Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing's Justin Barcia Battles To A Top-Five Finish At The 2018 Monster Energy Cup
The Monster Energy/Yamaha
Factory Racing Team switched gears to supercross racing on Saturday
as Justin Barcia took on the 2018 Monster Energy Cup (MEC) in Las
Vegas. In a unique format of three, 10-lap Main Events, Barcia
overcame rough starts and a crash in the final race to ultimately
battle his way to a top-five finish in the premier Cup
Class.
In Main Event 1, Barcia got off to a sixth-place start and
immediately went to work moving into fifth position. He battled
just outside podium contention for a majority of the race, making a
valiant last-lap pass to finish fourth. In Main 2, Barcia had a
great jump aboard his
YZ450F but he got pinched off before the first turn. Beginning
his charge from outside the top-five, Barcia fought his way through
the pack to finish second in race two. As the gate dropped for the
third and final Main Event, Barcia got pinched off once again and
went down in the first turn. Quickly remounting, he charged his way
from nearly last on the opening lap to ultimately climb his way up
to a seventh-place finish.
Barcia's combined finishes of (4-2-7) gave him a tying score for
third overall, but the tie-breaker awarded him with fourth, only
one-point shy of the runner-up spot.
One of the biggest storylines of the weekend was Yamaha bLU
cRU rider Ryan Villopoto making an appearance in the premier
Cup Class. Riding aboard the YZ450F, Villopoto put forth a
consistent performance throughout the evening's Main Events to
ultimately finish thirteenth overall.
Jim Perry - Monster Energy/Yamaha
Factory Racing Team Manager
"It was not a bad day for the Monster Energy/Yamaha Factory Racing
Team. Obviously, we came here to finish on the podium and contend
for a win but Justin rode solid all night, fought back from rough
starts, tied for third overall and ended up fourth. A little
disappointed with that, but we came a long way this season and
we've got some work cut out for us. We're looking forward to the
off-season."
Justin Barcia, #51 - Monster Energy/Yamaha
Factory Racing Team
"Coming into the weekend, I only had a couple days of riding
Supercross and getting back into it so I felt okay in practice, but
a little tight. In the Main Events, I never had great starts,
unfortunately. I struggled with that a little bit but there are a
lot of positives to take out of today with the little bit of time
we had to get ready. We had really good bike - our setup was
awesome - so that makes me happy going into the Supercross season.
My fitness felt awesome, too, so I would say that where I was at
this time last year to this year is really positive."
Ryan Villopoto, #2RV - Yamaha bLU
cRU Rider
"Everything was good, it was really fun to be here racing the
Monster Energy Cup. The track was tricky in that there was nothing
to really separate a whole lot of us. All-in-all, the fans had
great time and I think they all loved me being back out there.
Sure, I would have loved to do a little bit better but what more
could I ask for with three weeks on the bike. I think I did my job
with the media and the big hype that was around me when we came out
here, so it was a good time."
450SX Main Event Results - Las Vegas
- Eli Tomac - Kawasaki, (1-1-1)
- Jason Anderson - Husqvarna, (3-5-4)
- Joey Savatgy - Kawasaki, (5-6-2)
- Justin Barcia - Yamaha, (4-2-7)
- Ryan Villopoto - Yamaha, (12-11-13)