Rider Files

Kirk Reuille hands off the RAW Racing Yamaha FZR400 to Kevin Rentzell during a WERA National Endurance race at Roebling Road in March of 1990. If you raced the Heavyweight or Mediumweight classes in WERA Endurance during the 1990 season RAW Racing was one team you did not want to see. Reuille, Rentzell and Alan Bertagnoli could make riders on 750cc and even 1000cc bikes look bad. If I recall correctly RAW even made the overall podium at least once during this season.

Kirk Reuille hands of the RAW Racing Yamaha FZR400 to Kevin Rentzell during the WERA National Endurance race at Roebling Road in March of 1990. (Larry Lawrence photo)

SONOMA, Calif. (May 1, 2012) – Following are some notes of interest entering the Great Clips West Coast Moto Jam, May 4-6, at Infineon Raceway: 

• Mat Mladin (Suzuki) holds the record for the most Sonoma SuperBike victories with nine (1999, 2003 doubleheader, 2004, 2005 doubleheader, 2007 doubleheader, 2009).  
• Elena Myers (Discovery Bay) became the first female in history to win an AMA Pro Road Race when she won in Sonoma in 2010 (SuperSport). 
• Ducati has not won a SuperBike event in Sonoma since 1978. Kawasaki has not won a Superbike event in Sonoma since 1993. 
• Yamaha has six SuperBike victories in Sonoma, four by Josh Hayes. 
• Josh Hayes (Yamaha) has won four of the last six SuperBike main events at Infineon Raceway. 
• Suzuki has won the most SuperBike titles in Sonoma with 19. It is followed by: Honda (10), Yamaha (6), Kawasaki (3) and Ducati (2). 
• Miguel Duhamel has won both the SuperBike and SuperSport events on the same weekend a record three times (1993, 1995, 1998) in Sonoma. 
• Nicky Hayden (1999) and Josh Hayes (2007) are the only two riders to win SuperSport and Formula Xtreme in the same weekend in Sonoma. 
• Rich Oliver is the only rider to win four straight years in Sonoma. He won in the 250 Grand Prix class from 1994-97. 
• Suzuki won every Superstock main event in Sonoma but three (1993, 2003-04). 
• Honda is the top manufacturer in SuperSport in Sonoma with eight wins. 
• Miguel Duhamel and Mat Mladin are tied for most career Sonoma AMA wins with nine (Duhamel — five Superbike, three Supersport, one Formula Xtreme; Mladin — all in Superbike).  
• Honda and Suzuki have combined to win 16 of the last 20 SuperBike main events in Sonoma dating back to 2002. Suzuki has 13 wins and Honda three.  
• Jason Pridmore holds the career record in Sonoma for Superstock wins (three), Miguel Duhamel in SuperSport (three) and Eric Bostrom in Formula Xtreme (two). 
• Shawn Higbee made history in 2010, winning first-ever zero-carbon motorcycle race on American soil (Zero Motorcycle-Agni). 

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Great Clips West Coast Moto Jam
WHAT: Big O Tires Racing Season Presents: Great Clips West Coast Moto Jam
WHEN: May 4-6
ABOUT THE WEEKEND: In addition to AMA Pro Racing, there will be Supermoto USA, and the TTXGP North America electric motorcycle series.
TICKETS: $35 single day/$55 weekend in advance; kids 12-and-under FREE and parking FREE. Military discounts available.
INFO: 800-870-RACE (7223), infineonraceway.com/ama, ticketmaster.com

(NEWS RELEASE)

Join the AMA at a Cycle Gear store and get a special gift

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) announced today it is collaborating with Cycle Gear and its 95 brick-and-mortar stores across the country on an AMA membership drive in the month of May. Cycle Gear, with stores in 26 states, will be conducting an in-store promotion featuring a $100 gift package for shoppers who join the AMA, with a gift card for use at Cycle Gear stores or online at CycleGear.com, as well as special promotional gifts from Cycle Gear product sponsors.

“We’re proud to be working with Cycle Gear on this promotion, which helps all of motorcycling by growing the country’s premier advocate of the motorcycle lifestyle,” said Grant Parsons, AMA director of communications and marketing. “Cycle Gear has been coming on strong in recent years, and this partnership with the AMA is an impressive move for a company that is clearly showing its commitment to preserving and protecting the future of the sport with the AMA.”

Cycle Gear’s Johnny Lin, the company’s chief marketing officer, said he was glad to be partnering with the AMA to give back to the motorcycle community.

“At Cycle Gear, we believe that having a strong voice in the future of motorcycling is so important, and that’s why we’re promoting AMA membership at our stores and online-nobody works harder to preserve our sport,” Lin said. “At the same time, it’s a lot of fun to offer a great gift package from our stores and our partners to new and existing customers. Stop by one of our stores, or visit us online today at www.CycleGear.com.”

Said Dave Bertram, two-time national off-road champion, ISDE gold medalist, and CEO of Cycle Gear: “Cycle Gear is proud to help promote the important work that the AMA does on behalf of all riders. Motorcyclists today face an endless stream of legislation and laws restricting our rights to ride. Cycle Gear believes that the motorcycling community and businesses must continue to support groups that fight for fair legislation on behalf of American motorcyclists. As a business founded by racers and enthusiasts, we are long-time supporters of the AMA’s efforts and are committed to helping the sport of motorcycling.”

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

AURORA, Ill. (May 1, 2012) – Feld Motor Sports® announced today that Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Travis Baker, of Temecula, Calif., will race the 2012 Monster Energy Cup at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium on October 20.

Baker raced his first professional Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Championship in 2011 and finished 11trh overall despite missing the Los Angeles and Oakland stops. This year he earned a career-best sixth place in Oakland.

“Unfortunately, I was hurt last year and couldn’t make it, but this year I am going to try and make it and go for the $1 million,” said Baker. “I missed it last year, I am going to be there this year, trying to get that big money.”

The 2012 Monster Energy Cup features an all-new track design inspired by five-time Supercross Class Champion Ricky Carmichael. The Carmichael-inspired track design will consist of supercross and motocross obstacles unlike any other racetrack design in the world. More than 200’ of the track will be built into the grandstands, and the riders exit the stadium and race through the Monster Energy Fan Zone outside of the stadium and through the pit area before they catapult back into the stadium. The Monster Energy Cup posts a $250,000 purse with the winner walking away with a $100,000 check, and any rider that wins all three Main Events will take home $1 million.

For more information on the Monster Energy Cup, log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. To follow the Monster Energy Cup on Facebook and Twitter, log on to www.Facebook.com/VegasMECup and www.Twitter.com/VegasMECup.

Tickets for the 2012 Monster Energy Cup can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, UNLVtickets outlets, online at www.UNLVtickets.com, www.MonsterEnergyCup.com, or by phone at (702) 739-FANS. Tickets will be available at the Sam Boyd Stadium Box Office on the day of the event only.

About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — PowerSports Business has named American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) President and CEO Rob Dingman its “2012 Powersports Business Executive of the Year.”

PowerSports Business — which publishes news, features and profiles for powersports dealers, manufacturers and suppliers — honored Dingman for the intensive efforts by the AMA to successfully overturn provisions of the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), known as the lead law, that effectively banned the sale of kids’ dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

“Dingman’s leadership during the three-year battle was impressive on a variety of fronts, but most importantly to the industry’s future riders,” PowerSports Business said in making the announcement. “The AMA’s grassroots efforts to put a face to those affected by the CPSIA showed legislators the importance of riding age-appropriate vehicles.

“The positive, healthy environment in which young riders thrive on their vehicles, and with their families, also helped to get the point across,” the announcement said. “For OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), aftermarket companies and track promoters, the lead law ban had obvious economic impacts.”

The CPSIA, which went into effect on Feb. 10, 2009, banned the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under, including kids’ dirt bikes and ATVs, that contained more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part.

The AMA was at the forefront of the fight to exclude child-sized motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA from the beginning.

A highlight of the effort was the “AMA Kids Just Want to Ride” campaign, which included a day of lobbying in Washington, D.C., by kids and their families affected by the CPSIA clad in off-road riding gear. The association also participated in news events to focus media attention on the issue, lobbied on Capitol Hill and organized campaigns to encourage riders and parents to contact their federal lawmakers and key decision-makers to exempt kids’ off-highway vehicles (OHVs) from the CPSIA.

“It’s thanks to the efforts of Dingman and his AMA team that those youngsters can return to their hometowns, and turn to you as dealers and OEMs for their next purchase,” wrote Dave McMahon, senior editor of PowerSports Business magazine in an accompanying editorial.

As a result of the lobbying on Capitol Hill, Congress received powerful statements from members of the AMA and its All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA), and on Aug. 12, Obama signed into law H.R. 2715, which granted kids’ OHVs a categorical exemption from the CPSIA.

“I’m very humbled by being named 2012 Powersports Business Executive of the Year,” Dingman said. “But the victory is the result of the intensive efforts of a lot of different people, from federal lawmakers to powersports industry officials and dealers to the kids and their families who ride every weekend.”

To read the announcement, go to PowerSportsBusiness.com.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

Twelve-year-old Daniel “Danger” Costilla has his sights seton racing MotoGP when he grows up. This young gun is determined to meet hisheroes on the tarmac, and he is working hard to make his dream a reality.

Costilla began his racing quest with M1GP, an organizationdedicated to racing minis in southern California. This year, Costilla moved upto the larger circuits of WERA West, where he quickly became comfortable withthe increased speeds. Now, his goal isto become a part of the Red Bull Rookies Cup, a feeder series that coincideswith several of the European GP Rounds.

Assisting Costilla along his career path is LeonardMellgren, owner of Redline Powersports.

OnTheThrottle.TV recentlycaught up with Costilla and Mellgren at the WERA West race in Las Vegas,Nevada. Watch the video below to seethis young up-and-comer in action. Formore updates on Costilla and to cheer him on, be sure to follow him on Facebook.

(NEWS RELEASE)

SONOMA, Calif. (May 1, 2012) — Infineon Raceway set the standard in 2010, hosting the first-ever zero-carbon motorcycle race on American soil, and the TTXGP North American Championship returns for the third consecutive year at the Great Clips West Coast Moto Jam, May 4-6.

Winners will be crowned in the overall TTXGP class, as well as the brand-new production specification category, TTXGP eSuperstock. In addition, there will also be a prize for the fastest bike with a limited store of energy (7.5KwH).

The electric motorcycle series dovetails with the raceway’s continuing Accelerating Sustainable Performance Program, which works to prove that you don’t have to sacrifice performance in the name of sustainability.

To give you some insight as to what you can expect this season, we caught up with 2011 Sonoma winners from Team Icon Brammo, rider Steve Atlas and Brammo product developer, Brian Wiseman:

Congratulations on winning at Infineon Raceway last season and going on to take home the 2011 TTXGP North America crown. How confident are you heading into this season?

Steve Atlas: I’m far more confident than last year that’s for sure. Last year I had only ridden an electric motorcycle twice before the opening round, so it was an all new world to me. But after the success we had last year and the improvements the team has made to the bike in the off-season, I’m feeling good about defending our title and am excited to get things going!

What’s the main difference fans will notice this year from Brammo in terms of the technology? For 2012, Brammo has focused on upgrading the powertrain of the bike to a new, more powerful Parker-Hannifin motor along with a physically smaller and lighter motor controller/inverter. The chassis and battery technology remain largely unchanged from last season as we were quite happy with their performance and credit the bike’s handling and durability with helping us bring home our first championship in 2011.

Brian Wiseman:

What is the most common question you get asked by people regarding racing electric?: Ninety-nine percent of people ask if it’s like riding a traditional internal combustion engine motorcycle and if it’s strange to ride a bike that doesn’t make any noise. I tell them that beyond the basics of being a sporting motorcycle with two wheels, it’s actually quite a bit different; the biggest thing is the total lack of any engine braking and not having a clutch or doing any shifting. 

SA

You announced last year the fact you were going into partnership with TTXGP to produce a race-ready bike for future teams; the Empulse TTX. How have these plans progressed, and when can future racers take possession of one?

BW: The Empulse TTX will be based on our production Empulse and Empulse R platform which will be launched to the public on May 8. The bike has been developed with the goal of having a solid platform upon which a privateer or professional race team can cost-effectively build a contender for the TTXGP series. We will begin testing this summer and it seems likely that an interested racer could take possession in early 2013.

Brammo is a leader in the electric vehicle industry and has a team that has raced with TTXGP since 2009. How do you see these technologies developing and what on-track improvements can we expect in the next five-10 years?

BW: Even having been involved from the initial “drop of the flag,” we have been very impressed with the pace of development in the electric motorcycle space on all sides of technology. For the near future, I think we can expect to see the power levels continuing to climb to the near 200hp level and the bike weights continue to drop well into the sub-450 pound range. Of course, this level of motor performance will be useless without the battery power and endurance needed to make use of it, so we can expect improvements to specific power and capacity as well. At the moment, the bikes are circulating around the tracks on pace with a well-sorted SuperSport class race bike, but I think it will not be long before they are competitive with the professional SuperBikes.

Finally, what’s great about racing at Infineon?

SA: Infineon Raceway is an awesome track; one of my personal favorites. The elevation and diversity of corners makes for one of the most fun, as well as the most physically and mentally demanding tracks in the U.S. The blind corners and technical layout make it a track that takes quite awhile to learn and rewards smart riding over flat-out aggression.

The Infineon Raceway season opener will be a first look at the improvements made across the board and race fans should be in for some wheel-to-wheel racing. More team details can be found on egrandprix.com, on Twitter #TTXGP or on Facebook.com/TTXGPofficial.

For more information on the Great Clips West Coast Moto Jam or for tickets, visit infineonraceway.com/ama or call 800-870-RACE (7223).

(NEWS RELEASE)

Rome (Italy), 1 May 2012 – With Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) at the top of the points table, the eni FIM Superbike World Championship returns to Italy for the second of three events, this time at Monza, the fastest round of the calendar. The production-based racing series will be celebrating its 25th anniversary at the fourth of its 14 rounds, with a glittering array of riders and bikes present throughout the four days. The legends of then and now will be present on Saturday and Sunday in the SBK Paddock Show and for Italian fans it will be a unique opportunity to get close and personal with the men and machines who have contributed to the success of the championship over the past quarter-century.

Monza is the venue for a championship round for the 21st time: the first edition was held in 1990 and it saw a double win for Fabrizio Pirovano on a Yamaha. This will also be the 301^st World Superbike round, which will reach the 600-race mark next time out at Donington the following weekend.

2010 champion Biaggi is back at the top of the points once again despite struggling to get on the podium at a rain-disturbed Assen. Last year’s champion Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) lies just one point behind, but the top of the table is a tightly-fought affair with eight riders (Biaggi, Checa, Sykes, Guintoli, Melandri, Rea, Haslam and Laverty) on five different manufacturer machines separated by just 36 points. Each one of the remaining 22 races will assign 25 points for the winner.

Aprilia are present with their latest-spec engine that may help Biaggi to increase his points lead and improve on last year’s record top speed of 334.8 km/h and average lap speed of 204.405 km/h he set during Superpole. The Italian rider has started from pole in the last two Monza rounds and also scored a double win in 2010. Twelve months ago he finished second and eighth on what became Eugene Laverty’s incredible day of success for Yamaha. The 25 year-old Irishman, who is now his team-mate, is another Monza specialist, having also won the Supersport race the previous year.

Ducati have a great tradition at Monza (18 wins, 40 podiums), but their twin-cylinder bike has not won there since 2009. Checa’s best result is eighth place in 2008, when he was with Ten Kate Honda, while another competitive Ducati machine will be in the hands of Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli (Effenbert Liberty Racing), who is on a roll following his maiden win in the Netherlands. Honda World Superbike Team’s Jonathan Rea also broke the ice at Assen and will be aiming to continue his move up the points table after his first win of the year.

Monza’s long straights should help to boost the chances of the other four-cylinder machines present in this year’s championship, starting with Kawasaki. The phenomenon of the season so far, at least in the Tissot-Superpole challenge where he has a perfect 100% record, has been Britain’s Tom Sykes, and it will be interesting to see how well the ZX-10R goes this time around. At the time of press, no replacement has yet been slated in for the injured Joan Lascorz.

After twice throwing away a first win at Assen, BMW are extremely confident things will go well this time around; Marco Melandri scored two seconds in 2011 when racing for Yamaha, while Leon Haslam is always up amongst the front runners. BMW scored the first of its eight podiums here in 2010 and the time is right for a first historic triumph. In the Italian-run BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet squad, both Ayrton Badovini (who crashed at Assen while in the lead) and former Monza winner Michel Fabrizio will again be entrusted with the task of improving on their difficult start to the season. While over at Suzuki, Crescent FIXI men Leon Camier and John Hopkins also showed a true competitive nature following a disappointing opening couple of rounds.

Points (after 3 of 14 rounds): 1. Biaggi 92; 2. Checa 91; 3. Sykes 79; 4. Guintoli 66; 5. Melandri 66; 6. Rea 65; 7. Haslam 58; 8. Laverty 56; 9. Smrz 39; 10. Giugliano 37; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Ducati 136; 2. Aprilia 100; 3. BMW 86; 4. Kawasaki 85; 5. Honda 69; 6. Suzuki 20.

World Supersport
The World Supersport battle for supremacy is looking to be pretty evenly-balanced as Kawasaki and Honda have taken the wins in the first three races. At the top of the table two former title holders are equal on 45 points: Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki DeltaFin Lorenzini) and Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step), but Sam Lowes (PTR Bogdanka Honda) is just 14 points behind, despite his crash at Assen, where the 22 year-old Brit started from pole. A Honda did manage to win in the wet at Assen, the Prorace version of Lorenzo Lanzi, but this exploit by the former WSB winner for the moment probably remains a one-off appearance. One of the title favourites Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) has yet to take a win this year, while Vladimir Leonov (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) became the first Russian to score a world championship podium at Assen, moving into a very impressive fifth place in the overall championship standings. Raffaele De Rosa, who started off the season amidst the World Superbike ranks, makes a one-event debut for Lorini Honda.

Points (after 3 of 13 rounds): 1. Sofuoglu 45; 2. Foret 45; 3. Lowes 31; 4. Parkes 29; 5. Leonov 26; 6. Lanzi 25; 7. Quarmby 25; 8. Baldolini 24; etc. Manufacturers: 1. Kawasaki 70; 2. Honda 61; 3. Yamaha 31; 4. Triumph 30; 5. Suzuki 6.

Superstock 1000
BMW Motorrad Italia’s ultra-successful run continues in the Superstock 1000 category reserved for under-26s. In 2010 the Italian squad wiped the floor with Ayrton Badovini, and last year they had Lorenzo Zanetti in their ranks; both now race in the top class. Now it’s the turn of the 23 year-old Frenchman Sylvain Barrier, who prepared for Sunday’s race in the best possible way by notching up another win last Sunday in the Italian series on the same track. Barrier has 50 points after two wins in two races, and is followed on 32 by Eddi La Marra (Barni Racing Team Italia), with the Ducati 1199 Panigale that came very close to the win both at Imola and Assen.

Points (after 2 of 10 rounds): 1. Barrier 50; 2. La Marra 32; 3. Baz 30; 4. Savadori 28; 5. Reiterberger 26; 6. Coghlan 14; 7. Baroni 12; 8. Staring 11; etc. Manufacturers: 1. BMW 50; 2. Ducati 36; 3. Kawasaki 30; 4. Honda 10; 5. Aprilia 5.

Superstock 600
The weekend programme also sees the third round of the European Superstock 600 Championship for under-22 year-olds. By winning at his home track, Dutchman Michael van der Mark (EAB Ten Kate Junior Team Honda) took over at the top of the table, and he now leads from Spain’s Nacho Calero Perez (Team Trasimeno Yamaha) with Riccardo Russo (Team Italia Yamaha) in third. Monza is sure to offer more high-speed action as any number of riders, including the seven-strong Italian one-event and wild-card contingent aim to mix it with the best European Championship regulars.

Points (after 2 of 10 rounds): 1. Van Der Mark 41; 2. Calero Perez 40; 3. Russo 36; 4. Egea 24; 5. Duwelz 22; 6. Morrentino 13; etc.

KTM European Junior Cup
The second round at Monza will see appearances from two Italian wildcards. Giovanni De Pera is the lucky rider to be chosen for the Moto Vudu / Bikeracing.it competition which bases selection on the achievements and promise of a young local rider, while Kevin Chili is the son of World Superbike legend Pierfrancesco Chili and looks to have inherited his father’s great talent. Both youngsters will be seeking to challenge the EJC regulars on Italian home turf, but it won’t be easy as Poles Adrian Pasek and Artur Wielebski are sure to be strong and there are any number of other riders with the speed to be challenging for the lead.

Points (after 1 of 8 rounds): 1. Pasek 25; 2. Hartog 20; 3. Wielebski 16; 4. Demoulin 13; 5. Patterson 11; 6. Lewis 10; etc.

The story of Red Wolverton, maybe the last rider in America to set a motorcycle land speed record on a public highway… just outside of Philadelphia no less. Read more.

(NEWS RELEASE)

AURORA, Ill. (May 1, 2012) – Feld Motor Sports® caught up with Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Mike Webb to discuss the second-annual Monster Energy Cup at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium on October 20. Webb announced today that the Yoshimura Suzuki race team will be lining up at the starting gate at this year’s Monster Energy Cup.

Since joining the Yoshimura Suzuki racing squad in fall of 2010, Webb has been the driving force behind the team’s success. Throughout his tenure managing the highly successful team in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, he and the crew have enjoyed two race wins, 12 podiums and 20 top-10 finishes.

“It’s a really cool race, we definitely enjoy it,” said Webb. “There was a cool energy around the race. The allure for a rider of a $1 million payday is unbelievable. With track last year being a blend of supercross and motocross elements, your setup had to be just right. Luckily, Metty [Brett Metcalfe] rode really well.”

To hear more of Webb’s thoughts on the Monster Energy Cup, watch the video below:

The 2012 Monster Energy Cup features an all-new track design inspired by five-time Supercross Class Champion Ricky Carmichael. The Carmichael-inspired track design will consist of supercross and motocross obstacles unlike any other racetrack design in the world. More than 200’ of the track will be built into the grandstands, and the riders exit the stadium and race through the Monster Energy Fan Zone outside of the stadium and through the pit area before they catapult back into the stadium. The Monster Energy Cup posts a $250,000 purse with the winner walking away with a $100,000 check, and any rider that wins all three Main Events will take home $1 million.

For more information on the Monster Energy Cup, log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. To follow the Monster Energy Cup on Facebook and Twitter, log on to www.Facebook.com/VegasMECup and www.Twitter.com/VegasMECup.

Tickets for the 2012 Monster Energy Cup can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, UNLVtickets outlets, online at www.UNLVtickets.com, www.MonsterEnergyCup.com, or by phone at (702) 739-FANS. Tickets will be available at the Sam Boyd Stadium Box Office on the day of the event only.

About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz®, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.