REPORT: Monster Energy Cup - Las Vegas
By TMX Archives on 21st Oct 15
He missed out on a million dollars for sweeping all three races but Ken Roczen (Soaring Eagle Suzuki) still left Las Vegas $100,000 better off after taking overall victory in the Monster Energy Cup on Saturday night.
With the result decided by three intense 10-lap races, the German's 1-4-1 card saw him emerge a comfortable winner ahead of Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM) who ran 2-5-2 and Jason Anderson (Rockstar Husqvarna) who carded 6-1-3.
Anderson holeshot the opener but Trey Canard (HRC Honda) turned tighter in the first corner to take an early lead. Roczen moved to the front on lap two when Canard slipped off in a slick turn with James Stewart (Yoshimura Suzuki) crashing behind him.
After aggravating a wrist injury sustained in practice it was game-over for Stewart who withdrew.
The Ricky Carmichael-designed track included a slower Joker Lane which all riders had to complete once each moto. Roczen saved his run through for the final lap which handed Anderson the lead but the Husky rider miscalculated the number of laps left, missed the Joker Lane entirely and was docked five places.
Anderson claimed his second holeshot of the night but Justin Barcia (JGR Yamaha) took the lead as Roczen was forced to come through the pack after getting cut off at the start.
Anderson regained the lead on lap two chased by Barcia, Davi Millsaps (BTO KTM) and Dungey but by half-distance Roczen was up to third before Canard pushed him back a place. He lost another position to Dean Wilson (Red Bull KTM) when he took the Joker Lane but the Brit crashed out soon after.
On the last lap Anderson took the Joker Lane chased by Barcia but as they exited Canard slotted into second between them.
Anderson's third holeshot earned him a new Toyota Tundra but Roczen took the lead and immediately started to check out with Dungey in tow.
At the end of the sand section Canard attempted to make a move on Anderson but clipped his rear wheel and crashed off the track.
On the final lap Roczen held an eight-and-a-half second lead as he entered the Joker Lane and he exited with a comfortable lead to win from Dungey and Anderson.
"I won two of them but not the second," said Roczen. "It's a bummer. I felt great in the last one and if I could've gotten a better start [in the second moto] it would have been really possible.
"The competition is super-tough and everybody was here tonight so it's kinda hard to do it but we won two of them and the last moto was great - we finished it off strong.
"We have so much more testing to do and so much more training to do but I already feel great."
