Source: Supplied.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac has edged out Ryan Dungey (Red Bull KTM) to claim victory at the 2016 Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas, the United States of America.

Dungey finished a point shy of the win, while teammate Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM) concluded the podium in third with a 4-3-2 scorecard.

Race one saw Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM) secure the holeshot aboard his new KTM SX-F 450, however it was Ken Roczen (Honda HRC) who stole the early lead, going onto take a convincing race win. Tomac, unable to match the pace of Roczen, settled in second while Dungey, Musquin and Baggett rounded out the top five.

Roczen continued to be dominant early on in race two, working his way through the opening turn in first position to set himself up for another race win. While out front and controlling the race, the Honda-mounted rider made an unlikely error, forcing him to eject from the bike mid-air. The German was lucky to walk away from the crash unscathed, however he was unable to complete the race.

Tomac took advantage of the situation to record his first race win of the night, with Dungey and Musquin finishing second and third respectively. Australia’s Chad Reed (Monster Energy Chaparral Yamaha) crossed the line in fourth, while Honda HRC’s Cole Seely finishing in a distant fifth.

Reed captured the final holeshot of the night, although a crash in the first rhythm section denied him any chance of finishing on the podium and allowed Mike Alessi (Smartop Motoconcepts Racing) to take the lead. Roczen overcame Alessi within a number of laps, returning to his race-winning form by claiming his second victory of the night.

Musquin held second for a large portion of the race, while Dunegy and Tomac battle for position. In the closing laps, Dungey was able reel in teammate Musquin to claim second, while Tomac settled for fourth, enough to award him the overall victory.

Alessi maintained his position in fifth, while Reed only managed to work his way through to 12th, crediting him eighth overall.