by Aaron Hansel
Practice Report: Monster Energy Cup
Saturday, October 15, 2011 | 8:00 PM
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Both Monster Energy Cup qualifying sessions are in the books here in Las Vegas, and if the lap times are any indication of how tonight’s racing will go, we could see a repeat of some of the great battles we’ve been seeing all year between Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey.
The first timed session started with Villopoto posting a fast time of 1:28.626, with Broc Tickle right on his heals with a 1:29.832. Several laps later, Dungey took the top spot away with a 1:28.317, only too see RV dip below the 1:28.000 mark a few moments later. When it was over, RV was fastest with a 1:27.761, followed by Dungey (1:28.317), Mike Alessi (1:28.817), Kevin Windham (1:29.010), Broc Tickle (1:29.330), Jake Weimer (1:29.567), Marvin Musquin (1:29.774), Brett Metcalfe (1:30.094), Cole Seely (1:30.259) and Kyle Cunningam (1:30.280).
In the final session, both of the Ryan’s were fast yet again, but it was Dungey who was fastest this time with a 1:28.593. Villopoto actually spent most of the session several places behind Dungey, but snuck in a fast lap at the very end for second fastest with a 1:28.909. Windham was third fastest in this session with a 1:29.180, followed by Metcalfe (1:29.426), Marvin Musquin (1:29.645), Broc Tickle (1:29.995) and Eli Tomac (1:30.219).
Alessi looked good and was logging some seriously fast times before going down hard coming out of some high-speed rollers. Alessi was able to remount and ride back to the pits under his own power, but was only able to muster a 1:32.629, twenty-first fastest, in the final session.
Josh Hansen only logged four laps in the first session before pulling off with a 1:32.264 as his fastest time. Hanny went down hard in the final session before logging a fast lap, and left the track on the Asterisk Medical Mule with a twisted knee. No word yet on whether or not he’ll be on the line when the gate drops tonight.
There is a high-speed, sandy roller section that ends in a sharp lefthander that’s been claiming riders right and left. Josh Hansen, Mike Alessi and Kyle Cunningham have all crashed very hard in this corner. Cunningham’s crash was spectacular, with the bike launching off the berm and flipping through the air for a good 35 to 40 feet. Cunningham took several minutes to get up, and left the stadium on the Asterisk Medical Mule. We’ll tweet an update as soon as we find out more on the condition of both Cunningham and Hansen.
Adam Cianciarulo was the fastest super-mini rider in both sessions with 1:39.995 and 1:37.733 times. Jessy Nelson’s 1:34.881 was the fastest time in the Amateur All-Stars, but was only able to post the sixth fastest time in the last session. Geico Powersports Amateur took top honors in the final qualifier with a 1:33.138.
Make sure to stay tuned to www.racerxonline.com and follow us on twitter, @racerxonline, for updates from tonight’s race.
SESSION TWO
Hansen just crashed in practice, Lots of dudes going down out of the rollers. Dungey is fastest right now, a 1:29.135. , Musquin second fastest 1:29.646, Tickle third fastest at the moment with a 1:29.646 Musquin just threw a massive whip looking back at Brayton over a double. RV has snuck into third with a 1:29.772. Dungey just improves his time to a 1:28.593. Kyle Cunningham down extremely hard in the section coming out of the rollers, that spot has claimed TONS of people. Dungey fastest with a 1:28.593, RV snuck in a fast lap at the very end for second with a 1:28.909. Windham 1:29.181, Metcalfe 1:29.426, Musquin 1:29.646, Tickle 1:29.995.
Cooper Webb is riding a KTM, and his bike stopped running in the first few laps and he had to go back to the pits. Adam Cianciarulo is fast, running a 1:39.995, but B. Green is close running a 1:40.175. Cianciarulo fastest lap by almost two seconds, 1:38.338, B Green with a 1:40.175.
Amateur All-Stars
Made up of the top guys from the A and B classes from Loretta Lynn’s. First fast lap comes from Geico Powersports rider Zach Bell with a 1:35.892. Lots of riders, in all classes, getting squirrelly coming out of the high-speed rollers and into a sharp left hander and hitting the Tuff Blocks. Jessy Nelso Takes over the top spot with a 1:34.881. Halfway through the practice session, Blake Savage started jumping the huge double in the outside section of the track, and the rest of the fast dudes in the class started hitting it too. Jessy Nelson 1:34.881, Zach Bell 1:34.670, C Alldredge 1:35.688
Both Monster Energy Cup qualifying sessions are in the books here in Las Vegas, and if the lap times are any indication of how tonight’s racing will go, we could see a repeat of some of the great battles we’ve been seeing all year between Ryan Villopoto and Ryan Dungey.
The first timed session started with Villopoto posting a fast time of 1:28.626, with Broc Tickle right on his heals with a 1:29.832. Several laps later, Dungey took the top spot away with a 1:28.317, only to see RV dip below the 1:28.000 mark a few moments later. When it was over, RV was fastest with a 1:27.761, followed by Dungey (1:28.317), Mike Alessi (1:28.817), Kevin Windham (1:29.010), Broc Tickle (1:29.330), Jake Weimer (1:29.567), Marvin Musquin (1:29.774), Brett Metcalfe (1:30.094), Cole Seely (1:30.259) and Kyle Cunningam (1:30.280).
In the final session, both of the Ryan’s were fast yet again, but it was Dungey who was fastest with a 1:28.593. Villopoto actually spent most of the session several places behind Dungey, but snuck in a fast lap at the very end for second fastest with a 1:28.909. Windham was third fastest in this session with a 1:29.180, followed by Metcalfe (1:29.426), Marvin Musquin (1:29.645), Broc Tickle (1:29.995) and Eli Tomac (1:30.219).
Alessi looked good and was logging some seriously fast times before going down hard coming out of some high-speed rollers. Alessi was able to remount and ride back to the pits under his own power, but was only able to muster a 1:32.629, twenty-first fastest, in the final session.
Josh Hansen only logged four laps in the first session before pulling off with a 1:32.264 as his fastest time. Hanny went down hard in the final session before logging a fast lap, and left the track on the Asterisk Medical Mule with a twisted knee. No word yet on whether or not he’ll be on the line when the gate drops tonight.
There is a sandy, high-speed section that ends in a sharp lefthander that’s been claiming riders right and left. Josh Hansen, Mike Alessi and Kyle Cunningham have all crashed very hard in this corner. Cunningham’s crash was spectacular, with the bike launching off the berm and flipping through the air for a good 35 to 40 feet. Cunningham took several minutes to get up, and left the stadium on the Asterisk Medical Mule. We’ll tweet an update as soon as we find out more on the condition of both Cunningham and Hansen.
Adam Cianciarulo was the fastest super-mini rider in both sessions with 1:39.995 and 1:37.733 times. Jessy Nelson was fastest in the first timed Amateur All-Stars qualifier with a 1:34.881, but was only able to post the sixth fastest time in the last session. Geico Powersports Amateur Zach Bell took top honors in the final qualifier with a 1:33.138.
Make sure to stay tuned to www.racerxonline.com and follow us on twitter, @racerxonline, for updates from tonight’s race.
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My beer's cold, and time to order the pizza...bring it on!
Indeed Endo!!...already had a few frosty glasses....watchin' some hockey then flippin over to SPEED to watch the SX highlight show....MOTO!!
So, no stories other than a twisted knee for Hanny and RD and RV up front like always....should be good racing... GO RV!
Hell ya! It's cool the superminis are live too
I prefer Crowns and Cokes to beers, but pizza's on the way. Should be AWESOME racing! A clean sweep for Poto would be an amzing end to "Redemption Season", but it's tough not to like Dungey and Windham. Just hope for some great races!!! Rock on, RV!
Oh man Didnt think Dungey would be good this early. That Katoom must have the right cylinders firing. He is indeed on a 2013 KTM
Hansen walking with a limp in the pits, but his team says he will be racing. Kyle Cunningham out with a concussion. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, @racerxonline, as Steve Matthes will be tweeting the action from tonight's race.
I agree would be awesome to see RV2 continue his domination and all take tri tip over pizza!
Lap times are wicked close. Wonder how much they'll change when the $'s on the line....?
I'm hoping RD5 ruins this Monster Energy Kawasaki commercial. It would be nice
to see one more competitor in SX (bikewise). However it ends it's gonna be some great racing, on an awesome track. Oh Yeah.
Being that Dungey is on a new bike, I hope he does well. KTM has a lot a stake here, but it would be cool to see another player out there. 2013 KTM, huh? I will say that I am getting tired of the Kaw commercials and Jeff Ego, $hit is just over played.
I think what got me hooked on the sport, is the fact that most of the time we get to see close races, and multiple winners. When everyone is healthy and riding well, you just never know what can happen. RV is my favorite, but it will be awesome as a fan to see everyone healthy and firing on all cylinders. Not just tonight, but looking forward to next year we can expect a greater season than this one. (Poto, Reed, Dungey, Canard, Windham.....)
At home Redbull Vodkas Double Tall!! Pretzels, no wife and kid!! Better then a Gentleman's Club.
Don't like hearing about the Asterisk Medical Mule that many times in practice. Hopefully, that's just a little rust or nerves.
Let the games begin : )
I just wanted to say-I can't thank speed for showing us that great event for free! and I can't thank Feld or Monster for putting it on.
Oh golly jairtime that is neato dont ya know??!! He sure was keen!!
Love you to death Ryan...but that Katoom ain't gonna do you no good in 2012 big guy. Can't imagine what you where thinking...unless it's one helluva pay check drawn from an Austrian Bank. It's a pity that championship seasons take take 2nd fiddle to cash-in-pocket manufacturer contracts. And ESPECIALLY to pros that so many fans have looked up to. Take me word for it folks AND let me be THE FIRST to congratulate Ryan Villopoto for winning both the 2012 AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships...cuz there ain't gonna' be any Euro-bikes running you down this year.