2014 Monster Energy Cup Preview
With $1 million on the line, the Monster Energy Cup is expected to host fierce competition.
One look at the winners and this is easy to see. Since the Monster Energy Cups inception in 2011, a different rider won every year.
Three-time Supercross Champion Ryan Villopoto won the inaugural event in 2011, Justin Barcia in 2012, and James “Bubba” Stewart in 2013.
Will the fourth-annual Monster Energy Cup be taken by yet another rider? The answer will arrive this Saturday night as the world’s fastest supercross/motocross pilots compete for a possible $1 million prize at Sam Boyd Stadium in las Vegas.
To win the $1 million, a rider must win all three main events. The only rider to walk away with the entire $1 million was Villopoto in 2011. This year’s Monster Energy Cup also will be supported by the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge, Super-Mini and Amateur All-Star Classes.
“This year’s track design is unlike anything I have ever seen in my career,” says track-designer Ricky Carmichael. “It’s definitely going to be exciting and challenging for everyone. We started with a great foundation and have an epic final product.”
Besides the defending champion James Stewart, many eyes will be on Barcia, the two-time 250SX Champion who recently signed with the JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha team.
“This is my first-ever race for the JGRMX team, and I am stoked,” said Barcia. “Not only can I become the first-ever two-time winner of the Monster Energy Cup, I can give the team its first-ever title at this race.”
Two-time SX Champ Chad Reed will search for his first Monster Energy Cup win this weekend. His best finish was fourth overall in 2012.
“The Monster Energy Cup comes during the off-season, so everybody is well rested and had some time off, so everybody is excited to get back to racing,” said Reed. “The format is a little different with three 10-lap Main Events. The focus is to win or go home.”
Dungey will be looking to break his streak of three-straight second-place finishes in the Monster Energy Cup.
“I always look forward to going back to the Monster Energy Cup,” said Dungey. “There is always a lot going on at this race; it’s exciting for the fans and the riders. This race is going to be closer and tighter than ever.”
Many other riders will be making their debut on new machinery during the Monster Energy Cup, including Dean Wilson (Red Bull KTM); Justin Brayton (BTOsports.com KTM); Blake Baggett (Yoshimura Suzuki); Davi Millsaps (Monster Energy Kawasaki); Cole Seely (Honda); Jason Anderson (Husqvarna); Martin Davalos (Husqvarna).
Feld Motor Sports, the series promoter, says the pre-race press conference will stream live at www.SupercrossOnline.com on Friday, October 17 at Noon PT, featuring Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey, Davi Millsaps, Eli Tomac, Justin Barcia, Trey Canard, Blake Baggett, Zac Commons and Chase Sexton.
The 2014 Monster Energy Cup features an all-new track design inspired by 5-time Monster Energy Supercross Champion Ricky Carmichael. The Carmichael-inspired track design will consist of supercross and motocross obstacles unlike any other racetrack design in the world. The Monster Energy Cup track will include a unique split start where 11 riders from each side will blitz down a long straightway to huge 180 degree bowl turns, then converge into one lane. The Monster Energy Cup posts a $250,000 purse with the winner walking away with a $100,000 check, and any rider that wins all three Main Events will take home $1 million, Feld Motor Sports says.
For more information on the Monster Energy Cup, visit www.MonsterEnergyCup.com.
2014 Monster Energy Cup on Television
- LIVE on FOX Sports 2 on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 9 p.m. ET. / 6 p.m. PT,
- FOX Sports 1, will re-air the entire race at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.
- FOX broadcast network offers a 90-minute Monster Energy Cup encore special on Sunday, October 26 following NFL football in most markets, while preceding football in others (check local listings).
