Image: Simon Cudby.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Davi Millsaps won the Monster Energy Cup and $100,000 tonight, on debut with the team as replacement to MXGP-bound Ryan Villopoto.

In the opening lap of the first Cup Class main event, Team Honda’s Trey Canard won the Toyota Holeshot Award with JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha’s Justin Barcia and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson in tow.

Red Bull KTM’s Justin Hill quickly moved into second place and set chase to Canard. On the first lap, Anderson, who set the fastest lap time in practice, crashed.

Canard held off the hard charge from Hill and won the race. Hill finished second and Millsaps finished third.

“I feel pretty good, the key tonight were the starts,” said Canard. “We got a good run off the gate and I was pumped on that finish, it was fun out of there. I almost lost it the first lap on the AMSOIL Arch, there’s a lot of technical elements out there.”

“It would be great to take the $1million home and to make a difference to the less fortunate,” added Canard after the race.

Once again, Canard earned the Toyota Holeshot Award in the Cup Class’ second main event. Hill and Millsaps followed in second and third respectively. On lap eight, Millsaps moved into the lead while Canard opted to run the Joker Lane, a slower section of the track that every rider must take at least once after the first lap.

Millsaps entered the Joker Lane on the last lap of the race as Canard regained the lead. As Millsaps was exiting the Joker Lane he slid out and dropped back to fourth place. Hill finished second and GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac finished third.

“We’ll see how the next main event goes and go from there,” said Canard. “I need to keep charging hard and continue getting good starts. I’m excited; I need to put it in the back of my mind and not let it get to me and definitely not forget the Joker Lane.”

After winning the first two finals, Canard put himself in position to win $1-million. All he needed to do was win the third and final main event.

Anderson captured the Toyota Holeshot Award in the third and final Cup Class main with Millsaps on his rear wheel. Millsaps moved around Anderson on the opening lap to take over the lead. Canard took over second place on the opening lap and set chase on Millsaps.

While setting up a pass for the lead, Canard crashed on lap four and on lap seven he crashed again. Tomac finished second and Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey finished third. Millsaps’ win came on his debut ride for his new team. Tomac finished second overall and Canard finished third overall.

“This feels amazing, I didn’t even realise I won overall following the last race,” said Millsaps. “It’s great to be back on a new bike with a new team and to get here and get the overall win, it’s so worth it.

“The bike is awesome and I haven’t been on it that long, but so far so good and no complaints. I thought it was going to be a long day, but it turned around really quickly. I’m excited to build my garage with this money.”

Canard reflected: “It was in the back of the mind, but I wanted to go in there like any other race. It’s so good to see Davi back and race against him. I’m just thankful to be healthy and this gets me excited for Anaheim.”

Of the Aussies, South Australian Brett Metcalfe was 17th on his privateer Kawasaki, logging an 18-18-9 tally of results.

Chad Reed (TwoTwo Motorsports Kawasaki) qualified eighth despite little seat time recently, eventually credited 19th overall. He was 11th in the first main, but opted out of the second final midway and didn’t return for the third.

Jarryd McNeil captured the Dirt Shark Biggest Whip Contest with a 91.7. Beau Bamberg turned in a 89.3 for second place and Edgar Torronteras finished third with a 84.7.

“After doing this event for the last three years, I finally won,” said McNeil. “It takes a lot of practice to nail down the biggest whip, and I was glad that I was able to do it in front of all of these loyal fans tonight.”

KTM’s Mitchell Falk swept both main events in the Super-Mini class to win the championship, as Australian Caleb Grothues crashed out of race one and finished eighth in the second. With a pair of wins in the Amateur All-Star Class, Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger captured the title.

2014 Monster Energy Cup overall results:
1. Davi Millsaps (3,4,1)
2. Eli Tomac (4,3,2)
3. Trey Canard (1,1,8)
4. Ryan Dungey (8,5,3)
5. Malcolm Stewart (7,7,5)
6. Justin Hill (2,2,18)
7. Jason Anderson (15,7,4)
8. Jake Weimer (10,10,6)
9. Justin Barcia (6,6,16)
10. Blake Baggett (5,8,21)
17. Brett Metcalfe (18, 18, 9)
18. Chad Reed (11, 20, 20)

Click here for detailed results