., Honda (4,14)
9. Cody Mcculloch, North Branch, Mich., Yamaha (8,12)
10.Bradley Taft, Nixa, Mo., Yamaha (16,5)
KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
1. Preston Masciangelo, Brantford, Canada KTM
2. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM
3. Reed Vogan, Cameron Park, Calif., KTM
4. Donovan Hanson, Roland, Iowa, KTM
5. Lux Turner, Gardenerville, Nev., KTM
6. Colton Trouille, Lake Park, Ga., KTM
7. Wryder Huffman, Clifton, Colo., KTM
8. Bryson Buller, Farmington, N.M., KTM
9. Peyton Crisp, Simpsonville, S.C., KTM
10.Jackson Glather, Saint George, Utah, KTM
