Villopoto's US$1 Million at Inaugural Monster Energy Cup In Las Vegas today, for the first-time in off-road motorcycle racing history, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, of Poulsbo, Wash., won $1 million by sweeping all three main events at the inaugural Monster Energy Cup at Sam Boyd Stadium. "It’s pretty unreal,” exclaimed 2011 Monster Energy Cup champion Villopoto. "I’m happy we were able to pull it off. To back it up next year would be hard, so if we do, it would be great. I can’t thank my team enough for this amazing victory.” Main Event 1: Villopoto jumped out to an early lead with the holeshot followed by Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ben Townley, of Taupo, New Zealand, Suzuki’s Mike Alessi, of Victorville, Calif., Rockstar/Makita/Suzuki’s Bret Metcalfe, of Menifee, Calif., and Red Bull/KTM’s Ryan Dungey, of Belle Plaine, Minn. On lap 2, Dungey passed Alessi and Metcalfe in the same corner, moving into second place, where he would put a charge on Townley. Villopoto captured the win, Townley finished second and Dungey finished third.
Main Event 2: Once again, Villopoto pulled the holeshot with Dungey and Metcalfe in tow. Villopoto set himself up to win the $1 million with another win. Dungey finished second and Metcalfe finished third. "Heading into the final moto, I just need to get another good start like I’ve been doing,” said Villopoto after the second main event. "I’ll be happy leaving here healthy, and if I win, great, if not, this was still awesome.” Comment: I read via Twitter that Ben Townley had mechanical issues. He later said that the chain guide got bent, slowing the chain down as he was going through the air, acting like a rear brake and bringing the front down. It was making the bike shake in the air over the big jumps. They could not find the problem and it wasn't worth the risk. Main Event 3: Suzuki’s Mike Alessi earned the holeshot in the third and final main event with Villopoto and Dungey following in second and third, respectively. On the opening lap, Villopoto moved into the lead. Dungey and Alessi traded positions on lap 2 before Dungey made a solid pass and opened a gap on him. Metcalfe moved into third. Dungey finished second, which gave him second overall and Metcalfe finished third, which gave him third overall. Monster Energy Cup Class Results
 Villopoto is all smiles holding his new case of loot. Photo courtesy of Monster Energy. Photographer: Simon Cudby. Jim Holley talks to Ryan Villopoto. Courtesy of Feld Motor Sports. Super-Mini Cass Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo, of Port Orange, Fla., went 1-1 in the Super-Mini class and earned the overall championship. Cianciarulo opened the first Super-Mini moto with the holeshot and extended his lead with every lap. KTM’s Cooper Webb, of Newport, N.C., moved into second place on lap three after passing Kawasaki’s Blake Green, of Corona, Calif. Webb held on for second and Green finished third. Cianciarulo started the second Super-Mini moto the same way he did the first one and lead wire-to-wire to earn the overall. Webb worked his way through the field and into second place, where he would finish. Green finished third. "It was an awesome race,” said Cianciarulo. "I got a good start, and tried to hold it. I had to make sure not leave the inside open and not make any mistakes out there. I never thought I would win, especially on a track designed by the two guys that got me here.” Super-Mini Class Results 1. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki (1,1) 2. Cooper Webb, Newport, NC., KTM (2,2) 3. Blake Green, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki (3,3) 4. Bradford Young, Delray Beach, Fla., Kawasaki (5,4) 5. Mark Worth, Queen Creek, Ariz., Kawasaki (6,6) 6. Ashton Hayes, Rockford, Mich., Suzuki (7,8) 7. Justin Hoeft, Castaic, Calif., Suzuki (12, 7) 8. Shelby Peterson, Fort Worth, Texas, Kawasaki (10,10) 9. Chase Marquier, Newcastle, Okla., Suzuki (9, 12) 10. Andrew Pierce, Huffman, Texas, Kawasaki (4, 18) Amateur All-Star Class Justin Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., finished 4-1 in the Amateur All-Star class and scored the overall. Honda’s Zach Bell, of Cairo, Ga., opened a huge lead after earning the holeshot in the Amateur All-Star class’ first moto. Cole Thompson, of Brigden, ON, finished second after passing Honda’s Austin Politelli, of Menifee, Calif., who finished third. Green made a late-race pass around Kawasaki’s Bradford Young, of Delray Beach, Fla., to finish third.
Hill, of Yoncalla, Ore., put his Kawasaki up front in the second moto of the Amateur All-Star class with Politelli and Thomas Covington, of Temecula, Calif., in third. Thompson moved into third place on lap 2, passing Covington. Hill held on for the win, Politelli finished second and Thompson finished third. Overall, Politelli finished in second and Thompson finished in third. "There was some great racing out there,” said Hill. "I did my best to stay in front and keep it on two wheels. The track was tough, so you had to be on top of your game. I’m really excited to be crowned the Amateur All-Star Class champion.” Amateur All-Star Class Results
FMX Best Trick Australia’s Mark Monea won $40,000 at the Best Trick Presented by Dirt Shark competition tonight at the inaugural Monster Energy Cup held at Sam Boyd Stadium. "This is not only the largest amount of money I have ever won, it’s the only money that I have ever won in freestyle motocross,” said Monea. Of the five riders competing in the Best Trick competition, Monea’s signature trick, the "Carry On,” which is a front flip 360, scored him a 94. Prior to tonight’s competition, Monea had never successfully landed the "Carry On” in a competition. "I’ve landed it six or seven times before tonight but never in a competition,” said Monea. "There is a big difference in landing it in practice and landing it when the pressure of a competition is on.” This one-trick, go-for-broke-freestyle-
"I was super nervous before tonight,” added Monea. "I have been practicing long and hard on this trick, and to successfully land it tonight was huge.” Monea was formerly a mechanic for fellow Australian buddy and X Games gold medalist Cameron Sinclair before his FMX career ignited. One of the most anticipated moments of the evening was Kyle Loza’s attempt at landing the "Scarecrow.” The awe-inspiring trick unfolds as Loza removes himself from the motorcycle and flips the bike with one hand. Unfortunately, tonight would not be the night for Loza to accomplish this feat as he failed to successfully land this trick. The three-time X-Games gold medalist was able to walk away safely and go back to work on landing the flip. "I was happy that I was able to walk away from this tonight,” said Loza. "I am bummed I didn’t land it, but I came pretty close.” Best Trick Presented by Dirt Shark Results
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