3 things to look for at Monster Energy Cup supercross in Las Vegas

Monster Cup (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Supercross riders make a test run at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, ahead of the Monster Energy Cup All-Star race on Saturday. Riders will be competing for a $1 million prize, the largest purse in motorcycle racing. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Aerial view of Sam Boyd Stadium on Friday, October 18, 2019 where the Monster Energy Cup returns to Las Vegas for the Ninth Running of Supercross’ Annual All-Star Race event on Saturday. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Vegas88s

BMX riders take turns on practice runs of the track at Sam Boyd Stadium on Friday, October 18, 2019 where the Monster Energy Cup returns to Las Vegas for the Ninth Running of Supercross’ Annual All-Star Race event on Saturday. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Vegas88s

Supercross riders, including Eli Tomac (1) of Cortez, Colo., left, and Jeremy Martin (6) of Millville, Minn., make a test run at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, ahead of the Monster Energy Cup All-Star race on Saturday. Tomac was last year's $1 million winner, and hopes to be the first back-to-back winner this year (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Supercross riders, including Eli Tomac (1) of Cortez, Colo., center, wait to make a test run at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, ahead of the Monster Energy Cup All-Star race on Saturday. Tomac was last year's $1 million winner, and hopes to be the first back-to-back winner this year (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Supercross riders, including Vince Friese (64) of Cape Girardeau, Mo., make a test run at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, ahead of the Monster Energy Cup All-Star race on Saturday. Riders will be competing for a $1 million prize, the largest purse in motorcycle racing. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Supercross riders, including Adam Cianciarulo (9) of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., make a test run at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, ahead of the Monster Energy Cup All-Star race on Saturday. Riders will be competing for a $1 million prize, the largest purse in motorcycle racing. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Supercross riders, including Eli Tomac (1) of Cortez, Colo., left, and Vince Friese (64) of Cape Girardeau, Mo., make a test run at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, ahead of the Monster Energy Cup All-Star race on Saturday. Tomac was last year's $1 million winner, and hopes to be the first back-to-back winner this year (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Supercross riders, including, from left, Tyler Bowers (34) of Lake Elsinore, Calif., Adam Cianciarulo (9) of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Justin Barcia (51) of Greenville, Fla., Alex Ray (61) of Milan, Tenn., and Aaron Plessinger (7) of Hamilton, Ohio, make a test run at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, ahead of the Monster Energy Cup All-Star race on Saturday. Riders will be competing for a $1 million prize, the largest purse in motorcycle racing. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Supercross riders, including Jeremy Martin (6) of Tallahassee, Fla., make a test run at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, ahead of the Monster Energy Cup All-Star race on Saturday. Riders will be competing for a $1 million prize, the largest purse in motorcycle racing. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

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By Ron Kantowski / Las Vegas Review-Journal

October 18, 2019 - 11:57 am

Three things to watch for in Saturday night’s AMA Supercross Monster Energy Cup all-star race at Sam Boyd Stadium:

1. Who will take home the Monster Million?

Recent results notwithstanding, it’s not a foregone conclusion that a rider in the featured 450cc class will sweep the three main events and earn a $1 million jackpot. But it has happened in each of the past two MECs, with Marvin Musquin pulling it off in 2018 and Eli Tomac last year.

The only other competitor to pocket the big bonus was Ryan Villopoto in the first installment of the exhibition race in 2011. Justin Barcia (2012), James Stewart (2013), Davi Millsaps (2014), Ken Roczen (2015) and Tomac (2016) have won MEC titles in nonsweep fashion.

Several of the sport’s stars will be sitting this one out, including Musquin (recuperating from a crash) and 2018 supercross series champion Jason Anderson. That will leave Tomac as the heavy favorite. Another storyline will be the 450cc debut of his new Kawasaki teammate, Adam Cianciarulo.

2. Mistakes happen

With the largest payoff in motorcycle racing riding on the outcome and championship ramifications not a factor, the MEC has been known to produce as many spills as thrills and other crazy occurrences.

In 2014, Trey Canard won the first two mains and appeared headed to victory in the third when he crashed. A similar incident befell Roczen in the second main event in 2015, costing him a second consecutive MEC title.

Ryan Dungey, a four-time supercross champion, forgot to negotiate the mandatory “Joker Lane” detour while leading the first main event in 2013, docking him five positions. After informing his rival of his fate, Villopoto made the same mistake in the second race.

3. Track attack

Goodbye whoop-de-dos. Hello multiple starting gates.

The MEC riders will be competing on a hybrid track that combines elements of supercross and motocross but with shorter rhythm sections and longer lap times. The track design will offer two starting gates, three start variations and will be raced in two directions, adding additional variables to the equation.

This will be the final Monster Energy Cup at Sam Boyd, with organizers eyeing a move to Allegiant Stadium in 2020, or perhaps another venue outside of Las Vegas.

Contact Ron Kantowski at rkantowski@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski on Twitter.