News 21 Oct 2019

Cianciarulo wins Monster Energy Cup on debut

Australians Lawrence and Gilmore earn podiums in Futures classes.

Image: Supplied.

Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo has won the 2019 Monster Energy Cup on debut aboard a 450 in Las Vegas.

The triple crown format saw three different race winners across the night, with the $100,000 winning-prize coming down to the final moments of main event three.

Defending MEC champion Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Kawasaki) secured victory in the opening main of the night ahead of Cianciarulo and Malcolm Stewart (Bullfrog Spas Smartop MCR Honda).

Vince Friese (Bullfrog Spas Smartop MCR Honda) and Justin Barcia (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing) locked out the top five, while Australian Chad Reed (Honda) crossed the line in P8.

Main event two saw Stewart secure an incredible win in his first racing since breaking his femur earlier this year, he defeated Cianciarulo and Tomac, who recovered from an early fall.

Friese was fourth, followed by MXGP World Champion Tim Gajser (Honda HRC) in an impressive fourth. Reed was 12th in the encounter.

It was a winner takes all affair in the main event three, and the race ultimately came down to Cianciarulo and Tomac. The pair tussled for the entirety of the outing, with Tomac taking the joker lane on the penultimate lap, while Cianciarulo emerged with the lead after taking it on the final time around.

The rookie captured victory with Tomac a mere 0.867s behind, as Stewart crossed the line in third, followed by Gajser and Friese. Overall, it was Cianciarulo from Tomac and Stewart. 10th in the final main granted Reed ninth overall.

In the 250 Futures race, Australian Jett Lawrence (Amsoil Factory Connection Honda) was victorious after capturing wins in both outings, while fellow Australian Myles Gilmore (Husqvarna) was third in the Supermini Futures class.

Detailed results

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