Monster Energy’s Amateur MX Racers Win Big @ Vegas Mini GPs, Notably Wilson & Cianciarulo

Monster Energy’s Amateur MX Racers Win Big @ Vegas Mini GPs, Notably Wilson & Cianciarulo

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Top Monster/Kawasaki/Team Green racers Dean Wilson and Adam Cianciarulo each win multiple titles, Tiford, Bell and Surratt also win titles for Team Green

Photos courtesy of: http://www.kawasaki.com

CORONA, Calif., (April 13, 2009) – Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green athletes – led by Dean Wilson – won big at this past week/weekend’s 19th annual World Mini Grand Prix in Las Vegas, the third of eight major amateur MX national races on the 2009 schedule.

Running the glowing green M-claw logo in a premier 250 and 450 pro class sweep (four classes, including Stock and Modified on his KX250F and 450F) was Monster Energy/Kawasaki/Team Green’s Wilson. Monster Energy’s hottest amateur MX racer, Wilson topped rival and fellow Monster-backed amateur Christian Craig (Yamaha) straight up to win the most coveted titles at the Vegas Mini GP.

“I’m very happy to win these titles, but I feel like there’s something missing,” said Wilson on the Kawasaki website. “I’m not sure exactly, but I know that I really want to come out this year with a ride in the pros for 2010. This weekend and eventually Loretta’s (the August race at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, amateur MX’s biggest prize) is a big step towards that goal.”

The other Monster Energy-backed racer aboard Team Green Kawasakis that really stood out in Vegas was Adam Cianciarulo. Thus far one of the most successful amateur racers in the history of the sport, the 12-year-old Cianciarulo – who recently moved up in classes – won two championships at the Mini GPs (85/150 Stock 12-13 and Super Mini Thru 13).

Other Monster Energy-backed racers on the Team Green program winning titles at the Vegas Mini GPs include: Zach Bell (Super Mini Thru 16), Willie Surratt (Plus 40 Pro) and Preston Tilford (450 4-Stroke Non-Pro).

Next up for the Monster Energy/Kawasaki/Team Green amateur MX gang will be the 34th annual Grand Nationals of Motocross at Ponca City, July 27th through Aug. 1.

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it MX, SX, supermoto, road racing, rally, insane distance jumping, MotoGP, 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. Our amateur MX rippers dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at http://www.monsterarmy.com and http://www.monsterenergy.com

Monster Energy/Fred Andrews/Yamaha Racing’s Jason Thomas Podiums Again On GNCC Tour

Monster Energy/Fred Andrews/Yamaha Racing’s Jason Thomas Podiums Again On GNCC Tour

Thomas, aboard the YZ250F, overcomes an early wreck and outlasts teammate Josh Weisenfels to take 2^nd at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch – the GNCC’s first “mudder”

CORONA, Calif., (April 20, 2009) – The Monster Energy/Fred Andrews Racing/Yamaha boyz done torn up country singer Loretta Lynn’s Ranch but good this past weekend, putting the knobbies to the rich, loamy, rain-soaked Tennessee countryside at round five of the 2009 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series (GNCC). And coming out on the podium again – for the second-straight race – was Monster/FAR/Yamaha’s Jason Thomas, who placed 2^nd in the XC2 class.

Actually starting the race under sunny skies, Thomas rocketed out to a good start on his YZ and was running in 3^rd place when he hit some standing water and got pitched off his bike. Thomas was last heading into the woods for the first time, close to teammate Josh Weisenfels whose bike didn’t fire on the first kick.

The two Monster Energy-backed racer slugged it out in the woods with the rest of the competition and both re-appeared, almost miraculously, in the top five (Thomas 3^rd, Weisenfels 5^th).

Plastered with mud from helmet to boots, Monster Energy/Fred Andrews Racing/Yamaha’s Thomas and Weisenfels reached the halfway point of the contest with Thomas battling hard for the third and final podium spot and Weisenfels in 6^th place.

At the white flag Thomas had moved up to contest 2^nd place, and would win that battle heading into the checkers. “I had a good start and crashed. I pushed my way to the front and tried to save the bike by missing all the deep water,” said Thomas. “I’m very happy with 2^nd place today and look forward to the next race.”

Weisenfels wasn’t as fortunate when, during his late-race rush, his chain derailed and ended his day. “I had a bad start and tried to stay out of trouble on the track,” he said. “I was going good until the chain got derailed. I could not get it back on. I need a little luck.”

Both racers threw out weekend MVP honors to Monster Energy/Fred Andrews Racing/Yamaha mechanic Joe Maurer, who was busting his tail to get the YZ250Fs ready in the ugly conditions.

The GNCCs remain in Tennessee (Lafayette) for round six of the series, May 2-3.

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it GNCC, WORCS, Hare & Hound, EnduroCross, 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. Fred Andrews’ boyz digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com

Monster Energy’s Hill, Jonnier, Fairclough & Graves Open Nissan UCI World Cup MTB Tour In S. Africa

Monster Energy’s Hill, Jonnier, Fairclough & Graves Open Nissan UCI World Cup MTB Tour In S. Africa

Monster’s World Cup mt. bike racers Sam Hill and Sabrina Jonnier look to regain WC DH titles they’ve once owned, while Jared Graves is one of the favorites in 4x

Photo: Monster Energy’s Brendan Fairclough (left) and Sam Hill, courtesy of Fraser Britton

CORONA, Calif., (April 7, 2009) – Monster Energy’s global representatives on the Nissan UCI World Cup mountain bike tour are in South Africa for the World Cup opener this weekend (April 10-12) in Pietermaritzburg. Leading the Monster Army in hopes of regaining their UCI World Cup downhill champion status are Sam Hill, the 2007 men’s elite WC DH champ, and Sabrina Jonnier, a three time women’s elite WC DH champion.

Hill, running the new Specialized Demo 8 bike, is one of the odds-on favorites to capture the men’s elite title this season. Last year the Australian great held the series’ overall points lead for the longest out of any rider, but sketched at the second-to-last round on his home turf in Canberra (Australia) and lost out to Greg Minnaar.

“I’m pretty excited the World Cup is starting again and we’ve got all our new bikes,” said Hill. “It’s gonna be good to do some runs with Brendan again and see how we size up compared to all the others on Sunday. Hopefully we come out good.”

Monster Energy’s Jonnier, who rides for Maxxis, has been – by far – one of the most successful women downhill racers in the history of UCI World Cup competition. Along with her three WC DH titles (2003, ’05 & ’07) the France native has also been the series’ runner-up four times (2002, ’04, ’06 and ’08).

“I’m entering the World Cup season healthy and feeling good about things,” said Jonnier. “It’ll be interesting to see who’s fast at the South African opener, check out the new talent and how they do against the racers that have traditionally gone fast. My plan is to just keep the mental errors to a minimum and ride like I know how.”

Joining Hill and Jonnier in the DH starting gate will be Hill’s Monster Energy teammate on the Specialized bikes, Brendan Fairclough – the 2006 Junior World Cup champion. A UK native, Fairclough is looking at a breakout year as he begins his third year racing the men’s elite class on the World Cup DH circuit.

“I’ve taken a bit of a different approach in the off season, so I’m interested to see how it turns out with the racing,” said Fairclough. “Like Sam said, I’m just keen to get out there and see how we perform against those other boys. I’m excited about it. I’m stoked on the look of the new bikes, kit and how well they ride. I’m just excited to get going again, really.”

The Pietermaritzburg downhill is reported to be quite technical on the upper third portion of the 2.8km course, dropping quickly (in elevation) during the initial phase before mellowing out on what race officials call the “mildly sloping” middle section – featuring jumps and tight turns. The course then cascades into the third and final section, which works in the last 500 meters of the 4x course into the finish area, hosting a sizable crowd of UCI World Cup race fans.

The final Monster Energy-backed athlete competing on in Pietermaritzburg will be newly-signed Jared Graves. The DH and 4x specialist from Australia should make an immediate impact on the standings with Monster as he’s well-versed in numerous forms of cycle racing at top levels, including representing Australia in the Beijing Olympics in BMX.

For more information on the Monster Energy mt. bike racers competing at the UCI World Cup opener in Pietermaritzburg, catch a link to: http://www.nissan-ucimtbworldcup.com/

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it MTB, SX, rally, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, NASCAR Trucks, 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. Our mt. bikers rock ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com