Marvin displays his million dollar payday. Photos by: Hoppenworld

The 2017 Monster Energy Cup is in the record books, and for the seventh-straight year we were given a first time winner. And for just the second time in the events history, the winner took home a million dollar bonus for sweeping all three main events. Red Bull / KTM’s Marvin Musquin got a battle early on in the first main event from Monster Energy / Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac, but Eli went out with a big crash and Marvin rode away with three-straight main event wins and million dollars in his bank account.

In the amateur races, Monster Energy / Kawasaki dominated the top of the podiums with Jett Reynolds taking home the Supermini class with a 1-2 performance and Seth Hammaker walked away with the Amateur All-Star class win with a 1-1 showing.

After the racing was over, we gathered some quotes from some of the top finishing riders in all the nights classes.

Marvin Musquin: (1st – Cup Class) I wasn’t even thinking about winning all three motos. It’s unreal to go out and win all three. We had such a long break between the second and third moto – which made it more stressful. The key was to get a good holeshot and try to go fast. To be honest, in my head I was thinking I would get a start around the top-three and then wasn’t sure what I would do. I knew it was going to be so hard to pass, so getting the holeshot was the best way to go out for the third moto. I think this is great for the sport – a lot of people are watching on tv. To see that someone is winning one million dollars in one night at a motocross race is unique. I think we got a lot of views, and people will be talking about it, that’s for sure. We were all in disbelief when I crossed the finish line. It’s super cool- this doesn’t happen often. I had so much fun.

Seth Hammaker was untouchable in Las Vegas.

Jett Reynolds: (1st – Supermini) I was really pumped to get that first moto win. In that second moto, I didn’t get the start I wanted—I think I was 10th—and I came out swinging. In the first few laps I made some passes. I think I was in third and I had a little top over and fell back to fifth or sixth. Then, I worked my way up to second and on the last corner of the last lap on the last jump I almost had it. It came down to tenths [of a second]. It was crazy. Unfortunately I got second [in moto 2], but I got the overall. I was pumped.

 

Seth Hammaker: (1st in Amateur All-Stars) I just can’t believe it,” said Hammaker. “To be here on this stage in front of thousands of fans and sponsors feels amazing. I’m just so grateful to have this opportunity and I can’t thank my family and Kawasaki Team Green enough.

 

Christian Craig: (17th – Cup Class) I’m so bummed with how Vegas ended. The entire team worked their butts off testing with me the past couple weeks. We had a lot of fun and got the bike perfect. Practice went pretty good. The track was sketchy and guys were crashing everywhere in the mains. In the second main I got together with another rider and punched the ground as I fell. The fall wasn’t even that hard but I hit it just right I guess. I’ll be fine, just bummed I didn’t get to finish out the night for the team.

 

Jason Anderson: (2nd – Cup Class) Las Vegas was great. The track was awesome and I had good starts all night. Everything about this race is so much fun because it’s so different and unique. All-in-all it was a great weekend. For sure Marv [Marvin Musquin] was riding great. For me, honestly, to go that speed I was pushing myself so hard that I was making little mistakes. I feel like I would have it every once in a while, but then I would push a little bit too hard and make a mistake. All in all, it was a good night. I’m coming back from injury, and have had four or five weeks on the bike. The whole team did a good job today. I almost feel like I had the first race jitters, from taking off that last half of outdoors. Marv rode great, and I was the second best guy tonight.

With a 2-2-2 night, Jason was clearly the second best man on Saturday night.

Dean Wilson: (3rd – Cup Class) I’m always excited for this race. The track is just so different and it makes the race that much more enjoyable. I think I rode well all day and I’m happy with my results. It was good—I achieved my goal. I really wanted to be on the podium and I did it. I’m super happy, just the second race was a bit of a ball up. I got into it with [Vince] Friese and I lost a bunch of positions. Which was kind of frustrating. I’m really happy to be on the podium, though. It’s awesome.

 

Justin Barcia: (6th – Cup Class) Yeah, it got better the whole night. I wish it would have went better in the first race and the second race, but all and all it was good. We didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for this, but with the time we did have, I think we did pretty good. We had some great sponsors help us. I really honestly don’t think it’s lacking anything from a factory bike. The only thing it’s really only lacking is titanium bolts. Titanium bolts is just a little weight, and we’re alright with that. We changed things all day long, and each race it got better and better. I think if we had three more races it would have got even better.

 

Jordon Smith: (5th – Cup Class) After being away from the starting line for so long it was a great feeling to walk away not only safe but with a top five. This was where my big crash happened at the Las Vegas finals in May so I really didn’t want to ride over my head, but be smart and use this race to get some good laps in before the season starts in January. I’m thankful to the whole team for helping me get back to this point.

 

Tim Gasjer: (DNF [Crash]) I really like supercross but I just think I need more practice. It’s very different from what I’m used to. I was having fun all day and during the race before my crash. I’m very sore but thankfully nothing is broken, so I’m able to go home pretty healthy. I think this was a good start and positive learning opportunity, so hopefully I can come back and race again.

 

Justin Hoeft: (11th – Cup Class) Tonight was another step in the right direction,” Hoeft mentioned after the race. “I’ve never actually raced a 450 in Supercross, so to finish just outside a top 10 is really exciting for me. The whole 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha Team did an awesome job helping me with bike set up and really made me feel comfortable all day.

Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.