Ryan Dungey, Justin Barcia and Eli Tomac celebrate on the podium. Photography By: Kit Palmer
Justin Barcia made his 450 Supercross debut a memorable one after capturing the overall win at the second annual Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas.
Barcia, the 2012 East Lites Supercross Champion, was fast and consistent all night in what was his very first Supercross race on a 450cc machine. The newly signed Muscle Milk Honda rider went 2-1-2 in the three-race final to capture the $100,000 purse. He was unable, however, to win the one-million dollar bonus, which is set aside for anyone who wins all three motos. But Barcia was quite happy with the $100,000 that he says will be deposited into his savings account, as tempted as he is to spend it right away.
Barcia looked right at home one the factory-backed Honda. He got off to fast starts in all three motos and was in contention for the win each time out.
Last year’s million-dollar winner Ryan Villopoto won the first moto and did so after getting off to a third-place start, passing fast starter Josh Grant and Ryan Dungey along the way.
Barcia charged up to second, while Dunged ended up third.
Dungey was slowed early in the race when he clipped a Tuff Block, bending his shift lever, forcing him to change gears with his hand, which he somehow managed to do over some of the track’s big jumps and a few times on the ground.
Ryan Dungey shifts gears with his hand while dicing with Mike Alessi for the lead. Photography By: Kit Palmer
GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac finished fourth, followed by TwoTwo Motorsport Honda’s Chad Reed and Grant.
Villopoto blasted into the early lead in the second of three motos but later crashed while cruising out in front all alone. He got up and finished 13th. Villopoto, however, hit his head hard enough in the fall that he did not start the third and final moto.
Barcia went on to win the second moto, while Dungey took second despite suffering the same problem that he had in the first moto. While dicing with another rider, a Tuff Block rolled onto the track and he hit it with his shift lever, again bending it back to where he had to manipulate the lever with his hand.
Third went to Alessi, followed by Tomac, Grant and Reed.
Alessi led much of the race before falling.
The third and final moto went to Tomac who said everything came together for him after the first two motos. This was Tomac’s first race on a 450. Afterwards, he said he wished he was staying on the 450 for the 2013 season. But he’ll return to the Lites class to defend his West title.
Barcia clinched the Monster Cup title with a second place over Dungey, Reed and Grant.
Second overall for the second year in a row went to Dungey who persevered when many riders would have given up – twice.
Third overall went to Tomac with his 4-4-1.
Cooper Webb won the Amateur All-Star class. Photography By: Kit Palmer
In the two-moto Amateur All-Star class, Star Yamaha rider Cooper Webb scored the overall win after going 2-3.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Adam Cianciarulo was favored to win the class but a crash in the second moto pretty much ended that chance. He still finished second overall with a 5-1.
Third overall went to Great Britain’s Paul Coates on the Vance & Hines Yamaha, while first-moto winner Shane McErath (Honda) finished fourth overall.
Brady Kiesel (Honda) rounded out the top five overall.
In the Super-Mini class, Austin Forkner took the overall win with a 1-1 score. Chase Sexton finished second overall and Totaro Takahasa third overall.
Austin Forkner won both Super-Mini motos. Photography By: Kit Palmer
Monster Energy Cup Overall Results
1. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Honda
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
4. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
5. Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
6. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
7. Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Mike Alessi, Hillard, Fla., Suzuki
10. Ryan Villopoto, Seattle, Wa, Kawasaki
Monster Energy Cup Main Event 1 Results
1. Ryan Villopoto, Seattle, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
5. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda
6. Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
7. Mike Alessi, Hillard, Fla., Suzuki
8. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
9. Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
10. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
Monster Energy Cup Main Event 2 Results
1. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Honda
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
3. Mike Alessi, Hillard, Fla., Suzuki
4. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
5. Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
6. Chad Reed, Dade City, Calif., Honda
7. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
8. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
9. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
10. Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
Monster Energy Cup Main Event 3 Results
1. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
2. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., Honda
3. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
4. Chad Reed, Dade City, Calif., Honda
5. Josh Grant, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
6. Kyle Cunningham, Aledo, Texas, Yamaha
7. Jake Canada, Corona, Calif., Suzuki
8. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki
9. Vince Friese, Valrico, Fla., Suzuki
10. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
Amateur All-Star Overall results
1. Cooper Webb, Newport, NC., Yamaha
2. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki
3. Paul Coates, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Yamaha
4. Shane McElrath, Corona, Calif., Honda
5. Brady Kiesel, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda
6. Nick Gaines, Ringgold, Ga., Kawasaki
7. Anthony Rodriguez, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
8. Jordon Smith, Belmont, NC., Honda
9. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
10. Daniel Baker, Crittenden, Ken., Suzuki
Amateur All-Star Main Event 1 Results
1. Shane McElrath, Corona, Calif., Honda
2. Cooper Webb, Newport, NC., Yamaha
3. Jordon Smith, Belmont, NC., Honda
4. Brady Kiesel, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda
5. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki
6. Anthony Rodriguez, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
7. Paul Coates, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Yamaha
8. Nick Gaines, Ringgold, GA., Kawasaki
9. Cody Gragg, Lenoir, NC., Yamaha
10. Keith Tucker, Fuquay Varina, NC., Yamaha
Amateur All-Star Main Event 2 Results
1. Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla., Kawasaki
2. Paul Coates, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., Yamaha
3. Cooper Webb, Newport, NC, Yamaha
4. Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, Kawasaki
5. Daniel Baker, Crittenden, Ken., Suzuki
6. Nick Gaines, Ringgold, GA., Kawasaki
7. Kyle Swanson, San Clemente, Calif., Honda
8. Anthony Rodriguez, Cairo, Ga., Yamaha
9. Brady Kiesel, Fort Worth, Texas, Honda
10. Jayme Gardiner III, Las Vegas, Kawasaki
Super-Mini Overall Results
1. Austin Forkner, Richards, MO., Kawasaki
2. Chase Sexton, LaMoille, Ill., Yamaha
3. Kotaro Takahasi, Las Vegas, Kawasaki
4. Luke Purther, Oak Hills, Calif., KTM
5. Joey Crown, Metamora, Mich., Suzuki
6. Tommy Maxey, Bloomingdale, GA., Kawasaki
7. Challen Tennant, Willis, Texas, KTM
8. Mark Worth, Santan Valley, Ariz., Kawasaki
9. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha
10. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, NJ., Suzuki
Super-Mini Main Event 1 Results
1. Austin Forkner, Richards, MO., Kawasaki
2. Tristan Miller, Alpine, Calif., Suzuki
3. Chase Sexton, LaMoille, Ill., Yamaha
4. Mark Worth, Santan Valley, Ariz., Kawasaki
5. Challen Tennant, Willis, Texas, KTM
6. Tommy Maxey, Bloomingdale, Ga., Kawasaki
7. Kotaro Takahasi, Las Vegas, Kawasaki
8. Jeremy Byrne, Oak Hills, Calif., Yamaha
9. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha
10. Tanner Stack, Oak Grove, MO., Kawasaki
Super-Mini Main Event 2 Results
1. Austin Forkner, Richards, MO., Kawasaki
2. Joey Crown, Metamora, Mich., Suzuki
3. Kotaro Takahasi, Las Vegas, Kawasaki
4. Chase Sexton, LaMoille, Ill., Yamaha
5. Bret Welch, Oklahoma, City, Okla., Kawasaki
6. Brandon Hartranft, Brick, NJ., Suzuki
7. Sean Cantrell, Newbury Park, Calif., Kawasaki
8. Westen Wrozyna, Newtonville, Can., Honda
9. Robbie Wageman, Newhall, Calif., Yamaha
10. Tommy Maxey, Bloomingdale, Ga., Kawasaki
