Eli Tomac takes the Monster Energy million!
Last weekend, Eli Tomac was the anti-hero at the MXoN in muddy Red Bud. One week later, however, it's time to party in exuberant Las Vegas! At the Sam Boyd Stadium there was no way to deal with the Monster Energy Kawasaki superstar. Tomac easily won the three finals and earned one million dollars.
It remains to be seen to what extent the Monster Energy Cup will be a precursor to the new SX season. A regular Jason Anderson, the reigning AMA Supercross champion was second, Tomac's new teammate Joey Savatgy was the revelation of the evening and finished third in the final standings. Ken Roczen, in 'preparation' for his wedding, was the big absentee last night.
Since the very first Monster Cup in 2011, no one has managed to win twice. Since there were four former winners at the start, the question of who would succeed for the first time was the first subplot besides the inevitable hunt for the hat trick and associated jackpot of 1 million dollars.
Flying start Eli Tomac
New 450 rider Joey Savatgy took the holeshot ahead of Chad Reed, Eli Tomac and Jason Anderson. Reed was unable to capitalize on his excellent start, but Tomac defeated Savatgy on the second lap. Marvin Musquin still matched Jason Anderson and Savatgy, but would have to settle for second place. Barcia also started well but chose the Joker lane early and lost contact with Tomac, Musquin and Anderson.
Final one
1. Eli Tomac, 2. Marvin Musquin, 3. Jason Anderson, 4. Justin Barcia, 5. Joey Savatgy, 6. Cooper Webb, 7. Malcolm Stewart, 8. Josh Grant, 9. Chad Reed, 10. Vince Friese, 11. Blake Baggett, 12. Ryan Villopoto, 13. Jordon Smith, 14. Tyler Bowers, 15. Nick Schmidt, 16. Ryan Surrat, 17. Alex Ray, 18. Justin Starling, 19. Colton Aeck, 20. Cheyenne Harmon
Tomac prevails, Musquin and Reed clinch
Top favorite Eli Tomac took the holeshot ahead of Chad Reed and Josh Grant. Once again Musquin had to give chase, but the Frenchman who won a million in Vegas last year saw his evening fall into ruin when he was too impetuous while overtaking in the tunnel and got stuck wheel to wheel with Reed. Almost the entire field passed the two gamecocks. Tomac eventually won easily, behind him Barcia was 'best of the rest'. MotoConcepts Honda rider Malcolm Stewart was on a roll in qualifying and now achieved the best result of his evening in fourth. Anderson had started poorly but was able to pass Savatgy in the end with a block pass.
Final two
1. Eli Tomac, 2. Justin Barcia, 3. Josh Grant, 4. Malcolm Stewart, 5. Jason Anderson, 6. Joey Savatgy, 7. Vince Friese, 8. Jordon Smith, 9. Marvin Musquin, 10. Blake Baggett, 11. Ryan Villopoto, 12. Alex Ray, 13. Justin Starling, 14. Ryan Surrat, 15. Nick Schmidt, 16. Chad Reed, 17. Cheyenne Harmon, 18. Dylan Merriam, 19. Cooper Webb, 20. Colton Aeck
Savatgy gives a free pass
Musquin, on paper Tomac's biggest challenger, also had to empty the cup to the bottom in the third final. In a turbulent start, 'Marvattack' came into contact with Stewart and then drove to the pits. Tomac had to anchor in the commotion, which gave us the most interesting scenario of the evening. At the front, Savatgy was chasing the $100.000 for a final win, Tomac had to pull out all the stops to win his second Monster Cup ever. From seventh place, ET3 successively defeated Anderson, Smith, Stewart and Friese. The way Tomac attacked left nothing to the imagination: this was all or nothing. After Eli also caught Reed, he still had two laps left to catch Savatgy. This just worked, but the way in which Joey let his teammate pass can safely be called an anticlimax. Although there will be a lot of partying in the Kawasaki camp anyway. And Savatgy also put on one hell of a first 450SX race.
Final three
- Eli Tomac, 2. Joey Savatgy, 3. Chad Reed, 4. Jason Anderson, 5. Vince Friese, 6. Malcolm Stewart, 7. Justin Barcia, 8. Josh Grant, 9. Cooper Webb, 10. Jordon Smith, 11. Blake Baggett, 12. Justin Barcia, 3. Josh Grant, 4. Malclom Stewart, 5. Jason Anderson, 6. Joey Savatgy, 7. Vince Friese, 8. Jordon Smith, 9. Marvin Musquin, 10. Blake Baggett, 11. Ryan Villopoto, 12. Alex Ray, 13. Justin Starling, 14. Ryan Surrat, 15. Nick Schmidt, 16. Chad Reed, 17. Cheyenne Harmon, 18. Dylan Merriam, 19. Cooper Webb, 20. Colton Aeck
Monster Cup final standings
1. Eli Tomac 3, 2. Anderson 12, 3. Joey Savatgy 13, 4. Justin Barcia 13, 4. Justin Barcia 13, 5. Malcolm Stewart 17, 6. Josh Grant 20, 7. Vince Friese 22, 8. Chad Reed 28, 9. Ryan Villopoto 31, 10. Jordon Smith 31, 11. Blake Baggett 32, 12. Marvin Musquin 32…
Photo: Supercrosslive
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