2019 Monster Energy Cup | Race Preview

2019 MONSTER ENERGY CUP | COMPLETE COVERAGE

After a few weeks of inactivity, it’s time to dust off the bikes and get back to racing with one of the marquee offseason events, the 2019 Monster Energy Cup. Launched in 2011, the Monster Energy Cup fills the void left by the US Open of Supercross, gives Feld Entertainment the chance to experiment with new concepts, and allows riders an opportunity to get a gate drop in without boarding a flight to an international destination. The event promoters know that it’s a big ask of riders to interrupt the offseason for a race that has no sort of championship impact, so they offer up a hefty purse to the full field and have a million-dollar bonus to anyone that can sweep all three 10-lap Main Events. It sounds like a tall order on paper until you remember that three million dollars have been paid out to Ryan Villopoto, Marvin Musquin, and Eli Tomac over the last eight years.

This year’s race seems to lack some of the hype one would expect, as a number of possible front-runners have opted out after their 29 or so races over the course of 2019, but it’s still shaping up to be an exciting day of action at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, with three competitive classes (pro-only Cup Class, the 250cc Amateur All-Stars, SuperMini) and an interesting track design.

Sam Boyd Stadium has been an incredible location for this race, because the open-air venue has allowed the track to run into the stands, outside of the building, and locate the start on top of various structures over the years. Alas, many signs point to this being the last time that this exact race will run at Sam Boyd Stadium (it’ll retain a stop on the 2020 Supercross calendar) and talk is that it could be moved to another state entirely. With that said, Feld Entertainment has gone all-out with their track design by putting in two separate starting gates and a configuration that’ll run in three different ways. Pay close attention to the track videos below, because riders will have to learn the different rhythms, plus remember to take the Joker Lane one time per moto in order to win.

But that’s not the biggest challenge that racers will face on the night, because the plans call for the track to run in the opposite direction at one point. This idea hasn’t exactly been met with universal acclaim by riders, many of whom are concerned that the nature of Supercross-style obstacles doesn’t allow much room for error and some have even logged motos on their practice tracks in reverse.

As mentioned above, this year’s entry list isn’t the most stacked in history but there are enough competitors to keep things interesting. Can a past winner use their experience to come out on top or will a new name be added to the list? Here are guys to watch on Saturday…

Last year’s million-dollar winner Eli Tomac is easily the heavy favorite. The Monster Energy Kawasaki rider has laid low since winning the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and this will be the last time we see him race until Anaheim One. Tomac proved that he can stay consistent over the course of three races and in a high-pressure situation, which has been one of his shortcomings in the past. Can he do it again?

Adam Cianciarulo will make his long-awaited debut in the 450 class with his new Monster Energy Kawasaki contract. AC’s Supercross prep started shortly after he wrapped up the 250 MX championship and by all accounts, he could be one of the podium finishers at the end of the night. Yeah, Kawasaki has to be at this race for their title sponsor, but this is a great chance for Cianciaurlo to get accustomed to the pace of the premier class before next season.

Dean Wilson is the only rider from Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing on the line this weekend in the Cup Class, as teammates Jason Anderson and Zach Osborne opted out after the Motocross of Nations. This is slated to be a busy offseason for Wilson with a slew of races on his schedule and he’s stayed sharp with practically endless laps on the practice tracks. Don’t count Dean out for a top qualifying time or moto win.

Malcolm Stewart hasn’t raced his SmarTop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcepts/Honda much due to the broken femur he suffered in early January, but he’s viewed the Monster Energy Cup as his chance to show the field his true speed. This won’t be Stewart’s first race since the injury, he did the small Montreal Supercross back in September, so he won’t have the first-race jitters to worry about. #mookiefever

Tim Gajser is back for a second shot at the Monster Energy Cup and the newly crowned MXGP world champion is eager to make up for his previous attempt (a mistimed rhythm section caused a hard crash while soft suspension kept his Team HRC bike from handling properly). The Slovenian has spent the last few weeks in California testing with the team at Supercross tracks and should be much more prepared this time around. Can he be a spoiler? Honestly, who knows. He’s made his love of Supercross obvious over the years, but it’s a completely different thing to ride it.

The Monster Energy Cup has been an important event for Justin Barcia. He’s won it as a factory-backed rider, lined up on a privateer entry, and kept things interesting each time. Armed with the latest generation of the Yamaha YZ450F, it’ll be interesting to see if Barcia and the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing team have made the new blue bike better than the previous model.

Aaron Plessinger is another person that looks to benefit from the new YZ450F. The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider’s rookie year was marred by a shattered heel, the first serious injury of his pro career, but he’s used the time since the summer to dial in his program and prepare for next year. A good result here could bring the confidence he needs ahead of the offseason.

This is a very, very important weekend for Benny Bloss. It was recently announced that Bloss will part ways with Rocky Mountain ATV-MC/WPS/KTM but since the team is without either of their 2020 riders (Blake Baggett and Justin Bogle), they’ve kept Bloss on for one last hurrah. This is a good deal for all parties: the team gets a bike on the track and Bloss gets a chance to score a result that could keep him on the radar of the industry.

Chad Reed originally planned to race cars in Las Vegas this weekend, but when things got shaky at JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing recently and left the two-time champion without confirmed support for 2020, the schedule changed. Aboard an independent, albeit well-supported Honda CRF450R, Reed should be a top-five to top-10 threat in all three races. Could this be one of the last Supercross races of the ageless veteran’s career? It’s possible.

When an eager engine builder offered a hefty payday for any rider that takes his bog-bore two-stroke to the Main Events, Mike Alessi willingly jumped at the chance. Aboard a Yamaha YZ250 that has been punched up to 325cc, it’ll be very interesting to see how the bike is off the start and on the dry, slick desert hardpack. All Alessi has to do is qualify for the night show and the money is his.

Jeremy Martin is a late addition to the race. It’s been almost a year and a half since the GEICO Honda rider suffered a serious back injury, but now fully healed and back on the bike, the two-time 250 MX champion has spent the last few weeks riding with Tomac in Colorado. Any sort of finish will be progress for Martin, yet you know he’ll have expectations of a top-10 or better result.

Jordi Tixier is the other MXGP rider on the entry list and although he doesn’t have the same career accomplishments as Gajser he is arguably just as capable on a Supercross, if not more so. The Frenchman has put in time at the usual California practice tracks, knows the rhythm and flow necessary of SX, and has zero pressure to deal with. Don’t be surprised to see him mix it up with the established American riders.

CUP CLASS

1. Eli Tomac
2. Cooper Webb
7. Aaron Plessinger
9. Adam Cianciarulo
15. Dean Wilson
27. Malcolm Stewart
34. Tyler Bowers
43. John Short
50. Benny Bloss
51. Justin Barcia
55. Martin Castelo
56. Justin Starling
61. Alex Ray
64. Vince Friese
65. James Weeks
67. Jerry Robin
69. Carlen Gardner
71. Ryan Breece
72. Robbie Wageman
82. Cade Autenrieth
92. Austin Politelli
97. Chris Howell
114. Nick Schmidt
118. Cheyenne Harmon
120. Todd Bannister
133. Brett Hottel
184. Scott Champion
211. Tevin Tapia
216. Devin Harriman
227. Derek Kelly
240. Bryce Stewart
243. Tim Gajser
259. Corbin Hayes
277. Kordel Caro
447. Deven Raper
509. Alex Nagy
526. Colton Aeck
608. David Pulley
647. Matthew Hubert
722. Adam Enticknap
800. Mike Alessi
911. Jordi Tixier
976. Josh Greco

250 FUTURES CLASS

13. Tyson Johnson
44. Richard Taylor
49. Jett Lawrence
51. Ezra Hastings
63. Pierce Brown
85. Wyatt Lyonsmith
99. Kayden Palmer
111. Grant Harlan
122. Carson Mumford | Although on the list, the AMSOIL Honda rider recently suffered a lacerated spleen in a practice crash. He will not race the Monster Energy Cup.
127. Braden O’Neal
162. Maxwell Sanford
223. Jamison DuClos
247. Brock Papi
296. Ryder Floyd
310. Kai Aiello
311. Mitchell Gifford
312. Hunter Schlosser
378. Samuel Wise
510. Seth Hammaker
529. Kobe Heffner
538. Addison Emory
628. Parker Mashburn
815. Colton Eigenmann
910. Camron Mitchell

SUPERMINI CLASS

7. Tytian Barnes
15. Gavin Towers
16. Myles Gilmore
21. Logan Lessar
22. Trey Valley
28. Preston Boespflug
33. Maddox Jarvis
43. Noah Viney
44. Marcello Leodorico
45. Slade Varola
71. Talon Hawkins
75. Evan Ferry
97. Noah Stevens
98. Thomas Welch
101. Gage Wilcox
111. Coen Eiklenborg
117. Tyler Mashbir
186. Grayson Fair
199. Ryder DiFrancesco
222. Kayden Smith
226. Nicholas Laurie
316. Evan Stice
764. Jordan Miller
828. Talan Zollers
832. Chance Hymas