Eli Tomac, of Cortez, crashed Saturday night in the first of three races for the Monster Energy Cup title. He did not return to race the rest of the night.
Marvin Musquin, of Clermont, Florida, won all three races and became the second racer to win the $1 million prize. He joined Ryan Villopoto, who won the $1 million in 2011.
The first of the Las Vegas races began with a crash in the first lap, and ended with a bump in the 10th.
Justin Bogle crashed in the first, forcing a red-flag restart. Tomac led lap 2, followed by Jason Anderson, Tim Gajser, Dean Wilson, Benny Bloss and Musquin.
After taking the short-cut joker lane, which was running 5-6 seconds faster than the main lane, Musquin re-entered the pack in second place, behind Tomac. In the back-and-forth duel for the lead between Musquin and Tomac, Tomac went over his bike in a high-side crash in the fourth lap. He got to his feet, but was out for the night. On Monday, he tweeted, “Well, a massive high-side crash was not the plan for Saturday night. Thankful to walk away.”
Musquin widened his lead over the remaining front-runners and coasted to victory, leading the final 6½ laps. He was followed by Anderson, Wilson, Broc Tickle, Jordon Smith and Josh Grant.
The first race took a toll on the riders, who were competing for a possible $1 million prize on a 10-lap course. Bogle crashed in the first lap, and, like Tomac, was out for the night. Gajser crashed in lap 6, while in fifth place, and would not return. Christian Craig was forced off the track in the final lap, and finished 10th.
The crashes also eliminated three of the Top 7 racers in qualifying rounds. Tomac finished second-best in the combined qualifying rounds, behind Wilson but ahead of Musquin and Anderson. Gajser and Bogle placed sixth and seventh in the two combined qualifying rounds.
Musquin won the second race, moving into first place in the second lap, and leading the remaining nine laps. He was followed by Anderson, Tickle, Smith and Wilson.
He also won the third race, leading all 10 laps.
Again, he was followed by Anderson, and then Wilson, Tickle and Justin Barcia.
Monster Energy Cup Final Standings
1: Marvin Musquin of Clermont, Fla., for Red Bull KTM (3)
2: Jason Anderson of Rio Rancho, N.M., for Rockstar Husqvarna (6)
3: Dean Wilson of Clermont, Fla., for Rockstar Husqvarna (11)
4: Broc Tickle of Holly, Mich., for Red Bull KTM (11)
5: Jordan Smith of Belmont, N.C., for Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull KTM (15)
20: Eli Tomac of Cortez, Colo., Monster Energy Kawasaki (60)
