Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/401212
SUPERCROSS MONSTER ENERGY CUP OCTOBER 18, 2014 SAM BOYD STADIUM/LAS VEGAS, NEVADA P52 out GEICO Honda's Eli Tomac by one point and Honda's Trey Canard by two points for the overall victory. Millsaps wasn't the only big winner on the night. The Mon- ster Energy Cup also hosts the Amateur All-Star race, that fea- tures some of the country's top amateur riders, and the Super Mini race, that highlights some of the best minicycle racers in the country. In the two-moto format, Ohio's Aaron Plessinger said good-bye to his amateur days by sweeping the All-Star class, as did California's Mitchell Falk in the Super Mini class. >>PLESSINGER TOPS AMATEUR ALL-STARS Coming into this weekend, there was plenty of bench-racing specula- tion as to what might unfold in the Amateur All-Stars class. Was Jordan Smith going to walk away with it? Would we see an epic battle among Zach Commans, Aaron Plessinger, Daniel Sanayei, and Smith? In prac- tice these riders were up against a track that only had one separating lane—a nine-pack of rhythm jumps that could be triple-triple-tripled for the ob- vious fastest way through. In practice, the top pros led the way and showed that it was possible, and a few select amateur riders made the leap through cleanly but later admitted how hard it really was, leaving the question: Was gaining a half second worth potentially throwing the race away or crashing? We would find out, but even in prac- tice, the rhythm lane took out Amsoil Honda's Tristan Charbeneu and even Darian Sanayei took a nasty header (it even took out his front tooth, literally!) Sanayei would line up later, Charben- neu would sit out with a sore wrist. Topping practice times midday was Smith who looked to be a definite favorite come the night show. When the gate dropped in race one, it was the number-457 Kawasaki of Sanayei's rocketing down the left start lane at 60-plus mph. Plessinger slipped into second, while Smith was picking his bike up after a first-lap get off. Smith had his work cut out if he wanted to make something happen, but he could only muster a 10th place finish in this short six-lap race. Sanayei laid it down for four laps until Plessinger took the lead and the race-one win, setting the stage for a second-race showdown for the over- all. Rounding out the top three was Benny Bloss who was coming back from injury. Race two would be a much similar start with Sanayei grabbing yet an- other holeshot with Plessinger in tow. Eli Tomac (3) battles Justin Barcia (51) en route to second overall.