Stewart Wins the Cup
Monster Energy Cup
DUNGEY BRAIN FADES, VILLOPOTO SKIPS OFF AN ON-OFF & STEWIE WINS BECAUSE HE JUMPS
Somebody was gonna win, and going into the last moto it could have been almost anyone—but it was Bubba
There was nothing to separate Stewart, Dungey,
Roczen, Villopoto, Tomac and Musquin on an old school track with old-school
hardpack dirt. But, the race boiled down to these three facts:
(1) Ryan Dungey forgot to do the required Joker Lane and was
penalized 5 spots in moto one.
(2) Ryan Villopoto mistimed a step-on step off and stepped off
(after winning moto one)—ending his night early.
(3) James Stewart turned the step-on, step-off into a straight triple by
jumping the whole thing—and that was what handed him the win.
So says www.motocrossactionmag.com
And from www.fullnoise.com.au ... In
front of 33,845 fans at Sam Boyd Stadium and live on FOX Sports 2, Yoshimura
Suzuki’s James Stewart, who won two of the three Main Events, captured the
first Monster Energy Cup of his career and cashed in on the $100,000 prize on
the Ricky Carmichael-designed track.
Monster
Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, who
won the 2011 Monster Energy Cup, raced to the Toyota Holeshot Award in Main
Event #1 edging out Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer and Dean Wilson followed in third and fourth respectively.
Red
Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin moved into third place after moving
past Wilson and Weimer. On Lap 9, Villopoto rode through the Joker Lane, a
rugged sand section that the riders have to pass through at least once in each
Main Event, and Dungey moved into the lead.
Heading
into the final lap, Dungey failed to ride through the Joker Lane and was
assessed a five-position penalty, which gave him sixth place. Villopoto earned
the win with Musquin in second and Weimer in third.
“It is
definitely a chance (to win the $1 million),” said Villopoto. “I still need to
get two more good starts and it’s not going to be easy. “On the last lap, I
thought he (Dungey) had already rode through the Joke Lane, but, apparently, he
did not.”
In
Main Event #2, Stewart out-raced Villopoto through the Toyota Holeshot and set
the stage for an epic 10-lap race. Dungey moved into the number-three position
through turn one but was passed by defending Monster Energy Cup Champion Justin
Barcia.
Red
Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen passed Dungey on Lap 2 as the battle
up front between Stewart and Villopoto ensued. On Laps 5 and 8, the two traded
places. Stewart protected his lead and rode to his first-ever Main Event win at
the Monster Energy Cup. Villopoto, who did not go through the Joker Lane,
crashed on the last lap and was unable to finish the race. Barcia finished
second and Dungey finished third.
After
finishing fourth in the first two Main Events, Roczen won the Toyota Holeshot
in Main Event #3. Stewart made quick work of Dungey for the number-two
position. On Lap 4, Stewart passed Roczen for the lead and rode to victory.
Dungey finished second and GIECO Honda’s Eli Tomac finished third.
“You
don’t understand how special this is for me,” said Stewart. “I am speechless
right now; this is a huge win for me and I am pretty damn happy. I know we are
making the right steps to get our program to where it needs to be.”
The
Dirt Shark Biggest Whip contest presented by Nuclear Cowboyz hosted a
seven-rider prizefight for the $15,000 purse. After earning his spot in the
Main Event through the afternoon qualifying session, Tom
Parsons earned the lion’s share of the prize money,
followed by Edgar Torronteras and Australian Jarryd
McNeil.
Monster Energy Cup Class
Overall Results:
1.
James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Suzuki (8-1-1)
2.
Ryan Dungey, Bell Plaine, Minn., KTM (6-3-2)
3. Ken Roczen, Murrieta,
Calif., KTM (4-4-4)
4. Eli
Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda (5-6-3)
5. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (2-9-8)
6.
Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda (13-7-5)
7.
Broc Tickle, Holly, Mich., Suzuki (10-8-9)
8.
Justin Barcia, Pinetta, Fla., Honda (7-2-18)
9.
Dean Wilson, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Kawasaki (20-5-6)
10.
Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha (15-10-7)
11. Andrew
Short 12-11-10
12. Cooper Webb 9-12-16
13. Tyler Bowers 14-13-15
14. Matt Goerke 18-14-11
15. Ryan Villopoto 1-21-21
16. Nick Wey 17-15-12
17. Jake Weimer 3-22-19
18. Kyle Chisholm 16-16-14
19. Jimmy Albertson 19-18-13
20. Malcolm Stewart 11-19-22
21. Chris Blose 22-17-17
22. Zach Osborne 21-20-20
