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Monster Energy Supercross Update: Atlanta

Monster Energy Supercross Update: Atlanta

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel wins SX Lites main while Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto makes the SX class podium

CORONA, Calif., (Feb. 23, 2009) – Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto, competing in his freshman year in the premier SX class of 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, recorded his third podium of the season, this past weekend racing to a 3^rd place finish at Atlanta and moving past rival Josh Grant into 4^th place in the overall SX class standings, 126-120.

And in ESX Lites class racing at the packed Georgia Dome it was Monster Energy’s Christophe Pourcel, who took advantage of his teammate Austin Stroupe’s mistake midway through the contest, who would take the top spot on the podium. Pourcel is now 2-0 in ESX class action this year.

Beginning with the SX class, Villopoto let it be known early that he was planning another run at a top three position, in which two of the spots week after week have pretty much been a given (Stewart & Reed). The Poulsbo, Wash., native took control of the unique red Georgia clay track with multiple deep sand sections mixed in and put up the third-fastest time in the SX class’ pro practice session, clocking an impressive 49.609-second best lap.

Villopoto then carried that momentum into the first heat race – which was stacked with Monster Energy talent including Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Tim Ferry, Josh Hill (Yamaha) and Boost Mobile/ampm/Monster Energy/Troy Racing’s Nick Wey – and topped Grant for 2^nd place in the first heat. Noteworthy: While Hill (4^th) and Ferry (6^th) would transfer to the main from the first heat, Wey (13^th) would have to catch his transfer to the main via the LCQ, where he finished 2^nd.

When the gate dropped on the main Villopoto steered his Pro Circuit-tuned Monster Energy KX450F clear of trouble, coming out of the first turn in 4^th place then quickly dispensed of Suzuki factory racer, Mike Alessi. It would take a couple laps, but Villopoto would then reel in, track, and eventually pass Yamaha factory racer Broc Hepler to put himself into 2^nd place behind Stewart. Running in 2^nd place at the halfway point of the contest, Villopoto was passed by Reed – then got Reed right back on the face of the finish line jump. And while Reed would eventually get past Villopoto for 2^nd, the young Monster Energy/Kawasaki racer would hold off a field of the veteran talent – the world’s best supercross racers – to take 3^rd place.

“It’s been a descent season so far,” said Villopoto. “I’ve got a few podiums and that’s what I’m looking for.”

It should also be noted that Hill made an impressive charge to get back into the top ten late in the race, finishing 9^th – one spot behind Ferry (8^th). A bit of poetic justice for Hill in that he failed to qualify for the main two weeks ago in San Diego. Wey would finish 15^th to round out the Monster Energy SX class racers.

With nearly 70,000 fans in attendance, the amplitude level was at a premium when the gate dropped on the first main event – round two of the ESX Lites championship. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Stroupe and Pourcel were easily the two favorites to top the podium as they put up the day’s fastest lap times in practice and swept the first two Lites heat races – Stroupe winning heat one and Pourcel winning heat two.

In the Atlanta Lites main event Stroupe pulled the holeshot, with Pourcel in 2^nd place, then opened up an early lead, thanks in part to a blistering 49.7 lap time early in the contest. Things seemed to be going smoothly and all signs pointed to a 1-2 Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki finish when Stroupe made a mistake in rut on lap nine (of 15) and stalled his KX250F. It took a moment for Stroupe to get the bike restarted, and once he did he found himself back in 8^th place. That was all the room Pourcel would need as he went on to record the victory – his second in as many ESX races this season.

“It was a mistake (by Stroupe) and I was pleased to cash in, but my bike was

very fast and it wasn’t easy on that track,” said Pourcel. Note: Stroupe would place 7^th.

Next up for the Monster Energy-backed supercross racers is this weekend’s inaugural race at Indianapolis’ new Lucas Oil Stadium (Feb. 28).

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it SX, rally, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, rock crawling, wake, mini bikes, surf, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, Monster’s fruit juice hybrid dubbed “M-80,” the party-friendly MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend, along with the new Monster Energy “Hitman” energy shot. The Monster Energy guys running the Monster Energy Supercross series dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com

One Minute surfing with Dane Reynolds

One minute with the future of progressive surfing. Here is Monster’s Dane Reynolds at home in the Winter of 08/09.

MONSTER’S TORSTEIN HORGMO STOMPS OUT THE COMPETITION FOR FIRST PLACE IN SLOPESTYLE AT NORTHSTAR-AT-TAHOE…

MONSTER’S TORSTEIN HORGMO STOMPS OUT THE COMPETITION FOR FIRST PLACE IN SLOPESTYLE AT NORTHSTAR-AT-TAHOE, AND CLAIMS SECOND PLACE OVERALL FOR THE SERIES

Torstein Horgmo laid the competition to waste under bluebird skies at Northstar-at-Tahoe. Even the flying tomato was no match for Horgmo’s ironclad technical precision, literally conceding the win and settling for the second spot. Culminating with his now-famous switch backside 1260 Torstein was surely shredding on another level than his peers, the boy was on fire. Just days after surviving a near tragedy as he was buried in an avalanche in Lake Tahoe’s backcountry, he was riding like a man possessed—and this event was simply a contest for second place. “After falling at the first stop in Breckenridge, it’s just been really great to win the last two events. The avalanche was definitely weird, you know, but I’m okay and luckily Andreas Wiig was there to dig me out real quick,” said Torstein. To sweeten the victory, Torstein landed in second place overall for the Winter Dew Tour despite a crash and subsequent sixth place finish at the first stop. Mid way through the year Torstein’s slopestyle runs are unstoppable, and the young Norwegian appears unflappable. Torstein’s reign of terror has just begun!

In other Monster Norwegian news young Mikkel Bang took slopestyle’s third place overall on the Winter Dew even though he crashed out at Northstar-at-Tahoe. Mikkel was on his way to a podium finish for second or third when the lanky, stylish Norwegian overshot the last jump landing perfectly but well past any transition. He went so big in fact, that Bang fractured his trailing foot upon impact.  The good news is that he should only be out four weeks tops. “I’m really bummed I hurt myself, but I’ll be ready to film all spring, and to be honest, with all my traveling I could use a little break,” related Mikkel afterward. Be assured Norway’s prodigy will be right back at it in no time, impressing with his style, and winning with his technique. Get better Mikkel!

So there you have it—a second epic day in Tahoe with buttery packed powder, another Torstein victory, and our two Monster Norwegians locking down second and third place overall in slopestyle. For the latest news on the Monster snow crew check out www.monsterenergy.com on the daily.

Valentino Rossi To Run The Monster Energy M-Claw Logo

CORONA, Calif., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi is one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. And now people are going to associate him with one of the most recognizable energy drink brands on the planet as well, as Rossi is set to run the Monster Energy M-claw logo on the 2009 MotoGP tour. rossi_monster Continuing its global push, the No. 1 by-volume sales energy drink in the United States – Monster Energy – will look to Rossi as a means of delivering Monster’s ‘core’ message to the legions of fans that follow the world’s premier two wheel road racing motorsport. “Going Big has been our motto at Monster Energy for some time and aligning ourselves with Valentino Rossi is about as big as it gets in motorsports,” said Mark Hall, President of Monster Energy. “We feel that Valentino is one of those rare athletes that not only defines his sport, he actually transcends it.” Rossi’s race resume is stellar. Not yet 30-years-old, he stands as the only racer in the sport’s history to have won world titles in the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP classes. And his 97 career race wins in 210 starts approaches a 50-percent win percentage that is absolutely mind boggling. “I’m happy to join up with Monster Energy and to be one of the first European sportsman testimonials for this new brand,” said Rossi. “Monster is growing all over the world and I am very excited to be joining them. I think that together we can make something special and the M-claw is going to look good on my new helmet!” Monster Energy’s Valentino Rossi began testing for his 2009 MotoGP title defense at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia this past weekend. The series opens on April 12th at the Grand Prix of Qatar.

Robby Gordon Budweiser Shootout Preview

Daytona Beach, FL (February 6, 2009) – Robby Gordon’s NASCAR season begins this weekend with his first appearance in a Budweiser Shootout. While he has had an exciting off-season – finishing third overall in the Dakar Rally and winning the Laughlin Desert Challenge – Gordon is geared for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

The Budweiser Shootout has a new look for 2009. The lineup for the 75-lap event will consist of the top six teams from each manufacturer based on the final 2008 owner points. Gordon will represent the sixth Dodge entry in the preseason event because of his affiliation with the manufacturer in 2008, but he will make the official switch to Toyota for the rest of the year’s events. After drawing for starting positions on Thursday evening, Gordon will lineup 13^th in his No. 7 Jim Beam Dodge.
“Our team is pumped to be part of this year’s Shootout. This is a first for me and for our team, and it is just a great way to start the season. All the action at Daytona normally takes place during the last 100 laps, since this is shorter version it should be a very exciting race for the fans and the teams. We have one goal for Saturday’s race and that is to win,” commented Robby Gordon on the preseason event.

The 31^st annual Budweiser Shootout is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 7^th and will be aired live on FOX.

Notes

2008 Restrictor-Plate Highlights

• Gordon had three top-ten restrictor-plate finishes in 2008.
  • Daytona 500 – 8^th

  • Talladega 1 – 11^th

  • Daytona 2 – 6^th

  • Talladega 2 – 8^th

• Gordon finished 2^nd in the 2008 restrictor-plate points.

• Gordon’s best finish of the year was at Daytona on July 5^th .

Career

• Gordon owns three NASCAR Sprint Cup victories:
  • Loudon on Nov. 23, 2001

  • Infineon on June 22, 2003

  • Watkins Glen Aug. 10, 2003

• Gordon owns one NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at Richmond on Sept. 10, 2004.