2019 Monster Energy Cup | Race Report
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Cup Class Race One
The sprint to the first turn was between Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo and Tim Gajser, however, Adam edged him out and took the early lead. Vince Friese moved into the second place position, followed by Jeremy Martin and Malcolm Stewart. Malcolm Stewart and Eli Tomac made quick work of Martin, just before Adam Cianciarulo tipped over and let the lead go. Vince Friese was handed the lead, but Eli Tomac and Malcolm Stewart followed closely behind. Tomac advanced into the second place position and began working on Vince Friese. The raining MEC champion moved alongside Friese, but just as their battle for the lead began, Malcolm Stewart and Adam Cianciarulo closed up to make it a four-rider battle. After a few attempts, Tomac was finally able to make the pass and secure the lead. Malcolm began to work on his teammate for second, but Cianciarulo found an opening on the inside to get ahead of Stewart. And just a few corners later, Adam made the move on Friese and snagged the second place position. The top-four waited for the last lap to hit the joker lane and would remain in their order to the finish. At the end of race one, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac seemed to be on his way to another dominating performance.
Cup Class Race Two
GEICO Honda’s Jeremy Martin took the holeshot but Vince Friese quickly got to the lead again. Tim Gajser followed in third, but Eli Tomac immediately began applying the pressure. After just one lap, Tomac went from fourth to second and began ticking away at the lead. Just as he closed in, Tomac threw it away all by himself and fell outside of the top-five. And just like that, it was a sea of red up-front with Friese in first, Stewart in second, and Martin in third. However, Cianciarulo pulled the trigger on a quad and got around Martin for third. Just as Adam made the pass, Malcolm got around his teammate for the lead. One lap later, Cianciarulo used the same quad to get around Friese for second-place and set his sights at Malcolm Stewart and the lead. The top-3 took the joker on the last lap, and after taking it earlier in the race, Eli Tomac was able to just squeeze by Tim Gajser for third. MCR Honda’s Malcolm Stewart was able to hold a gap on the rest of the field and take the second main event win!
Cup Class Race Three
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo took the final start of the day, followed by Tim Gajser and Eli Tomac. Though, Tomac made quick work of Gajser and moved into the second place position. The Monster Energy Kawasaki teammates were at it up front, as they battled for the race win and the overall 2019 MEC championship. Meanwhile, Malcolm Stewart began his advance to the front as he moved into the fourth-place position. Eli Tomac tripled by AC and held the lead momentarily, but Cianciarulo got the power to the ground and held off his teammate. In the same section a lap later, Tomac goes to the inside but Adam squares him up and counters yet again. With two laps to go, Tomac opts to take the Joker Lane. On the final lap, Adam Cianciarulo charged through the Joker Lane and held off Eli Tomac to take home the 2019 Monster Energy Cup!
