Monster Mash
By TMX Archives on 25th Oct 13
In front of nearly 34,000 fans, the seasons Monster Energy AMA off-road action came to a close inside Las Vegas Sam Boyd Stadium where Yoshimura Suzukis James Stewart managed to grab two of the three race wins to claim the overall and a $100,000 purse for his efforts.
As the gate dropped on the opening race, it was Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto who raced into the lead to grab the holeshot award, just edging out KTM's Ryan Rungey.
Jake Weimer were Dean Wilson just behind in third and fourth respectively. It wasn't long though before Marvin Musquin found his rhythm and moved into third, passing Weimer and Wilson.
On Each of the Main races, every rider must pass through the ‘Joker Lane'. This is a rugged sand section on the Ricky Carmichael designed course, and as Villopoto hit this early on, Dungey was able to move into the lead.
As the 10-lap race headed to a close, it was Dungey who took the checkered flag, however in doing so he failed to take on the Joker Lane, and so was given a five position penalty, leaving him in sixth.
Villopoto was awarded the win with Musquin second and Weimer third
Following the race Villopoto, who took the top million dollar prize back in 2011, said "It is definitely a chance to win the $1 million.''
‘‘I still need to get two more good starts and it's not going to be easy. On the last lap, I thought Dungey had already rode through the Joke Lane, but, apparently, he did not.”
In the second of the Main races, it was James Stewart who managed to pip Villopoto to the holeshot, with Dungey taking up third before being passed by defending Cup Champion, Justin Barcia. Ken Roczen was next to pass Dungey.
Up front, Stewart and Villopoto went head-to-head with the pair trading places on laps five and eight.
Then, on the last lap, Villopoto made a mistake and hit a jump wrong. Both rider and machine were catapulted off the track and hit the hard, flat ground. Villopoto was unable to finish the race, leaving Stewart to take the flag ahead of Dungey and Eili Tomac.
Villopoto was missing as the gate dropped for the third and final race where Roczen powered to the holeshot ahead of Dungey. Stewart was also quick off the mark and made light work of Dungey, before making his way up to sit on Roczen's back wheel.
On lap four Stewart was able to make a move to pass Roczen and lead the way to the flag.
Behind, Dungey moved up to take second as Tomac took third.
"You don't understand how special this is for me,” said Stewart. "I am speechless right now. This is a huge win for me and I am pretty dam happy. I know we are making the right steps to get our program to where it needs to be.”
