The 2017 Monster Energy Cup

There’s only been one Monster Energy Cup millionaire and that was back at the event’s inception in 2011 when Ryan Villopoto smoked his opposition and walked away with a cool million bucks. Since then we’ve seen the best riders on the planet win the cup – James Stewart, Ken Roczen, and Eli Tomac to name a few – but none have been lucky enough take out all three 10-lap main events required to take home the big dollars.

Can anyone step up and win the million in 2017?

The world’s elite supercross racers including Eli Tomac, Marvin Musquin, Jason Anderson, Josh Grant, Cooper Webb and Dean Wilson will for sure be going for it when the Monster Energy Cup hits the Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, for the seventh time on October 14.

The custom-designed track at Monster Energy Cup is nothing like any in the world with a portion being built over the top of stadium seating, inspired by five-time Monster Energy Supercross Champion and track designer for this specific event, Ricky Carmichael.

Unlike any other Supercross race, the unique format at Monster Energy Cup challenges riders with three, 10-Lap Main Events, and any racer who wins all three Main Events takes home $1 million, the largest purse in motorcycle racing.

This year’s Monster Energy Cup features a split starting gate with 44 feet of separation between the two ends, which will leave 11 racers on each side. Additionally, the starting gate will be elevated 12 feet in the air allowing for maximum speed heading into the first turn. Another unique change to this year’s track involves the Joker Lane, which racers must take once during each Main Event.

“The Joker Lane has always been a disadvantage to the athletes as it traditionally takes longer to complete,” said Carmichael, who has helped design every Monster Energy Cup track since its inception in 2011. “However, this year’s Joker Lane design has been modified to play into the racer’s advantage, creating a shortcut through the track to shorten the lap time.”

Call it coincidence or divine intervention but Supercross fans are calling it the curse of the Joker Lane. Year number seven could be the lucky race to break the curse.

The day kicks off with a festival-like Monster Energy Cup Pit Party, a premier fan event from 12 to 6pm, where fans will experience non-stop, family-friendly entertainment with the chance to meet the best racers and legends from around the world. A must-see at this year’s Pit Party is the Dirt Shark Biggest Whip contest, which will serve as an X Games Qualifier, plus a one-of-a-kind Monster Energy Head-to-Head Truck Racing exhibition. Confirmed drivers include seven-time Monster Energy Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath, X Games Gold Medalist Brian Deegan, with daughter Hailie Deegan, the only female and youngest driver named to the nine-member NASCAR Next Class, Casey Currie, BJ Baldwin and others.

International fans will have the opportunity to watch the Monster Energy Cup live by subscribing to the Supercross Video Pass, which will be available to fans outside of the U.S. and Canada via the mobile-responsive portal at supercrossLIVE.tv and via the Monster Energy Supercross Roku app. 

For more information on the Monster Energy Cup, visit SupercrossLive.com.