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2011 Monster Energy Cup
GEICO Honda rider Kevin Windham always receives the loudest ovation during rider introductions at any given Supercross race on the AMA tour, but at this Saturday’s $1 Million Monster Energy Cup at Sam Boyd Stadium, the 33-year-old veteran hopes he’s the one making the most noise at the end of the day.
Aboard the Honda CRF450R, Windham will have a chance to win the sport’s largest ever top prize should he sweep all three of the 10-lap main event races taking place on a specially-designed, hybrid Supercross and Motocross track carved into the arena, a section of its grandstands and a portion of the outlying area.
Kevin Windham (Honda CRF450R) says: "The excitement for this event is definitely there. Saying you can win $1 million dollars gets everyone’s attention. It’s never happened before; never even been offered before, so it’s a big deal. If I won a $1 million, I promise you they’d hear me back in Centerville (Miss.)
"The track will be pretty wild. They’re opening up the corners and building it where we’ll reach higher speeds like Motocross, but at the same time keeping the big jumps and tougher technical areas we have in Supercross so it will be very interesting to see how we run there."
This past season, despite being the oldest rider on tour, Windham competed in both Supercross and Motocross, giving him recent first-hand knowledge of both styles of riding. Although nagging injuries slowed him halfway through the outdoor season, Windham says he’s returned to 100-percent health and is ready for the challenge.
Kevin Windham says: "I’ve been riding every day for four weeks now at a high level of intensity. First I was riding at home and the last few days I’ve been in California at the Honda test track. I feel about as prepared as I can be.
"Realistically, it’s going to be really hard for anyone to win all three races. They’re short so it will be full-on war from the drop of the gate. I think they designed it well to keep everyone close and tight so they’ll be lots of banging and bumping. It’ll be crazy. Hopefully, we can have a career day on this GEICO Honda and win some money."
Speed will televise the action live beginning at 10 p.m. EDT Saturday.
