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MacCluggage, aboard the industry-leading Kawasaki stand up Jet Ski®, returns to Japan and takes back the JJSBA title that he’d won a number of times before
 CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 30, 2008) – This biggest glowing green thing to hit Japan since those devastating Godzilla attacks, Monster Energy’s Chris MacCluggage waded ashore this past weekend not with a tug boat in hand, but yet another Japanese Jet Sports Boat Association (JJSBA) championship trophy - winning the premier stand up class on his industry-leading Kawasaki Jet Ski®.
“Pumped to be able to bounce back after a tough week at the IJSBA final at Havasu (Calif.) and win again here in Japan,” said MacCluggage in a long distance phone call from overseas. “Kawasaki treated us like royalty over here and I’m stoked to not only have the opportunity to race here in front of all the people from the Kawasaki factory where they produce the 800 SX-R™, but also to win made the whole trip unreal.”
MacCluggage had suffered a stomach virus at the IJSBA finals two weeks ago and wasn’t up his usual 1st place self, settling instead on 9th place overall in the Ski GP Stand Up class here in the States. That all changed with a healthy MacCluggage as he showed why he’d Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s top stand up racer, winning his third JJSPB championship of his career.
Next up for MacCluggage is the Tailand King’s Cup in December – an event he’s won twice before (2005 & ’06). For more information on Kawasaki Jet Ski® 800 SX-R™ - spawn from the original Kawasaki watercraft that began this whole crazy back in 1973 – link to www.kawasaki.com
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it Jet Ski® racing, wake, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Chris MacCluggage digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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10/25/08 - (Honolulu, Hawaii) Here at wwwheimanareynolds.com headquarters we are very excited and proud to announce that 10 year old high flying sk8grom Heimana Reynolds from Hawaii has signed with action sports apparel giant Quiksilver,( one of the worlds largest manufacturers of surfwear and other boardsport-related equipment with almost 40 years in the industry.) He will be part of the first and newly formed Quiksilver. skate. Hawaii Team along with 2 other reputable island skateboarders/athletes. After extensive training programs, travel schedules, school, competitions, video filmings and photo shoots. Heimanas determination, hard work and talent has been rewarded with strong support from "Quik," in which he will be flying the red and white Team logo and wearing their newest, coolest threads. http://skate.quiksilver.com/index.aspx A big Mahalo to all his supporters and sponsors, as the progression continues... HRH
To inquire about this talented young athlete: please contact local808@mac.com
To learn more about Heimana please visit: http://www.heimanareynolds.com/
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Monster Energy’s undisputed Kings of Vert – Pierre Luc Gagnon and Jamie Bestwick – take to the LG halfpipe this weekend for one last big American comp Photos courtesy of LG Action Sports Championships
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 29, 2008) – Unless you can swing a ticket to Middle East next month for the Dubai X Games, your last chance to catch Monster Energy’s action sports stars Live here in the States will be in Seattle this weekend for the final round of the 2008 LG Action Sports Championships, Oct. 31-Nov. 2, at Key Arena.
Highlighting the weekend’s competition will be two Monster Energy athletes who, simply put, are the best in the world these days at what they do – riding vert.
Reigning X Games and Dew Tour vert champions, skater Pierre Luc “PLG” Gagnon and BMXer Jamie Bestwick, will fly the Monster Energy flag this weekend in Seattle – both looking to end the 2008 competition season here in the States on a high note.
“Last year I did pretty good on the LG Tour and have been looking forward to the contest here in Seattle since we wrapped up the Dew Tour a couple weeks ago,” said PLG. “The plan is to keep the momentum going, you know?” Note: PLG’s “pretty good” on the 2007 LG Action Sports Tour is a bit of an understatement. He swept all three rounds – Phoenix, San Diego and Dallas - and won the overall championship.
Same U-shaped ramp, but on bikes instead of boards, Monster Energy’s Bestwick will be tearing it up proper – and most likely with handlebars locked versus his No. 1 adversary, Chad Kagy – the 2006 LG Tour vert gold medalist in Dallas.
“I’ve been fortunate to have such a great summer of competition and would like nothing more than to finish it out here in the States with a win in Seattle,” said Bestwick. “If the X Games and Dew Tour are any measure, fans will be in for a great show on the vert ramp in Seattle this weekend.”
• Both PLG & Bestwick swept Skate & BMX vert gold medals at the 2008 LG Action Sports Championship opener in Cincinnati, Ohio, earlier this year!
Joining PLG on the vert ramp will be a couple more Monster Energy-backed skaters – Alex Perelson and Jean Postec. SoCal native Perelson ripped his way to a silver medal finish at the LG Tour opener in Cincinnati – his best major vert contest finish of the year – while the Frenchman Postec placed 4th overall at Cincinnati. That said – and if everybody throws down the way they can - Monster Energy has a descent shot at sweeping the overall LG Tour skate vert podium this weekend.
On the skate street course Monster Energy will also have a favorite gunning for a podium spot, former LG Tour bronze medalist (Dallas, ’07) Greg Lutzka. Coming off a gold medal at the Mexico X Games and a couple straight podium finishes in Dew Tour Skate Park competition, Lutzka is primed to break through again with a top finish – hopefully ending his ’08 competition season with the way he began it (1st place Slaughter at the Opera in Sydney, Australia, and 1st place Tampa Pro Street).
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it the LG Action Sports Championship, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Monster Energy guy running the LG Tour this weekend dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Block’s first six rounds of rip-roarin’ rally racing in his Vermont SportsCar-tuned Subaru captured on video – crashes and all – and posted for your enjoyment!
 CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 28, 2008) – Just received a communication from Monster Energy rally racer Ken Block’s Vermont SportsCar/Subaru camp giving Monster Army members the ‘head’s up’ on Block’s and co-driver Alex Gelsomino’s Rally America season highlight video – Part One - posted on DC Shoes’ website.
Block, who placed 2nd overall on the 2008 Rally America Championship tour, blitzed through the back roads of North America in seesaw fashion this past year, leading the series through the first five rounds – only to come falling back to earth with a run of crashes and subsequent equipment failures due to those crashes that rendered him, at times, immobile.
Fighting back in classic fashion, Block dominated the final race of the season along the shores and logging roads of Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, winning the contest and – ideally – foreshadowing what could prove to be a championship season for 2009.
“I'm glad to end the season with the win. Now I've got some momentum going into next year, so I'm very happy,” said Block. “It's great for the team to finish 1-2 in the championship and we have proven the new 2008 STI can win. Next year it will only get better.”
This video is way cool and opens with the crazy footage of Block’s Subaru teammate, Travis Pastrana, center punching a deer at nearly 100 mph and highlights the first six rounds of the series. Monster Energy is stoked to link up with DC Shoes to turn the Monster Army members onto rally, Ken Block style!
http://auto.dcshoes.com/videos/#dc-srt-usa-2008-season-highlights-part-1
Note: The Monster Energy/Ken Block Rally America highlight video covers the first half of the 2008 competition season. Stay tuned to MonsterEnergy.com and MonsterArmy.com for more information regarding part two of the season highlight video.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it rally, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Ken Block digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Abbott caps off a great year of outdoor racing - one which saw him win ISDE gold and an overall bronze for Team USA - by winning his 5th Hare & Hound title
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 28, 2008) – Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Destry Abbott wrote himself into the AMA off road racing record books this past weekend, recording his fifth AMA/FMF Hare & Hound Championship and tying him with desert racing legends Dan Smith and Danny Hamel for the most ever in AMA desert racing history.
Having to basically just finish the race in order to secure the overall championship, Abbott turned “mathematical” into “typical,” as in typical Abbott fashion the Arizonan blazed out and won the event going away – and with it adding his name in the same sentence as the greatest desert racers of all time.
“It's awesome when it's start to finish – it makes the day a lot easier," said Abbott. "I thought I had a good line, and it worked out – first kick, pinned it and got to the [first hill in front], and once I got over the hill I said, 'Alright, just be smart,' and I rode a good pace.”
The 41st annual Johnson Valley Championship, hosted by the 100’s Motorcycle Club, began at the North Anderson staging area of the Johnson Valley, specified for off-highway usage north of Lucerne Valley, Calif. The hilly, dusty, high speed and, at times, technical course was precisely what Abbott has made home through eight rounds of racing that began at the same course back in January.
Abbott, who ended up winning four of the eight rounds, is one of the few Monster Energy-backed athletes that documents his events for his fans and sponsors. So here, in his own words, is the account of this past weekend’s race and his 2008 AMA/FMF Hare & Hound Championship.
Race Day:
“This was a great race to come to, because I had no pressure and was able to wrap up the championship the round before. The 100’s always do a great job with their race and this year they had us doing three loops which I like. The start was a little after 9:30 a.m. and I felt confident about my line. I had a first kick start and was off. It was really dusty and I was trying everything I could to not shut off until I got close to the banner. I saw I had a little gap, as I was coming to the first hill, and once I made it over clean I just tried to put a gap on everyone early. I was able to do that! The first loop was pretty fast, but it also had some pretty cool slower sections too.
When I came into the pits they told me I had a pretty good lead, but they didn’t tell me how much it was. On the second loop we got right into some great single track stuff and this is where I really started to have some fun. We had a pretty good hill climb before the fun downhill. It was really cool coming up to the top and seeing how far we had to go to get to the bottom. I felt really good and just tried not to make any mistakes, since there were spectators watching. The second loop had a lot of great single track trails and some good rocky terrain. Everything went pretty smooth (besides one small crash) and then it was back into the pits before the final loop. This time they told me I had a four-minute lead and that felt pretty nice going out for the final loop. 
Once I left the pits we had a pretty long valley (not my favorite stuff), but after that it was back into some cool single track sections. Before I knew it I could see I was heading back into the valley towards the pits. This time it wasn’t a fast valley, but a lot of rocky stuff with some drop offs. I would rather ride this stuff then the fast sections. I just rode smart and kept it on two wheels to the finish.”
Overall Summary:
“This was a really fun weekend and it was definitely a low key race for us. I really felt good and the bike was perfect all day. I just need to try and bottle this stuff up and bring it to more races. This was really a great way to end the year!”
Other Notes:
“This really was a successful year for me. Winning the H&H championship, and then being part of the (International Six Days Enduro) United States team to get on the podium in Greece made it a great year! My family is such a huge part of everything I do, along with Jonny Weisman who knows how to build great race bikes. I can’t forget about Kawasaki, because I know I would’ve never been in this position without them. I also want to thank all my other major sponsors (Monster, GPR, Thor, Pro Circuit, Dunlop, Stephen Gall training, Shoei, SIDI, IMS, and the list goes on). Thanks for everyone’s support!!! I’m going to do everything I can to get my own record for the most championships next year!
This was Josh Morros (Monster Energy/Kawasaki) first race at a H&H since his crash in Nevada. I know I keep saying he’s progressing so much, but it just amazes me to see how far he’s come just from last weekend when I saw him. He said it was tough sitting there and watching us race, and wants to be out there so bad. He ended up being my goggle guy in the pits and did a heck of a job giving me my goggles:). He also gave me the checkered flag at the end of the race.
This was my last big race of the year, besides the EnduroCross in Vegas (November) which is more for fun. I’m actually debating driving over to Glen Helen this week to race the World vet MX championship. I can go race the ‘09 Kawasaki KX450F there!”
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it Hare & Hound, GNCC, WORCS, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Destry Abbott digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Jason Thomas leads Fred Andrews’ team again with a podium 3rd place finish at the 13th and final round of the 2008 Can Am Grand National Cross Country Series
 CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 27, 2008) – The Can Am Grand National Cross Country Series, aka the “GNCCs,” came to a close this past weekend in Crawfordsville, Ind., after 13 rounds of the nation’s premier professional off road motorcycle racing east of the Mississippi. And again leading the charge in the XC2 class for the Monster Energy/Yamaha/Fred Andrews racing squad was Jason Thomas, who placed 3rd overall on the day. With ideal conditions in the 50-degree range greeting the Monster Energy-backed racers aboard the Yamahas, both Thomas and teammate Dustin Gibson got things going early with a couple powerful starts that had each racer in a top five position heading into the woods early in the contest.  Looking to continue the team’s streak of podium finishes in all but one GNCC so far this spring/summer/fall, Monster Energy/Yamaha/Fred Andrews racing’s Thomas had his YZ250F up into 3rd place by the end of the first lap, though Gibson ended up making a wrong turn and came out a bit back (8th place) after the first lap.
By the gas stop Thomas was solidly in 3rd place and Gibson, looking to keep himself in the overall podium championship points chase, pushed ‘er a bit too hard and crashed in the woods. Moments later Thomas was able to make a run on 2nd place with one lap to go, taking over that position for a bit – until a crash late in the race relegated him back to 3rd place. While Thomas held onto 3rd – giving the Monster Energy/Yamaha/Fred Andrews team 12 out of 13 podium finishes (something no other XC2 team could match - teammate Dave Snyder had charged up from back in the pack to pull off a top ten (9th) finish for the squad. And Gibson would eventually make the top 15 (13th) and preserved his spot on the overall season podium. “I crashed on the second lap and broke my front fender off,” said Thomas. “It was hard to ride without it. But my dad had flown all the way over from England for this race and I wanted to be on the podium today for him.” Added Gibson: “I crashed hard and I think I broke my foot. I had to get points today to finish 2nd on the year.” Overall Gibson held onto the 2nd o/a spot in the XC2 class, while Josh Weisenfels placed 9th after being in 5th place for much of the season, then suffering a setback with a shoulder injury. Thomas, who only competed in six races (five podiums), would also make the top ten for the Monster Energy/Yamaha/Fred Andrews team – giving the program three racers in the XC2 class’ top ten. And Snyder would place 14th, which put every guy on the team in the top 15 overall. “Thanks again to Monster for all the help this year,” said Andrews. “This was our best season ever and were pumped to have Monster on board with us.” Monster Energy supports the sport. Be off road, it insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, enduro, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Dustin Gibson, Josh Weisenfels, Jason Thomas and Dave Snyder dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Monster Energy/Thor/Leading Edge Kawasaki team will feature Teddy Maier and Brock Hoyer contesting the Nex-Trax Canadian Arenacross Series
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 27, 2008) – Monster Energy will take it north of the border this winter as title sponsor of the Monster Energy/Thor/Leading Edge Kawasaki team – featuring Teddy Maier and Brock Hoyer – on the 2008-’09 Nex-Trax Canadian Arenacross Series.
Running the highly-decorated Kawasaki KX250F bikes, Maier and Hoyer open the series on Nov. 7th at Chilliwack’s Heritage Park Center (located about an hour from Vancouver, B.C.) – the exclusive venue for the six round 2008-’09 Nex-Trax Canadian Arenacross Series.
Last year the Canadian Hoyer finished 2nd overall in the series rankings, while this year will be the first Iowa’s Maier. Both should challenge for the overall title, especially Maier given he’s won multiple main events on the premier American arenacross tour (Toyota AMA Arenacross) this past year.
Said Monster Energy/Thor/Leading Edge Kawasaki team owner Jason Hughes: “Brock is a solid arenacross rider and long time Leading Edge rider, so he was a no brainer for this series. But with Teddy we felt that after his successful season with our team outdoors this summer and his long history of arenacross success in the U.S. he'd be a great addition to help showcase the all new 2009 KX250F. The new bike is amazing so I'm excited to see what they can do aboard it at Chilliwack.”
Hughes also explained that Kawasaki Canada will offer up a “Factory Rider for a Day” program through the leading edge team. For further details on that link to: www.leadingedgeonline.ca
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it AX, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, SX, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Teddy Maier and Brock Hoyer dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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What does one do for a curtain call on a summer that included X Games gold, 75K Maloof Money Cup dough and Tampa Vert wins? How about a Dew Tour title!
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 24, 2008) – To put it quite honestly, the right guy won the AST Dew Tour Skate Vert overall championship this past weekend. Monster Energy’s Pierre Luc “PLG” Gagnon is the top vert skater on the planet – as documented by his dominant contest record this past summer – and was rewarded for his efforts with this year’s overall Dew Cup on the halfpipe.
The Skate Vert Dew Cup was an exclamation point on a summer that opened with the Tampa Pro Vert contest win, followed by a win in the richest vert contest in history – the 75K Maloof Money Cup – and yet another win in the world’s premier vert contest, the ESPN Summer X Games 14. With all due respect to his fellow competitors, namely Bucky Lasek, Bob Burnquist and Andy McDonald, PLG maybe could have been ranked a little higher in the standings heading into last week’s final in Orlando. Some of his early season runs (namely Baltimore) were first rate and, though PLG wouldn’t himself admit it, possibly scored a bit low. But that’s the subjective nature of any judged athletic contest. And for their part the Dew Tour judges have a super tough job and certainly get things right more often than not. That said, a little ‘poetic justice’ was served at Orlando on Saturday with PLG winning and, for once, ‘lucky’ Bucky not pulling off the upset win on his last run. PLG took a vastly different approach to training for this summer’s competition vert season. Rather than shy away from the difficult, high-risk tricks during practice and just try to throw them at the contest, he met his demons – like the 720s and Tre’ Flip variation – head on during his aggro practice sessions in and around his home of Carlsbad, Calif. The end result, according to PLG, was a new-found confidence that he parlayed into easily the most successful vert contest summers of his career and one of the best by a single skater since Hawk’s reign. Back home chillin’ in SoCal and getting ready for the fall stretch of his competition tour, Monster Energy caught up with PLG and got his take on his ’08 season and latest conquest – the Skate Vert Dew Cup. Monster Energy: What it is PLG! Congrats on the contest win, man. I’m telling you EVERYBODY at Monster Energy is pumped for your ass! From your perspective, tell the Monster Army members how it all went down this past weekend. PLG: “I was playing catch up with Bucky (Lasek) and Bob (Burnquist) all year. I’d had a pretty consistent year with X Games and the Maloof’s Money Cup, then I got like three 2nd place finishes on the Dew Tour. I was actually having a tough time getting used to the ramp, but still real close in the points (Lasek was leading by 17 points heading into Orlando). Bob and Andy Mac (MacDonald) were between us, so pretty much all of us had a shot at winning the whole tour. About the only thing that could have gone wrong for me, if I won, had Bucky got 2nd place he still would have won the whole tour by two points.” Monster Energy: Dude, that had to be some insane pressure on you at Orlando. Fill us in – in detail – what was going through your mind up on the deck during that contest. PLG: “I came out on the first run real strong and got a score of 90. Second run I stepped it up a little more and got a 93. Then I really put the hammer down in the third run and got a 96. So Bucky ended up falling on his first and second runs, Andy Mac was in 2nd and Danny Mayer was in 3rd. It came down to Bucky’s last run and I was real frickin’ nervous because if he would have pulled that run it wouldn’t have been hard for him to score at least an 87 and squeeze in between me and Andy Mac. I mean 89 or 90 and – BOOM – he’s right in there and wins the whole tour by two points.” PLG continued: “But I think that what happened was my 96, which was the best run I did all year, put so much pressure on him (Bucky) that it ended up helping me in the end. I mean he got to go last, which can be ideal because you can plan your strategy around what everyone else did. Hold back or unleash – your call. For me I was able to drop in with a clear mind, not worry about anything and that showed in how I got better scores on each run. But for Bucky, he had to worry about what I did. So many times that’s happened, where I’ve been in 1st place for the whole contest and he comes in and freakin’ knocks it on the last run and wins the contest. So I was like ‘Shit, I hope he doesn’t do that. He’s done it so many times.’ I wasn’t wishing anything bad on Bucky or anything, but I was thinking ‘Man, I hope he doesn’t pull this.’ And he ended up falling on his second wall and that’s pretty much it.” Monster Energy: You’d mentioned before – X Games gold. $75,000 at the Maloof Money Cup. You also won the Tampa Pro, considered by to be one of – if not the – most core vert contests on the planet. Had you not won the Dew Cup, would you have been bummed? PLG: “No way, man. That was the good thing about it. I knew I had a good shot, go for it 100-percent and not hold back. The gnarliest run I’ve ever done. If it works it works. I win and it’ll be freakin’ awesome. If it doesn’t? Shit, I already had an amazing year and got nothing to prove. So yeah, I was in a pretty good position.” Monster Energy: Looking back to Baltimore (opening Dew Tour round), Bucky beat you by a quarter point. Again, not to disrespect the judging, but that could have easily been you winning by a point. And not just you and Bucky in Baltimore. Andy MacDonald killed it in Cleveland – and Bucky gets the nod again. So do you feel you got the respect you deserved at Orlando? PLG: “I feel I’m finally getting the respect I’ve been working for forever. It’s not like I achieved this overnight. It’s been more like 20 years before it really paid off and I’ve accomplished what I’ve always dreamed of. Respect from fellow riders/competitors and judges like never before. But when I really look at it, in the big picture, hey, I’m just enjoying life and skateboarding – that’s all.” Monster Energy: Those familiar with skateboarding, especially some of the younger Monster Army members focused on street, may not know that many of the tricks you’re pulling were invented by guys like Hawk and Danny Way in the 1990s, namely for videos (where they had all day to land one trick). You’ve taken this to an entirely new level and are landing these video tricks in contests – like right when the dude on TV tells you “Go!” How difficult has it been to arrive at this? PLG: “You’re talking tricks like 720s and Tre Flip Fakies to 360 Tre Flips, things like that. I think where I’ve changed recently is that, some of the scarier tricks, more ballsy tricks where you have to put your body on the line - 7s and stuff - I used to save them for a contest with some extra effort and sometimes pull them. Now I run that shit every day. I skate the same way everyday as I do in a contest. So much easier now that I do it on a daily basis, not trying to accomplish something I’ve never done before. Brought my confidence level up a whole bunch, put the time in and I guess my skating’s matured.” Monster Energy: What’s up next for you? PLG: I’ve got three more big events left in ’08: Seattle LG, Dubai X Games, and I’ll probably go to Brazil to a Mega Ramp contest. Finish up around mid December. Then I’m going to do some filming on the new the Darkstar video.” Monster Energy: Right on. Any parting words to the legions of Monster Army members: PLG: Thanks to Seth, Hollywood, John Lee, Mark Hall for all the support, everyone else at Monster – you know what I’m sayin’? Me, Bestwick and Jones held it down pretty well this past weekend. Couldn’t have been a better turnout for Monster.” Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it skate, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. PLG digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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This past week Bestwick won an unprecedented fourth-straight BMX Vert Dew Cup and has no plans to stop (unless he gets his AMA pro road racing license)
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 23, 2008) – Monster Energy’s Jamie Bestwick does it all on the AST Dew Tour. Flying the action sports-friendly green M-claw logo high above the centerpiece vert ramp as the now FOUR TIME Dew Cup BMX Vert champion, handling all sorts of media requests (and sometimes too many as you’ll find out) for the summer long tour and even taking over the TV color commentary duties for his sport when he’s not competing (Dirt & Park) – Bestwick’s on it.
On the high side of 40-years-old Bestwick has flat out carried ‘the prime of his career’ label well beyond his peers in this risky sport. And he does so with character and showmanship second-to-none on the Dew Tour, along with a training regiment that’s as hardcore and disciplined as they come.
So it’s no wonder that you probably didn’t know that Bestwick won four of the five Dew Tour rounds (2nd at the fifth) with a ripped up anterior cruciate ligament, aka “ACL,” did you? Merely a speed bump for this superman athlete, something similar to what Monster Energy’s Ricky Carmichael did in 2003 when he won the Outdoor Nationals title on a wounded knee.
Another pretty cool aspect to Bestwick’s summer was his friend and competitor, Chad Kagy. The two went at it like heavyweight fighters on the vert ramp, trading run after run that those in attendance and watching on TV would think ‘There’s NO WAY he can beat that!’ And more often than not Bestwick would step up and do just that – top the seemingly invincible Kagy run with one even more bionic and jaw-dropping of his own.
Somewhere on the road between his home in Pennsylvania and his stomping grounds of Camp Woodward Monster Energy caught up with Bestwick to put some words to his incredible summer of BMX. Here’s what the man had to say…
Monster Energy: Hey man, let’s get this rolling by talking about your rivalry with Chad Kagy. Of all the different action sports, this was for certain the premier athlete-vs.-athlete rivalry of the summer. Talk about how that played into the competitions, while also helping continue to elevate the sport of BMX Vert.
Jamie Bestwick: “Me and Chad have been swinging it back and forth for some time and, when you look at it on paper, the competition results heavily swing in my favor everywhere. But by no means is that a reflection of what went off at the actual contests. I just had to knuckle down and put some work in, having someone push me that way is good for me. I want to feel like I had to work for the win and nothing came easy.”
Bestwick continued: “I used to ride like that against (Monster Energy’s) Dave Mirra a while ago and we were pushing each other in the same way – and it was for the good of the sport. To have somebody compete against is better for the fans and it brings more interest into BMX vert. Nobody wants to see a guy just running away with it. They always want to see some kind of fight taking place – and that’s exactly what happened this year.”
Monster Energy: After Portland, the lone Dew Tour stop you didn’t win, (Bestwick fell twice, still got 2nd), was there any sense of urgency on your behalf? Or did you figure on just sticking your runs, do what you do and let the judges decide?
Jamie Bestwick: “The Portland event was kind of my own fault. I did too many early morning TV requests and, to be totally honest, I was tired. Portland’s always been a great stop for me and it just didn’t work out. There has to be some point of the year where you’re just not going to get all the cards, and Portland just happened to be that stop for me. Initially I just thought ‘Well, that sucks.’ But then I factored in the fact that I was tired, wasn’t particularly motivated to ride and, you know, still hit some big stuff and managed to gain a 2nd place finish – which ended up being crucial in the race for the overall Best Athlete Cup (which Bestwick tied for 1st with BMX Park’s Daniel Dhers). But sometimes you can’t do it at every event. 2nd place or a bad performance, not on my game, gets me refocused for the next stop and I won’t make that same mistake again. So sometimes the 2nd spot is a good spot.”
Monster Energy: To the casual fan, they can’t tell who the winner is. So many guys are so good. Subtle nuances and that. What is it that allows you to rise above?
Jamie Bestwick: “I think the one thing that elevates me above everyone else, I’ve never been shy about how high I can go. I think that that’s what judges want to see. People going high. Technically difficult. And use the whole ramp – and that’s what I’m best at. I stick to what I know best, go high, travel huge distances and change things up at a split second when I need to. I know how to ride a vert ramp and that’s an attribute I got from the skateboarders. While some people can go out and hit a bangin’ trick, for the next three years they might be below six feet, where in those three years I’ve done three really good tricks in that time – all at ten foot plus and from one side of the ramp to the other.”
Monster Energy: We know from speaking with you in the past that you’re core when it comes to training. Not only vert, but also on your road bike and running. Having given it away a bit early on your ACL situation, did this effect your training regiment this summer?
Jamie Bestwick: “I tore my ACL at the Clash at Clairmont right before the season started. Didn’t know until a couple stops in (to the Dew Tour) how severe it was. Knee was really bothering me and I couldn’t run anymore. Right before the last event I was riding back home and I fell a good 19 feet straight to the bottom of the ramp. Wasn’t that much fun. So there’s been a few times this year, especially Salt Lake City, where I haven’t felt physically great. And that all came down to the fact I couldn’t use my knee as much as I’d have like this year. I like to run. Like to ride my road bikes and keep physically fit. And I didn’t have that option this year.
Monster Energy: You going to have that knee rebuilt in the off season?
Bestwick: “Yeah, but after X Games Dubai.”
Monster Energy: We’ve had the opportunity this week to give Monster Army members a look into the minds of the generals such as yourself to give them a feeling on what goes through your head at such big event like Orlando – where everything’s on the line. PLG and Adam Jones did a real nice job with this. Tell us about your Orlando experience and how you dealt with the pressure given the overall BMX Vert Dew Cup was on the line.
Jamie Bestwick: “Oh yeah, I try to revert the psychology that’s basically been put on me. I have the 30-point lead. I’ve been in this position three times before. I know what it’s like to defend the championship. And it was me that had to make the mistake, and Chad would seriously have to capitalize on that. He (Chad) went out there and did a great job, laid down a first rate run. All I had to do was stay inside the top five. But I said on TV before I rode in, ‘Although I only need to finish in the top five, I didn’t come here to finish in the top five.’ So I dropped in and put a good run together, solid, everywhere on the ramp and hit a few of my best tricks – rewarded with a great score. And the score that I got was too high for people to bump me down to 5th. So I knew I was onto something and the Dew Cup was probably coming home with me – and it turned out that nobody could beat that 94 score. Won stop, got the Cup and a share (with Dhers) of the Athlete of the Year award. So it was a great contest.” Note: Bestwick won the AotY in ’06 as well.
Monster Energy: A lot of the Monster Energy-drinking faithful know you from announcing BMX Park and Dirt as well. Seems as though you have a heck of a lot of fun with that? Ever thought of taking it further?
Jamie Bestwick: “These past three years have been very fun for me both riding-wise and with the commentary position on the AST Dew Tour. I get to talk about people I have a lot of respect for, that and I just respect riding in general. I’ve always viewed TV commentary in our sport as rather boring and they (action sports announcers) don’t really reflect the scene that’s actually happening at the contest. When I’ve been in the crowd at a contest, sat with a bunch of other athletes and team managers, I mean we have a blast. We’re jumping up and down, screaming, saying funny stuff – and I think that needs to come across to the viewers at home. They need to be persuaded to get out of their armchairs and come to these events. And what more can you do than actually relay the feeling of actually being there than have someone who’s genuinely excited about being at that event announcing it, you know?”
Monster Energy: Right on. Hey, what do you have going on next?
Jamie Bestwick: “LG World Championships in Seattle next week. Then get ready for X Games Dubai, which will be a very hot competition. Then I’m probably going to go motorcycle racing again. I just had huge Monster logo put on my Alpinestars leathers, so I’ll probably go to Las Vegas Motor Speedway and put my knee down again.
Monster Energy: You know Mirra’s racing Rally now. Would you consider some AMA road racing?
Jamie Bestwick: “I would love to think that I’d be good enough to go out and get my AMA license. I’m a huge fan of motorcycle racing, regardless if it’s AMA, MotoGP, World Superbike – I just love motorcycle racing.”
Monster Energy: And do all signs point to you returning for a run at a 5th Dew Tour title next year?
Jamie Bestwick: “Yes, everything’s great. Great to come back and defend. Enjoy doing that above everything else. Love to see the progression of the sport and I like to be tested. I like to think I haven’t seen my best riding yet. And although I’ve been pushed this year, I didn’t get pushed as hard as I would have liked. 2009 will give me a chance to expand on my riding and get pushed by probably people more than just Chad, but also guys like Steve McCann, Zach Warden and Simon Tabron. So yeah, it’s going to be another great year.”
Monster Energy: Thanks again for taking the time to get all the Monster Army men caught up on your unreal summer, Jamie. Good luck next weekend at LG and we’ll catch up with you soon.
Jamie Bestwick: “Sounds good. Enjoyed representing again with Monster this year and look forward to what’s in store for us in 2009!”
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it BMX, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, wake, mini bikes, surf, snow – 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Jamie Bestwick digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Chareyre captures both the Italian Supermoto overall championship in Sept. and then steps up and wins FIM World Supermoto Championship last weekend
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 22, 2008) – French FIM World Supermoto Championship star and Monster Energy athlete, Adrien Chareyre, recently wrapped up the premier European World Championships overall title with a 2-1 finish at the final round of the European-based series in Thessaloniki, Greece, Chareyre’s second championship in as many years.
Chareyre, contesting the top S2 class for the Italy-based Husqvarna CH Racing factory team and thought by many to be the best supermoto racer in Europe, scored 13 podium finishes in addition to his win last weekend including eight 2nd place and five 3rd place efforts en route to the overall FIM title. And in 2009 he is set to take America by storm with plans on contesting ESPN’s X Games 15 in Los Angeles.
Now basking in the glow of a highly-revered world title, the thoughtful 22-year-old took a moment to dedicate his championship to a friend that recently passed away.
“I knew I had to keep it on two wheels this past weekend and I think I did it,” said Chareyre. “Pole yesterday and Superpole today proved I was doing it right. Then we closed the circle with two solid rides in the heats. I want to dedicate this title to Ms. Jeannine Seurat, a few days before she passed away I said I wanted to win this title for her and I am proud to have made it. My first title was dedicated to her husband Marcel Seurat, they taught me the job. I am sure they are still enjoying the GP’s from up in the sky.” Note: Seurat is the former SIMA Moto team manager.
The 2007 FIM Word Supermoto champion in the S1 class aboard the Husqvarna CH Racing ride, Chareyre aligned himself with Monster Energy for the ’08 competition season and the relationship paid instant dividends for both camps as the rising French star was able to win the premier S2 class with an overall victory at the final round of the series in Greece.
Nicknamed “The Cat” for his propensity to stalk fellow racers and stay on his feet in precarious situations, Chareyre has been a member of the Husqvarna CH Racing team since 2003. And though an injury slowed his rookie campaign, but he fought back hard the next year (’04) to finish 5th overall in the S1 class. The following season Chareyre lost the overall championship to Boris Chambon by a mere three points, then in ’06 placed close behind eventual champion and European star familiar to American supermoto fans, Thierry Van Den Bosch (who’s now Chareyre’s Husky teammate).
Chareyre’s breakout year would be ’07 where he won the overall S1 at 21 years old – the youngest FIM World Supermoto champion ever. “The Cat” recorded points in each single heat race and never missed placing in the top five. That, coupled with two wins and four podiums was a nice compliment to representing his country of France on the winning 2007 Supermoto of Nations team.
For 2009 Chareyre will continue with Monster Energy and the Husqvarna factory team on the FIM Supermoto World Championship tour. To read up a bit more on Chareyre, check out his website at: http://www.adrienchareyre.com
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it supermoto, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Adrien Chareyre digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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It was a year ago Jones was medivaced out of the SoCal LG event with injuries similar to that of a horrific car wreck – now he’s back and better than ever! 
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 23, 2008) – Adam Jones’ FMX career has risen and fallen like the stock market as of late. It wasn’t but a year ago that the Monster Energy athlete lay crumpled in a hospital bed, the result of a pummeling he took at the LG World FMX Championships. Now, he’s back on top of the world on his dirt bike, recently being crowned the Dew Cup FMX champ.
Coming back from the depth of an FMX crash is a bit different than say a football player with a knee injury. With a healthy person and an aggressive rehab program, an athlete can be back in his or her feet in a matter of days – sometimes hours – after blowing out a knee and having it rebuilt. Quite the contrary in FMX where Adams’ injuries sustained in Pomona (Calif.) last year were reminiscent of a yesteryear mafia hit where, quite literally, the entire left side of his body was crushed – leaving him incapacitated.
“I remember my lung was bruised pretty bad and after a while in the hospital I started coughing up some blood,” said Adams. “That alone wouldn’t have been that bad I guess. But because I had six broken ribs and a crushed scapula, the pain was pretty severe.”
We make a point to accentuate the dark side of FMX early here. Jones, like his counterparts on Monster Energy’s world-leading FMX squad – including Nate Adams and Blake “Bilko” Williams – have an incredible threshold for pain. And that pretty much goes with all the FMX stars at their level, regardless of what energy drink they’re pimpin’.
But what makes Jones different is that he won. Gutted out some really hard times, not only with pain, but also financially, got back on his dirt bike and did what he could to make money for his family. He’d suffer even another setback – and more physical pain – and freakin’ stepped up again and won the biggest action sports series’ FMX discipline this past weekend in Orlando, Fla.
Monster Energy’s Adam Jones is a man among men when it comes to action sports athletes. He’s been beat down to the point of tears, then pulled himself back up from the depths of despair to achieve amazing heights. Monster Energy salutes Adam Jones. And here’s his incredible story, in his own words.
Monster Energy: Hey man, before we get into all this freestyle stuff, a lot of Monster Army members ride and race dirt bikes. We know for a fact you can kill it in motocross, being brought up racing at the Monster Energy-backed Steel City Raceway in Delmont, Pa. – the final stop on the Outdoor Nationals MX tour.
Adam Jones: “Yeah, I’d raced dirt bikes all my life. What I did when I was a kid. Moved up to the Intermediate class, then 125 A – started running some local pro stuff. But once I got to that level I maybe got psyched out a bit. Seemed like the more pressure there was, the worse I’d do. Kind of a head case I guess.”
Monster Energy: Did you ever qualify for Loretta’s?
Adam Jones: “When I first started racing we were doing that. I’d get out of the area qualifiers pretty easy, then I’d run into some problems at regionals. I remember one year, the year I felt I had the best chance of making it, the regional was at Steel City. I was all pumped and it ended up storming and pouring all weekend. And I was never really that good of a mud rider.”
Monster Energy: So when did the dreams of becoming the next McGrath/Carmichael switch to FMX?
Adam Jones: “After I started racing pro I maybe got burned out a bit. So I took some time away from bikes and then the freestyle stuff kind of popped up. I always liked jumping, picked up on the tricks right away. So it was a pretty natural progression for me.”
Bit of Jones history: Jones pretty much made the transition from motocross to FMX at age 17, then started competing on the still-running IFMA tour. Had some great results there, but didn’t really register on the X Games radar until ’04 when you podiumed in Freestyle, then finished 4th the following year (’05) in the overall Dew Tour points – that series’ first year.
Monster Energy: Fast forward to last year. LG FMX World Championships in Pomona, Calif. What the heck happened?
Adam Jones: “I still don’t know, really. People said I left in an ambulance and the last thing I remember is them putting me in a helicopter. (Jones pauses and thinks for a moment) It was really bad. I broke six ribs and broke my scapula in seven places, bruised all up. All the left side of my body hurt pretty bad. I remember being up against Twitch, really didn’t want to get beat by him. Did a cliff hanger flip and for some reason my feet didn’t get hooked in very good – so, my feet came loose and, again, I don’t really remember what happened. I didn’t get back to the bike and just got SLAMMED to the ground.”
Jones continued: “Everybody told me I left Pomona in an ambulance, but apparently they went somewhere and called a helicopter because I woke up being put in a helicopter. Was in the hospital by myself for a while. Knew I was in an accident, but I can’t for the life of me remember how. Couldn’t remember my run or anything.” Injury results: Six ribs and scapula pretty much shattered and lung was bruised – all on the same side of Jones’ body. Out of the hospital for bit, then had to have some follow up surgery after all that a couple months later. “I was in rough shape,” he added.
Monster Energy: So how’d 2008 start off for you?
Adam Jones: “Man, I couldn’t even get on a bike until February. Rode like four times then I headed over to Australia for the Crusty Tour. But over there we only were riding one day a week and I was like ‘I’m feeling terrible on a motorcycle.’ I needed the money because I hadn’t ridden for so long, but I also needed to ride. So I was in quite a position there.”
Monster Energy: When’d you come home?
Adam Jones: “I got back, had like four days of practice (before the Baltimore Dew Tour opener), did the best I could but it just wasn’t’ enough. I felt alright at home, but once I got to a contest I just realized how not ready I was. Tried to fight through it, but I’m not the type of guy that will ride on the edge – especially coming off an injury. I’d rather survive an event and be able to make it to the next one rather than get hurt. Say if I’d have got injured in Baltimore? My whole season would have been over. Note: Jones settled for 6th place at the Baltimore Dew Tour FMX opener.
Monster Energy: So you held back?
Adam Jones: “I tried to be smart about it. Wasn’t feeling good, wasn’t feeling like myself so I just cruised controlled through it and you know, worked hard the rest of the year and it ended up working out.”
Monster Energy: The Dew Tour FMX schedule was a bit jacked up this year. Talk about how that affected you guys – the competitors – and how everybody thought it all shook down in the end.
Adam Jones: “Last year was probably the hardest year for freestyle on the Dew Tour. Every single event got delayed or had big problems of some sort. A lot of aggravation with the riders, going back and forth with the people putting on the events. So this year they just kinda took out some of the events. Cleveland – extremely windy. Wasn’t even a shot for us to ride there last year. Portland was easy, indoors – kind of like a street course for us. But I don’t think they liked that for TV. So they clipped that one. Just wanted to cut back and see how it went.
Jones continued: “Honestly, this year – nobody was all that upset. I think the Dew Tour people did a good job adjusting and the rounds that we did compete in were good. Everybody was pumped on this year’s schedule. They did more to work on the courses this year and more to help us. And I’m sure next year will be even better.”
Monster Energy: So you went from 6th at the opener to going 1-1 at Salt Lake City and Orlando to win it all. BUT – you weren’t able to step up and defend your X Games gold medal from ’07. Did that factor in motivating you to win the Dew Cup?
Adam Jones: “Yeah, kind of. But it wasn’t anything I did. For some reason my bike just died on the lip. First jump of my first practice. Don’t know why it did. No fault of mine. My mechanic was just there trying to help me out. Did he overlook something? I dunno. Cracked my hip. Cracked my pelvis. Pulled my groin. Didn’t know if I was going to end the year right there or not.”
Monster Energy: But you were able to bounce back for SLC.
Adam Jones: “Going into Salt Lake, which was pretty much the next contest, I was like ‘I don’t really care what place I get.’ Felt pretty good going in and wanted to stick the best run I possibly could. That was it and that’s what I did. Ended up riding pretty good and won it. Wasn’t expecting that but it was definitely a good change of pace for me – something I really needed. Hadn’t had one good result all year, so after Salt Lake I was really excited.”
Monster Energy: Which leads us to Orlando last weekend. You had to be battling some serious head games - flashbacks of your bad wreck a year before, jacked up again at X Games. Did you feel you had momentum from overcoming all that and winning SLC?
Adam Jones: “I had a lot of momentum. When I got back on the bike (after X) after about three weeks I felt just as good as I did heading into X. Rode every weekend from Salt Lake to Orlando. And the three days in between traveling I’d ride as well. (Note: At the Mexico X Games Jones got 2nd in FMX and Best Trick and LG World FMX Championships 3rd , where he’d crashed so bad the previous year.) And that 3rd was because of a (laughter from Jones) stomach virus I brought home from Mexico. Rode a demo in Spain, then rode home a bunch in Minden (outside Carson City, Nev.)
Monster Energy: This all brings us to the final run of the year for you, the Dew Tour Orlando run.
Adam Jones: “I went last. Everybody had two runs. It was really, really windy in Orlando. Sucked, really. But a lot of guys were having a tough time. I made a couple mistakes, but none were that big. Didn’t miss a trick entirely, but I’m a perfectionist.”
Monster Energy: Then you played the waiting game.
Adam Jones: “Yeah, after my first run I got to go last and I just waited around for everybody to ride. And if nobody beat my first run I wasn’t going back out there because it was pretty windy. Scary.”
Monster Energy: And after the last guy went?
Adam Jones: “It was a pretty good feeling. Won the last round and won the Cup. Definitely liked getting all that pressure off my chest. Thought about that a lot before Orlando. Couldn’t sleep or anything leading up to the event. Thinking ‘If I don’t win the points series it would be because I blew it.’ Really putting a lot of pressure on myself, having nightmares about it. So when it was finally over and I had that Cup in my hand – I was able to breath out finally.
Monster Energy: Right on! So what do you have going on next?
Adam Jones: “Uh, nothing. Plan on sitting home with my family and enjoying life a little bit. I’m married (Dara) with a step daughter and a new baby on the way.”
Monster Energy: What a great story, man. Enjoy your time off and, again, congrats from everyone at Monster Energy and all the Monster Army members on such a kick ass year.
Adam Jones: Stoked Monster’s got my back, man. Monster’s one of the best companies to be involved with in action sports and I’m looking forward to having them there with me when I go to defend my Dew Cup title in ’09.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it FMX insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Adam Jones digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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MONSTER ARMY, VOTE FOR PLG NOW FOR YOUR FAVORITE PLAYSTATION PRO MOMENT.
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| | | | NSSA NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY NO FEAR OCTOBER 19, 2008 OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY
Ocean City HS wins NSSANE Conference Championships in Challenging Conditions. Chris Kelly follows in brother’s footsteps winning the 2008 High School Men’s title. By: Northeast Director Joe Keenan 
OCEAN CITYHIGH SCHOOL'S CHRIS KELLY Overhead bombing surf, with north winds gusting to 30 mph, were the order of the day as competitors faced the most brutal conditions ever for the Northeast Championships. But it didn’t faze OCHS’s Chris Kelly who posted two perfect 10’s. One of those perfect scores for Kelly came in the final where he sewed up the High School Men’s title. His older brother Rob won the 2007 High School Championship a year ago. THE SCOREBOARD 2008 NSSA NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL RESULTS HIGH SCHOOL TEAM RESULTS 1. OceanCity A – 153.5 2. Southern Regional A – 117 3. Ocean City B – 107 4. Manasquan A – 100 5. MiddleTownship A – 94 6. Ocean City C – 68 7. Atlantic City A – 63.5 8. Point Pleasant Boro A – 60 9. Manasquan B – 47 10. OceanCity D – 45 11. Ocean City E – 39 12. Southern Regional B – 32 13. Monsignor Donovan A - 22 14. Middle Township B – 21 15. St Augustine’s A – 20 16. Point PleasantBeach A - 15 17. Holy Spirit A – 11 HIGH SCHOOL MENS 1. Chris Kelly OC A 2. Ian Bloch AC A 3. JordanBeverlyPoint Pleasant Boro A 4. MikeCiaramellaMiddleTownship A 5. ChrisEavesMiddleTownship A 6. Sean Santiago OC A |
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Dietrich places 2nd to Kawasaki-mounted Bobby Bonds in exciting World Off Road Championship Series final held in and around Taft, Calif., loses title, 212-211
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 20, 2008) – Ouch. Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Ricky Dietrich took a four-point lead into the tenth and final World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS), 186-182, but got beat to the punch by fellow Kawasaki racer and former pro motocross star, Bobby Bonds, losing out to the veteran motocrosser in an exciting battle in the oil and natural gas-rich town of Taft, Calif., 212-211.
Dietrich, who actually led much of the race, said straight up that he was beaten by a better rider this past weekend. He led rival Bonds (who had cross-rutted and crashed early), but succumbed to a fierce charge by the former factory Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki pro motocross racer in the end.
“I pretty much rode a perfect race today,” said Dietrich. “I was planning to follow Bondo (Bonds) once he got by me, and then take him in the closing laps. But he was amazing today.”
Bonds caught and passed Dietrich in a field, nearby the area where they filmed scenes from “Thelma and Louise.” Through the remainder of the race Bonds continued to build on his lead and Dietrich wouldn’t have an answer as Bonds won by more than 30 seconds.
So with Dietrich placing 2nd overall at Taft – and 2nd overall in the WORCS by a single point, it was still solid in Monster Energy’s opinion to see Kawasaki go 1-2. And on top of that Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Damon Huffman and Destry Abbott also made the top 15 overall with Huffman placing 4th in the series and Abbott – the ’08 AMA Hare & Hound Series champion – finishing 13th.
Also noteworthy: Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Robert Taylor, having already wrapped up the Pro 2 support class title, placed 24th overall in the premier Pro division (his first WORCS pro division race of the season).
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it WORCS, GNCC, Hare & Hound, MX, SX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Ricky Dietrich, Damon Huffman, Destry Abbott and Robert Taylor dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monster army.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Block hammers his Vermont SportsCar-tuned Subaru WRX STI home in 1st place at the ninth and final round of the Rally America championships this past weekend
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 20, 2008) – Monster Energy-backed Ken Block, who’s run into just about as much bad luck as humanly possible through much of the nine-round Rally America championships this past summer, proved why he’s considered to be the fastest driver on the north America’s premier professional rally car racing tour, winning the Lake Superior Performance Rally in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this past weekend.
With the winning effort Block, driving for the factory Subaru team, moved all the way up into 2nd place in the overall standings – giving the Vermont SportsCar-tuned Subaru WRX STIs the 1-2 finish in the championship (Block’s Subaru teammate, Travis Pastrana, placed 1st).
Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino were in a tight battle with rivals Kyle Sarasin and Andrew Comrie-Picard for 2nd place overall in the championship. And, like in 2007, the battle may have come right down to the wire between Block and teammate Pastrana had it not been for some just flat out bad luck for Block a number of the previous rounds. From flat tires to bent equipment resulting from crashes, Block used up about three season worth of misfortune in one nine-race championship after leading the series handily through the first several ‘08 rounds.
“I'm glad to end the season with the win. Now I've got some momentum going into next year, so I'm very happy,” said Block. “It's great for the team to finish 1-2 in the championship and we have proven the new 2008 STI can win. Next year it will only get better.”
With fall colors popping and providing a fireworks-like backdrop for this past weekend’s racing, Block and Gelsomino took to the tree-lined roads that crisscross Upper Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, carving fast stage after fast stage on the 123 miles of primarily logging and mining roads. In all Block and Gelsomino won 11 of the 17 stages in their 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, including the opening stage and never looked back – gapping the next closest competitor by more than a minute.
The 2009 Rally America championship gets underway with Michigan’s Sno* Drift Rally in late January ’09.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it rally, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Ken Block digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Block makes November “Movember” in favor of the Aussie “Mo” (for moustache) to help raise awareness for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment
Note: This is a crummy artist’s rendition of what Ken Block might look like a month from now.
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 17, 2008) – Monster Energy’s ace rally driver, Ken Block, will forego his customary ‘Animal Chin’ look this next month and grow what’s called a “Mo” (Australian for “moustache”) in order to help raise awareness for a critical men’s health issue: the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
With Monster Energy and his rally car sponsor, Subaru, backing Block’s transformation into a 1980s crime fighter (think: Magnum P.I.) efforts during “Movember,” Block will get his start this weekend when he begins his hair farming adventure in a rugged area of the United States rather accustom to bearded (and mustached) men – Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.).
So go ahead and call Block “Magnum U.P.”
“Generally, I have some hair on my chin and eliminate the hair below my nose. But, for this great cause, I am glad to switch up my facial hair priorities for the month," said Block in a press communication put out by his Subaru rally team – Vermont SportsCar. "I have never actually grown a mustache, so this if going to be a new experience for me!”
To donate to Ken Block's Mo you can either:
1. Click this link https://www.movember.com/us/donate/donate-details.php?action=sponsorlink®o=1372306&country=us and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account,
OR
2. Write a check payable to the 'Prostate Cancer Foundation', referencing Ken Block's Registration Number 1372306 and mailing it to:
Prostate Cancer Foundation
Attn: Movember
1250 Fourth St
Santa Monica, CA, 90401
About Movember:
Movember, an Australian non-profit organization, was born in 2003 when a couple of Australian mates were enjoying a beer at a small bar in Melbourne and decided two things – men's health issues needed a forum and the moustache was in dire need of a comeback. Their goal was to create a campaign that joined like-minded individuals while raising money for charity and having fun along the way.
Since 2003, Movember has turned into a truly global movement. In 2007, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Spain joined their Aussie counterparts by participating in the campaign. Since Movember's inception, almost 200,000 Mo Bros have sported a Mo and more than $29 million has been raised globally for prostate cancer research, including $740,568 raised in the United States last year. Movember is the biggest international event supporting prostate cancer.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it “Movember” moustache growing, rally, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Ken Block digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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PLG pulls off amazing come-from-behind win in Skate Vert, Jones is the ’08 AST/Dew FMX Champ and Bestwick again reigns supreme in BMX Vert
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 20, 2008) – Oh man, did Monster Energy athletes absolutely KILL IT at the final AST Dew Tour stop in Orlando (Fla.) this past week/weekend or what? Three Orlando stop wins cemented three overall Dew Cup victories in one of the biggest competitions of the year for Monster Energy athletes.
Everyone at Monster Energy HQ sends out a big “High Five” to the ’08 Dew Cup champions: Pierre Luc “PLG” Gagnon (Skate Vert), Jamie Bestwick (BMX Vert) and Adam Jones (FMX).
PLG
Entering Orlando the PLG faithful were hoping he could make up a couple points on red hot vert vet Andy McDonald to take over the third and final overall Skate Vert podium spot. But those close to PLG knew that if he skated up to his ability and put down the same runs that won him X Games 14, the Maloof Money Cup and Tampa Pro this summer – and caught a break in the numbers put up by the leaders heading into Orlando (Bucky Lasek & Bob Burnquist) – PLG would have a shot at the overall Dew Cup.
Well, the planets lined up and all the aforementioned stuff came true – PLG’s the 2008 Dew Cup winner, his first overall AST Dew Tour Skate Vert championship since the series was conceived in 2005.
“I’ve just been working really hard, skating every day,” said Monster Energy’s Gagnon. “You know, what we do on a skateboard, it’s not something you learn overnight, it’s not something where you get into it and it pays off right away. I’ve been doing this for like 19 or 20 years, and everything I’ve learned, all the work I’ve put into it to get the experience and the confidence... it just finally came together this year. I’m so stoked. We’re going to party tonight.”
PLG put up big numbers on all three of his runs, the clincher coming on his third run where he combined two 720s, a switch heelflip and 360 flip to fakie. The run scored a 96.0, which AST Dew Tour officials noted was one of the highest-scoring runs ever in the four year existence of the competition series.
BESTWICK
 Easily the most heated athlete-vs-athlete competition this summer was between buddies Bestwick and Chad Kagy. The two did more to raise the competition bar of their sport than any other Dew Tour athletes all summer long. Toe-to-toe, tooth-and-nail – call it what you want – but these two heavies banged out some of the most exciting rides ever in the sport and drove the judges nuts who had to score them. In the end it was Monster Energy’s Bestwick winning four out of five Dew Tour BMX Vert overalls – including Orlando – to win the Dew Cup, an unprecedented fourth-straight Dew Cup (the most in AST Dew Tour history) for Bestwick.
“I think the best part of our rivalry is that it helped elevate everyone’s game, which did a great deal to add to the overall validity of the sport of BMX Vert and kept it in the forefront of popularity with action sports fans across the board,” said Bestwick. “I’m pleased to have won and would also like to congratulate Chad on a very fine season. This is something neither of us will forget anytime soon.”
After Kagy put down what could have been a gold medal run anywhere/anytime, Bestwick, as he has all season, stepped up to the challenge and threw down only as he can – alley oop seat grab, topside no-footed can-can, 540 invert – and solidified his effort with a opposite flair to fastplant opposite flair, garnering himself a clean 94.0 score and the Orlando win.
JONES
 Up to the last couple years, 2006-’07, Monster Energy’s Nate Adams had a lock on the overall FMX Dew Cup. That all came to a screeching halt this past weekend as the AST Dew Tour King of FMX torch was passed from Adams to his Monster Energy teammate, Adam Jones.
With a lightning attack on the Orlando FMX ramps that featured several core flip variations (stripper, turntable and kiss of death), Jones overcame some sketchy winds to score a 93.67 – good enough for 1st place. Coupled with his win at Salt Lake City and a solid 6th place finish at Baltimore, Jones was able take the overall FMX Dew Cup a by 30 points over Robbie Maddison, 265-235.
“This is right up there,” said Jones. “I won a very big, very prestigious event today, and also won the championship at the same time. I tried to tell myself I didn’t feel any pressure, but I felt a fair bit of pressure.”
For the record Monster Energy athletes won every Dew Tour FMX round (Blake “Bilko” Williams winning Baltimore, Md.) and had three of its guys place in the top seven – Adams 5th, Williams 7th. And that stat would have been even better had Williams not been injured for Orlando and come away with zero points.
Also putting up a podium finish at Orlando was Monster Energy skater Greg Lutzka. The California transplant skated to a podium 3rd place finish in Skate Park – his second AST Dew Tour podium finish of the summer (Portland, Ore.) – which earned him 4th overall in the Skate Park Dew Cup.
Noteworthy: Monster Energy’s Mike Spinner wrapped up a highly successful summer that saw him finish 2nd place three times in BMX Park, and held onto that spot in the Dew Cup chase with a 9th at Orlando…Ryan Guettler capped off an excellent season in both BMX Park and BMX Dirt in which he finished in 7th place overall in both disciplines…Dave Mirra returned to BMX Park action and absolutely killed it in the prelims, scoring a 90.67 to qualify in 1st place for the finals. Monster Energy’s dual sport (BMX & rally) star continued to ride excellent and placed 5th overall in the finals – his highest placing of the year…And Monster Energy’s young vert star, Alex Perelson, wound up 12th overall in Skate Vert.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it AST Dew Tour, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Everybody runnin’ the M-claw logo on the ’08 AST Dew Tour dug ‘em royally – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Three-month Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX110 give-away runs online via MonsterEnergy.com, MonsterArmy.com and RacerXOnline.com
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 6, 2008) – Monster Energy and Kawasaki are ramping up a cool, green three-month promotion between now and the holiday season that will deliver a brand new Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX110 mini cycle to three lucky winners – one per month (October, November and December) - through an online promotion that spans three websites: MonsterEnergy.com, MonsterArmy.com and RacerXOnline.com.
The Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX110 will instantly turn your backyard into Unadilla or the Anaheim SX track. Constructed with a high-tensile steel frame and a user-friendly 111cc air cooled, two-valve, four-stroke engine, the bike is made for beginners – but is a heck of a lot of fun for experienced MX riders/racers as well.
“Mini bike racing is a phenomenon all over the country and Monster Energy is ecstatic to continue its relationship with Kawasaki through this unique promotion,” said Monster Energy’s John Lee. “The 2008 MX season may be over but Monster Energy and Kawasaki will continue to fuel people’s passion for the sport, leading us into 2009 on the green M-claw wave that swept both the MX Lites and MX class championships this summer for Kawasaki.”
Kick the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX110 and go. It’s about that simple. The semi-automatic three speed transmission – complete with a centrifugal clutch – is perfect for youngsters and people new to motorcycle riding. Mix in a few Original Monster Energy drinks, some dirt and a couple shovels and you and your buddies have got a motocross track! Jeans, long sleeve T-shirt, work boots/gloves and a helmet and the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX110 will delive the same rush as Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto gets at the Anaheim supercross (without the 45,050 sellout crowd of course)!
Note: The Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX110s given away will have the same race-bred bodywork and graphics inspired by the pro race bikes, as well as the KX65 youth racer!
Fans interested in getting in on this smokin’ little Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross Monster Energy/Kawasaki KLX110 mini bike give-away deal can do so by registering to win during the following three months at:
October (31st deadline): www.monsterenergy.com
November (30th deadline): www.racerxonline.com
December (31st deadline): www.monsterarmy.com
For more information on the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX110 give-away, including all the boring rules, regulations and stuff, make a point to check out www.monsterenergy.com
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it MX, SX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. The winners of these new Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX110s will be diggin’ Monster for sure! On the ‘Net at www.monsterenergy.com
“Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX 110 Giveaway” Official On-line Sweepstakes Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
How To Enter:
Monster Beverage Company (“Monster”) is offering the “Monster Energy/ Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX 110 Giveaway” and will award (1) Grand Prize via a random selection of valid entries. To enter, visit monsterenergy.com, click on sweepstakes registration link and complete the on-line registration by providing the following information: First name, last name, email address, date of birth and home telephone number including area code. This promotion begins at 12:00 AM, Nov. 1, 2008, US Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and ends Nov. 30, 2008 at 12:00 AM, US Pacific Standard Time (PST). One entry per person, per email address.
Prize: (1) Grand Prize will be awarded. The grand prize winner will receive (1) Kawasaki KLX 110. ARV: $1,849.00. The odds of winning are determined by the total number of valid entries received within the designated promotional period.
Eligibility:
Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older and have access to the internet. Employees, officers and representatives and members of the immediate families of Monster, and affiliated companies, participating promotional partners, retailers, advertising and promotion agencies, webmasters and any company involved in the design, execution or production of the promotion are not eligible.
General:
Potential winner will be determined via a random selection from all valid entries on or about Dec. 8, 2008. The prize will be awarded to the authorized account holder of the submitted internet e-mail address regardless of the individual who submitted the entry. The authorized account holder is the person who is assigned to the e-mail address by an Internet Service Provider or other organization that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses or the domain names associated with e-mail addresses. Potential winner will be notified by mail within 7 days of drawing and will be required to respond with prize acceptance information to include proof of age, winner affidavit, tax liability form and complete home address. If the potential winner fails to respond within 10 days of first notification, the prize is forfeited and an alternate winner will be randomly selected. If any prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be randomly selected.
Liability Release: By entering the “Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross KLX 110 Giveaway,” participants agree that “Monster,” their parent and affiliated companies, employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, retailers and representatives of sponsor affiliates are indemnified, released and will be held harmless by participants from any and all liability, for any damages, injuries or losses of any kind to person(s), including death, or property, arising directly or indirectly from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of the prize. Winner will be required to sign a liability/release waiver prior to fulfillment of any prize.
ANY AND ALL TAX LIABILITY RESULTING FROM THE WINNER'S RECEIPT OF THE PRIZE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.
There is no cash alternative, prize is not transferable. In the event the winner cannot accept the prize an alternate winner will be randomly selected.
By entering, participants:
1. Agree to comply with and be bound by the official rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects.
2. Agree to release Sponsor and its employees and agents from any and all liability, loss, damage or injury resulting from participation in this promotion or from the awarding, receipt, possession use and/or misuse of the prize.
3. Consent to use of his/her name, photograph and/or likeness, for advertising and promotional purposes in all media worldwide and in perpetuity without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.
Sponsor is not responsible for any lost, late, delayed, misdirected, incorrect or inaccurate information or entries that are misdirected or misrouted as a result of interrupted or unavailable network connections or internet transmissions for any reason, or any failure of the website during the sweepstakes period, or for any computer, phone, phone line hardware or software malfunction, failure or error of any kind, whether mechanical, human or electronic. Any attempt to deliberately damage any on-line service or website or to undermine the legitimate operations of the sweepstakes is a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, “Monster” reserves the right to disqualify such entrant and to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent of the law. If, for any reason, the sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, including, without limitation, infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the sweepstakes and select a winner in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received prior to the cancellation. All entries are the property of the Sponsor.
Winner / Official Rules: For winner information, which will be available after Dec. 15, 2008, or a copy of the official rules, send a SASE postmarked no later than Nov. 30, 2008 to: Monster /Triple Crown Winner List, PO Box 290904, Nashville, TN 37229-0904.
This Sweepstakes is subject to these Official Rules and all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited.
Sponsor: Monster Energy, Corona, CA.
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Monster could sweep the FMX finals with Jones, Williams & Adams; Bestwick’s man-to-beat in BMX vert; keep an eye on Spinner & PLG!
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 16, 2008) – The summer-long 2008 Action Sports Dew Tour comes to a rip-roarin’ conclusion this weekend with Orlando, Fla., acting as the world’s extreme sports epicenter for a four day slugfest on the ramps and in the dirt at the Amway Center, Oct. 16-19. And of course the Monster Army Generals will be right in the thick of things in this, the last major gathering of the planet’s top skate, BMX and FMX competitors of the season.
Beginning with the Monster Energy FMX crew, those crowding the overall podium for the subsequent champagne celebration might be in for a surprise when they get hosed down with cans of Monster Original as Adam Jones, Blake “Bilko” Williams and Nate Adams could very well sweep the top three positions.
Jones, who’s in 1st place after the abbreviated Dew Tour FMX competition (two rounds vs. four for the other sports), has a five point lead – 165-160 – over Monster Energy teammate Williams. And lurking close in 4th, 25 points back, is Adams, who’s fittin’ to strike at the overall No. 1 spot.
“My job’s simple this weekend, really – win,” said Adams. “I’m back to pretty good health and look forward to the comp. (It’s) going to be one of the better FMX contests of the year with everything being so close, and Monster will no doubt be all over the live event and TV with Jones, Bilko and myself in the hunt for the overall podium spots.”
Adams is in 4th place overall after two Dew Tour rounds with 140 points.
Monster Energy athletes have a similar situation on the BMX bikes as Park rider Mike Spinner can actually help Vert rider Jamie Bestwick’s cause for the overall Dew Tour Athlete of the Year. Spinner will look to unseed undefeated Dan Dhers (4-0, a perfect 400 points) in Park while Bestwick needs to hold it down over rival Chad Kagy one more time to have a shot at the Dew Tour’s top prize.
Dhers’ has basically been a pain-in-the-ass for Spinner throughout the summer. Spinner’s finished 2nd to Dhers (albeit arguably) three times (3rd once), the last coming in an epic come-from-behind effort from Dhers to top Spinner at Salt Lake City, 93.33 to 93.0, on the final BMX Park run of the competition. Said Spinner at the time: “Daniel did it again, put it down. So I’ve pretty much secured 2nd place overall and I’m going to Orlando to have some fun, come back next year and I’ll be on it.”
“On it” for Spinner will mean landing his quad spin and 1080, while putting together two HIGHLY aggressive runs. He’s certainly capable and has nothing to lose at Orlando as he’s got 2nd place overall sewn up.
For Bestwick it will be another punch-the-clock business-like effort on the vert ramp, something he’s parlayed into 1st place three out of four times this summer. The BMX Vert cup’s thisclose to a lock for him, but fans can for sure expect another heavyweight battle between him and Kagy for top honors at Orlando. Along with Spinner vs. Dhers, Bestwick and Kagy have had the best Dew Tour battles out of any sport all summer long.
Also noteworthy on the BMX bikes is Monster Energy’s Ryan Guettler. Guettler is in 8th place overall in both BMX Park and Dirt and, should he stomp landings like he did at Baltimore (Park) and Cleveland (Dirt) to score podium finishes, he’ll add to his overall two event rep as a rider. And joining Guettler at Orlando in running the Monster Energy flag will be newly acquired Scott Cranmer, the Dew Tour BMX Park runner-up in both 2005 and ’06. And hey, while we’re at it, Monster Energy’s BMX/Rally superstar Dave Mirra is showing up as well, hoping to improve on his season-best finish at the opening round in Baltimore.
This leaves us with Monster Energy’s skate corps. One paper it looks like this wasn’t the best summer for the M-claw skateboarders. However, Dew Tour results aside, a quick check of the overall big contest results is all you need to refresh your memory that Pierre Luc “PLG” Gagnon and Greg Lutzka killed it at big at stops like the Slaughter at the Opera (Sydney, Australia), X Games 14, Tampa Pro and Maloof’s Money Cup, along with some solid podium efforts on the Dew Tour.
For PLG it’s a matter of topping Andy MacDonald to score a 3rd place podium finish in Skate Vert. PLG trails Andy Mac by a sniff – two points (310-308) – for the third and final podium spot. And should Bucky Lasek (1st o/a) and/or Bob Burnquist (2nd o/a) falter, PLG still has a mathematical shot at the overall Dew Tour Skate Vert title.
“Show up, ride hard, land everything and hope the judges like it,” said PLG on his plan for Orlando. “Should be a good vibe. I finished 2nd at Orlando last year and would for sure like to finish the ’08 Dew Tour with a win.”
Lutzka, who’s been beat to heck all summer long health-wise, is said to be in about as good of shape as when the season started and it looking to replicate his win over Ryan Scheckler (currently 1st o/a) at Orlando last year.
Also noteworthy: Monster Energy’s young vert star, Alex Perelson, is only two point outside the top ten overall – trailing veteran Neil Hendrix 158-156 for 10th o/a.
Next up for the Monster Energy Army generals is the Oct. 16-19 Dew Tour round in Orlando. NBC will be blowing it up big, so be sure to tune in – and tell your fellow Monster Army soldiers to tune in as well!
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it Dew Tour, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Everybody runnin’ the M-claw logo at the Dew Tour this weekend in Orlando will be diggin’ ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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What do you get when you throw Olympic snowboard medalist Danny Kass, and his polar opposite party-pal The Dingo in a bus together for three months with Big Vern the dog? A state of sheer bedlam punctuated by riotous comedy of the stupidest kind—watch Dingo fall down, stay out late, and get up later on Fuel TV every Tuesday night!
Narrated by rapper Lil Jon, the Grenade crew celebrate and suffer through snowboard competitions and each other’s company in an honest and hilarious take on reality television. According to The Dingo “The show really is real! There’s no set up—they just press record and film what me and Danny are doing!” And from the looks of the first episode Danny is doing a lot of next-level snowboarding and Dingo doesn’t do much of anything.
Grenade is a D.I.Y. crew and the show does a bang-up job of portraying a real life on the road, albeit it an entertaining one. There are no limos or Ferrari’s—just a group of talented characters living’ the dream in a rag-tag tour across the US. It’s an entertaining slice of life as the two-time Olympian forsakes living large and party’s with his friends. Working class ethos aside, the show is comical—it’s Rob and Big in a bus—with Danny and a depraved Aussie instead.
Being an athlete requires a certain amount of sacrifice and there are some poignant moments amid all the humor. For example, Kass calling it quits and walking to the RV alone early before an important competition—while the Grenerd’s party late into the night. The Dingo on the other hand, has the best job in history—“Danny and I are two very different people and I guess that’s how it works so good” explains Dingo. Although his actual job description remains spotty, he’s seen teaching playboy bunnies to snowboard and sacrificing his liver every night. Young East Coaster Lucas Magoon is on board for the ride too. Does the kid actually have more energy than the Dingo? The Dingo hints, “Me and Lucas are trouble. We’re like brothers. Brothers who fight a lot!” Expect tension’s to rise on the gravy train as the crew explores each other’s true colors for 90 days straight.
Airs - Tuesdays - 8:00pm ET/PT on Fuel TV
Five Questions With The Dingo
1. What's the best part about having a TV show?
Being able to plague the world. In our case showing everyone who we are and what we represent!
2. What's the worst part about it?
Being stuck with a camera crew at all times is really overwhelming—there’s no privacy.
3. Danny is a competitive snowboarder—what do you do?
I’m a people person, ha ha. I do a lot of things—it’s complicated, it’s hard to explain.
4. Is Danny jealous that you have a better job than him?
No, ha ha. But sometimes he has to put me into place.
5. Where did you travel that you'll be never go back?
Minnesota in the middle of the winter. That sucked—it was negative 40 degrees!
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Jeff Matiasevich and Damon Bradshaw drop the gloves and come out banging bars @ U.S. Open, Bradshaw scores the “KO” victory in the Legends Rematch
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 14, 2008) – Crowned with Monster Energy helmets, legendary supercross racers Damon “The Beast” Bradshaw and Jeff “Chicken” Matiasevich pirated the show this past weekend in Vegas, putting an ‘all Monster’ spin on the evening’s “Legends Rematch” – part of the festivities at the 2008 U.S. Open of Supercross at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, sponsored in part by Rock Star.
The masterful sponsorship coupe by Monster Energy put both The Beast and The Chicken in the highly recognizable glowing green M-claw logo helmets – similar to the ones that James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto won their SX and MX championships wearing this year - strapped on in full view of the live crowd and television cameras alike.
“I’d have been pumped to be a Monster guy back in the day for sure,” said Bradshaw. “Stuff’s killer.”
Added Matiasevich: “I was drinking Monster waaayyy before they decided to sponsor me for this legends race.”
The race itself didn’t turn out to be a bloodletting – much like the fans were hoping/expecting. Bradshaw, 8th on the all-time win list with 19 main event premier class victories, pretty much handed Chicken his head from the get go. “I wasn’t $&@#ing around with this,” said Bradshaw. “I trained, worked on getting my timing back and came here and kicked ass. Not much else to it.”
Matiasevich, who was more a 125cc specialist back in the day (in comparison to Bradshaw’s expertise on the 250cc bikes), sucked it up and took getting whooped in stride. “Hope we can do it again,” he said. “Next year I train more seriously.”
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. The Chicken & Beast dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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The Monster Energy-backed Hawaiian surfs his way to the biggest payday of his young career, collecting a cool 20K for his efforts on the 6-8 foot Bali waves
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 14, 2008) – Monster Energy surfer Dusty Payne sent his name – and bank account – into the stratosphere this past weekend by winning the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge in Bali, Indonesia – the world’s richest pro junior event in the sport’s history.
Payne, 19, who hails from Hawaii, made it tough on the top field of international stars in the finals – putting up a 7.73 score with about five minutes remaining with some highly tactical surfing. He then cracked off an 8.50 in the last minute of competition to secure the win – along with the biggest check ever in pro junior surfing ($20,000).
“It’s (Bali) the best place I’ve ever surfed in,” said Payne. “It’s been my dream to surf a contest at Keramas. The waves were just so good. I’m stoked on how it turned out.”
Payne qualified for the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge by placing 3rd at an Oakley Pro Junior event held at California’s popular Lower Trestles surf spot. At Keramas the right hand reef break played into Payne’s powerful regular foot stance as he was able to mix some classic frontside slashing cutbacks and barrel surfing with some new school airs (pictured).
“I haven’t won an event in so many years, it’s the best feeling in the world,” said Payne, notching his first win in more than eight years. “That’s why I still compete.”
In the early rounds Payne topped France’s Marc Lacomare in the extended 45-minute man-on-man heat. Then in the finals Payne put up a two-wave score of 16.27 to bring the overall title back to Maui – and Monster Energy, of course!
And props to Oakley from Monster Energy on putting together such an excellent contest. This from Oakley: In its inaugural year, the 2008 Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge has traveled the globe since February, bringing the world’s best juniors to the world’s best waves. Building on the original Oakley Pro Junior model, the Global Challenge series kicked off at North Stradbroke, Queensland, Australia, then traveled to New Pier, Durban, South Africa; Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif., USA; Itamambuca Beach, Ubatuba City, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shidashita Point, Chiba, Japan and Grand Plage, Lacanua, Gironde, France.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it surfing, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, wake, mini bikes, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Dusty Payne digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Gnarly conditions make for some insane racing, but Warner and his specially-developed 400 horsepower Kawasaki runabout prevail in the whitecaps!
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 14, 2008) – Monster Energy’s Craig Warner successfully defended his International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) Pro Runabout class world championship this past weekend, navigating the whitecaps and 30 mph wind – at speed around buoys – to win in dominant fashion over the rest of the international field.
Warner opened the weekend’s competition with a win in heat race No. 2. Starting bit back of the leader, Warner made his move on the third lap (of eight) to take the win and advance to the main. And so dominant was Warner’s win (32 seconds over 2nd place) that he put up the fastest time out of both heat races and was awarded the top gate pick in the finals (he beat the best heat No. 1 time by 24 seconds as well).
“We ran smooth and consistent in the heat to save some for the main,” he said. “So we got the top gate pick and I chose the inside pole position on the second split.”
Warner’s gate pick in the main allowed him to pull the holeshot and cruise to a decisive victory in the first of two main event motos, lapping all the way up to 2nd place on his specially-prepared Kawasaki STX-R 15F, powered by a 1,600cc Kawasaki four-stroke super-charged motor that produces nearly 400 horsepower. The second moto in the main was nearly at strong for Monster Energy’s Warner as he started in 2nd place, took the lead soon after the first lap and lapped all the way up to 3rd place – going 1-1 for the overall Pro Runabout class World Championship!
“The reason we did so well is that we were prepared for the conditions,” said Warner of the consistent two-to-three foot whitecap chop and 30 mph winds. “With full factory backing from Kawasaki we developed a boat specific to the conditions I train in, off Dana Point (Calif.) in the ocean. So this was an everyday ride for me, where others where having difficulty with it.”
Warner added that Monster Energy played a big role in his success this year, from winning the Catalina Classic race to placing second at the APBA Nationals in Nashville (Tenn.) recently - to his big win this past weekend at Havasu - he was stoked to have Monster on board. “Everything with Monster’s been great,” he said. “Lots of Monster giveaways in the pits, big presence for Monster around us all weekend. The Monster drinks are awesome and always give me energy to ride fast and stay strong. Good to have them backing me.”
Also racing the IJSBA Worlds at Havasu was Monster Energy’s Chris MacCluggage. Unfortunately the top stand up racer was hit with a bout of stomach flu and wasn’t able to race up to his lofty expectations at the event, settling for 9th overall. MacCluggage did show a bit promise in the Ski GP Stand Up class, won his heat, but the judges said he missed a buoy and was stripped of his win. “Just got confused on which way to go,” said MacCluggage. “But I did miss it, no question.”
Next up for Warner is the Mark Hahm 300 Endurance Race in February on Lake Havasu, while MacCluggage will look to rebound in Japan in two weeks for the JJSBA Finals – an event MacCluggage has won twice.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it jet skis, wake, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Craig Warner and Chris MacCluggage dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Ellison puts his Hydrex Bike Animal Honda on the podium in race one (3rd) and Haslem & Crutchlow take 2nds on their HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades 
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 14, 2008) – The 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship wrapped up this past weekend in Kent (UK) with two Monster Energy-backed racers scoring podium finishes in the two day contest held at Brands Hatch. The glowing green M-claw emblazoned Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) and James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) scored podium finishes, both making the box in the first race of the final ’08 BSB season doubleheader in 2nd and 3rd, respectively, while Leon Haslem (HM Plant Honda) would podium in 2nd place in the season’s final race.
Overall on the BSB Championship tour Haslem finished 2nd, Crutchlow 3rd and Ellison 4th – giving Monster Energy two overall podium spots and three out of the top four racers in the premier class – not bad for Monster Energy’s first year of involvement on the BSB Championship tour!
Beginning with Ellison, the UK native scored his fourth podium of the season in the opening race, dueling it out with ’08 BSB champion Shane Byrne and Crutchlow. In the second race Ellison, piloting his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, race well late in the contest before settling on 5th place in the race and 7th overall in the BSB Championships.
“Race one was really good and we certainly pushed them all the way so I'm really happy with that and it just shows what this team and bike is capable of doing,” said Ellison. “It's been a really good package and they've really helped me so I'm pleased to come away with a podium for them. Race two wasn't so good and I lost my rhythm and got held up a bit behind Tom Sykes, but I managed to reel them in towards the end.”
For Crutchlow it was much of the same – great racing, but just couldn’t seem to get out in front of Byrne. After making a run at the lead in the first race (ultimately placing 2nd), Crutchlow battled some rear grip problems in the second moto and had to settle on 4th – but held onto a podium 3rd place overall on the season.
“In the first race I had a bit of a go at Shakey (Byrne) at about mid-race distance and closed the gap but then made a few little mistakes, but kept second place,” said Crutchlow. “I was still the first Honda and four-cylinder home, which was nice. In the second race I just never had the grip that I had in the first. We got a good start and I was sat behind Leon (Haslam) quite comfortably but as he started to up the pace and pull away I just had no answer to him and not as much grip from my rear tire, which felt pretty worn-out straight away. We finally secured third in the championship, which isn’t what I wanted at the start of the season, but I’ve shown I’m competitive and can win on a Superbike.”
Note: Crutchlow is now off to the World Supersport Championship, thanking Monster Energy for its support this summer.
Finally, Monster Energy’s Haslem overcame injury to star in the second race while equaling teammate Crutchlow’s performance on the weekend in opposite – going 4th/2nd – and finishing 2nd overall in the BSB points chase.
“In the first race I couldn’t be as aggressive as I wanted to thanks to the injury, but between the two races the physiotherapist worked on the collar-bone and after the start the adrenalin kicked in,” said Haslem. “I tried to be as smooth as possible. I held Shane off into Paddock Hill Bend, but as we went into Clearways for the last time, I could see the backmarker and I backed off a little, but Shakey didn’t. I then went a bit wide onto the grass and that was the end of it. Of course I’m disappointed with not winning a race today, but we secured second in the championship.”
Note: Halsem, who was the BSB runner-up twice (3rd once), will move on to the World Superbike Championship next season. He closed the ’08 BSB season by thanking Monster Energy for its support this year.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it superbike, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. The guys running the Bennetts British Superbike Championship dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Harf answers a few questions to set up a footage link – courtesy of Fox – to show off his completely unbelievable toeside 1260 spin – 2008’s Best Trick!
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 13, 2008) – Monster Energy wakeboarder Danny Harf, fresh off the WakeBoarding Magazine awards banquet at the Orlando (Fla.) Surf Expo where he scored both the “Rider of the Year” and “Move of the Year” awards, sent us a link to his mind-blowing toeside 1260 spin and answered a few text questions. Check it out:
First, a quick text session with Harf:
Monster Army: How many Monsters had you drank the day you pulled your 1260?
Harf: “Definitely a few. The last one before I finally pulled it right at sunset!”
Monster Army: 1260…what’s next?
Harf: “Double flip and other variations of the 1260.”
Monster Army: Is the 1260 wakeboarding’s version of Hawk’s 900?
Harf: “No, you can’t really compare it to skateboarding. But it’s the biggest spin ever done on water.”
Monster Army: Think you can pull it in a contest?
Harf: “Doubt it.”
Monster Army: Can you pull it on a snowboard?
Harf: “Doubt it.”
Monster Army: Last question. What’s the next big trick you want to land?
Harf: “Regular nose grab 12.” (Note: Harf’s 1260 was switch.)
And the 1260 (courtesy of Fox Riders Co.): http://www.foxhead.com/us/wake/videos/?id=13525
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it wake, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Danny Harf digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series’ second stop in Ohio is a good one for Thomas who’s on the box in 2nd place in the XC2 class!CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 13, 2008) – Monster Energy/Andrews/Yamaha’s Jason Thomas made it three straight podium finishes on the 13-round 2008 Can-Am Grand Nationals Cross Country Series tour, this past weekend placing 2nd overall in the XC2 class on a perfect October day spent racing at the series’ penultimate round in St. Clairsville, Ohio.
 Thomas led a contingent of Monster Energy/Andrews/Yamaha racers out of the gate to open the race and actually led the race himself early. Flanked by teammates Dave Snyder and Dustin Gibson, 5th and 6th, respectively, at the start, Thomas was in what team owner Fred Andrews called a “heated” battle for the lead with Scott Watkins.
At the first fuel stop Gibson had fallen back a bit, thanks in part to a 101-degree temperature he was suffering due to illness, along with getting stuck in a mud hole. Snyder then pulled into the pits with brake problems, pretty much putting an end to his podium chances as well.
But Thomas was still dogging the race leader Watkins, and would take the lead in spectacular fashion soon after the two lap sign came out when he passed Watkins at the mud hole. Leading coming through the pits, Thomas had Watkins right on his tail in one of the closer finishes of the year for the Monster Energy-backed racers. Unfortunately for Thomas, a mistake would cost him the win, but his effort was nothing short of excellent on the day.
“I was close and stalled it with a few turns to go,” said the dejected Thomas, who had to overcome some arm pump to fight his way to the lead. “That’s racing.”
And though Gibson finished just outside the top ten in the XC2 class (11th), he still remains in 2nd place in the overall season standings. “I had a temperature all week and gave it all I had,” he said. “I tangled with a lapper and got stuck in a sink hole beside the track. Worked hard to get out, but it took way too long.”
Snyder would end up 17th overall.
Next up for the Monster Energy/Andrews/Yamaha GNCC race team is the final round of the series in Crawfordsville, Ind., Oct 25th.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it GNCCs, EnduroCross, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Fred Andrews’ boys dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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In his first full year of competition in the premier WSORR Super Truck division Steele scores 11 podiums in 12 rounds, wins title and DotY award
  CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 13, 2008) – Monster Energy’s Keith Steele, champion of the overall Lucas Oil World Series of Off Road Racing’s premier Super Truck division, was crowned the “Driver of the Year” at the recent WSORR annual awards banquet held at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Wisconsin.
 The consistent Steele, competing in only his first full season of Super Truck class racing on the WSORR tour, was able to score podium finishes in 11 of the 12 rounds in his Monster Energy-backed Chevy Silverado. He took the overall points lead at round four of the series and stayed atop the standings through the final two rounds at last month’s Crandon International Raceway stop. And given that Steele was the unanimous choice for the WSORR’s “Driver of the Year” award.
“This really was a dream season,” said Steele. “The partnership with Monster Energy allowed us to put this program together. This season could not have been accomplished without that and help from my family, friends and other sponsors. Thanks again to Monster Energy for making it happen.”
In the 12 races he and the Monster Energy/Chevy team ran, Steele scored eight outright 1st place victories, one 2nd place finish and two 3rd place podium finishes. In the end he was 40 points ahead of the next-closest competitor.
In addition to the “Driver of the Year” award, Steele was presented with a 2008 World Championship ring by WSORR officials, as well as a cool RC car courtesy of series sponsor Traxxis. Steele was also honored with the KC HiLites award and the MSD Ignition SRT award.
For more information on Monster Energy’s Keith Steele, check out his website at: www.steeleoffroad.com
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it WSORR, CORR, SCORE, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Keith Steele digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Team Yamaha/Monster Energy-backed rider Josh Hill had a hit and miss weekend (literally and figuratively) in Las Vegas where he used a combined score of 3-12 to place sixth overall in the 10th annual running of the U.S. Open
After a fine third place finish in Friday night’s 20-lap main event, the Oregonian was in a position to make a run at the overall on Saturday night, but bad luck and crashes — so common on such a tight and confined racetrack — dropped him to a 12th place finish and sent him tumbling further down the leader board than he would have liked. Hill failed to qualify for the main event via his heat race on Saturday and sent to a semi to try and make the show. He went out and handily won the semi, but was forced to start the main event in the second row. A major disadvantage in such a short race and such a short track, Hill was, almost instantly, caught up in a series of on-track dramas that sabotaged his entire weekend. The happy go lucky Hill will get a chance to atone for his bad luck in Las Vegas when he lines up for the world-famous Paris-Bercy Supercross set to run in France next month.
Just back from leading Team USA to victory at the 62nd Annual Motocross of Nations in Donington, England (and on an entirely new Yamaha motorcycle, as well), James Stewart continued his winning ways over the weekend in Las Vegas by dominating the U.S. Open at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
On the opening nigh, Stewart managed to deftly find his way around and through crashes and yard sale-like pile-ups. In fact, at the start of Friday night’s main event, it was both Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey and Stewart taking half the pack down in the first turn when the rear wheel of Stewart’s Yamaha YZ450F swiped across the front wheel of Dungey’s RM-Z450. Also hitting the Las Vegas dirt in the mêlée were Andrew Short, Dan Reardon, Michael Byrne and Broc Hepler.
One rider who did make it through the mess unscathed was new Suzuki rider and 2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion Chad Reed. Poised to make a run at Stewart, Reed, unfortunately, fell in the second turn, his rear brake destroyed. Stewart took of like a bat out of hell, easily pulling away from second place rider Ivan Tedesco. The two would run in this formation up until lap 16 when Tedesco’s Honda teammate Andrew Short pulled up on him to make a late race run. To two went at it hammer and fist, ramming one another on the super-tight MGM course. As can happen in such quarters, the two took it a bit too far and crashed together in a turn, going down together. Tedesco got going quickly and was able to hold of the fast closing Yamaha, Monster Energy-backed rider, Josh Hill.
At the start of Saturday night’s all-important main event it was Suzuki’s Chad Reed leading the first lap after passing a holeshooting Broc Hepler. Stewart was back in fourth, but within the span of two laps, was into second and honing in on Reed’s yellow rear fender. By the 10-lap mark, Stewart had filed Reed’s lead down to just a few feet, but could not make a pass stick. The Australian managed to hold onto the lead, but then, with less than four laps remaining in the race, Reed miscalculated the track’s big triple and crashed heavily.
“I don’t know what I did,” Reed said. “I grabbed a handful and went off the side of the track.”
Stewart charged ahead to win easily to win the main event and the U.S. Open easily. Second was Honda’s Ivan Tedesco, his combined 5-2 scores getting the job done. Impressively — and on a 250F —Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey rode to 5-4 scores to earn the podium’s final step.
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THAT'S RIGHT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ILLUSTRIOUS FLIP TEAM IS HEADING TO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST AND MOUNTAIN COUNTRY, THE PERFECT WAY TO START THE HOLIDAYS, FORGET YOUR TURKEYS AND FAMILY FEASTS GET YOURSELF OFF TO THE NEAREST SKATEPARK LOCATION ON THE SCHEDULE AND FEAST ON THE FINE SKATEBOARDING OF GEOFF ROWLEY, MARK APPLEYARD, DAVID GONZALEZ, RUNE GLIFBERG, LANCE MOUNTAIN, LUAN DE OLIVEIRA, CURREN CAPLES AND THE GANGSTA STYLE OF LOUIE LOPEZ. WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE. HAPPY TRAVELS.
CHECK OUT THE FLIP WEBSITE FOR THE FEAST TOUR PROMO VIDEO CLIP. PLEASE PUT THIS UP ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL WEBSITES AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD::
http://www.flipskateboards.com/media_videos.html
http://www.flipskateboards.com/news.php?id=141
15Nov - 8 PM – DEMO
Rio Vista / Peoria Skatepark
8866 W. Thunderbird Rd, Peoria, AZ
(In association) with Cowtown
17Nov - 6 PM - SIGNING
Starr Skateshop
1927 E. Grant Rd. Tucson, AZ 85719
19No - 6 PM - DEMO
Carolina Skatepark
563 N. Carolina
El Paso, TX 79915
(In association) with Crooks Skate Shop
21Nov - 5 PM - DEMO
Los Altos Skatepark
10140 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112
(In association) with Beach Zone
22Nov - 3 PM - SIGNING
Zumiez Flagstaff
Flagstaff Mall, 4650 North Hwy 89, #F-36, AZ, 86004
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 Attention Monster Army Community: We are currently working on our 2009 site and Sponsorship programs. Take some time to fill out the survey and let us know what you liked, what you didn't, and how we should improve. Click on the graphic to get goin'.
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This guy is committed to the Monster Brand... 
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Monster's Taylor Smith was out at etnies Goofy Vs. Regular contest over the weekend, skating for team Goofy, and despite the fact that Goofy didn't come out on top, Taylor was ripping hard with cab flips out of the bump and over the bar, backlips down the 11 stair rail and pure all-terrainnmadness.
Taylor's trick difficulty and consistency had people buzzing all weekend long... And that's how you know you'll be seeing and hearing a lot more of Taylor in the near future...
 
 
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Josh Hill of the Monster ArmyBy Eric Johnson
Only 19 years of age, Monster Energy supercross ace Josh Hill has already won a main event in the world’s most prestigious motocross series: The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series. The Formula 1 of motocross, the supremely talented 450cc-motivated athlete from Yoncalla, Oregon has, in a very abbreviated amount of time, managed to prove himself as one of the best young riders the sport has seen since Ricky Carmichael. And even then, Carmichael didn’t win a main event in the premier Supercross classification of the sport until midway through his sophomore season. This Friday and Saturday night in the emerald green MGM Grand Garden Hotel Arena on The Strip in Las Vegas, Hill will line up for the U.S. Open. Set to take on reigning supercross champion Chad Reed and 2007 champion James Stewart, Hill wants to use the race as motivation as he begins preparing for the 2009 supercross season come January.
“I’ve been out at the Yamaha supercross track for the last three weeks solid and riding about four times a week, I’d say, and ‘m ready for this weekend,” says Hill.
And with that…
Josh, how do you feel on the bike right now?
I feel like my speed is really good. I feel really fast. I just need to work on being really consistent and being able to run my fastest pace for a whole 20 laps. That’s the biggest thing I’m working on. I can do 20 laps good, but I mean riding with James Stewart, there’s no way I can do 20 laps at his pace. Maybe not even five laps at his pace.
You’ve already riding with your new Yamaha teammate?
Yeah, I’ve been able to ride with him a little bit. I don’t think he’s been on the bike too long and he’s already killing it.
How do you feel about the U.S. Open this weekend?
I’m definitely pumped for it. You know I seem to do pretty good at these one-off events. Well, I guess I didn’t do very good at X Games, but I was doing good at X Games (Note: Grant crashed spectacularly in the main event and placed 10th). For me, this race is good because I don’t feel any pressure at all right now. None whatsoever. I just want to go out and do well. It’ll be easy because I can just put it all on the line. If I fall and something happens, oh well. I’m out a few bucks. It’s not like last year where coming into Anaheim I felt ready, but went out and rode so tight. I was just trying to be safe and I rode horrible. So, I’m excited about this weekend.
Chad Reed and James Stewart have both changed teams and are still getting their heads wrapped around their 2009 bikes. Will that help you in Vegas?
I think that Chad is already petty familiar with his bike. Every time I’ve been out to the track, I’ve looked up the hill [at the Suzuki test track] and looked up the hill and seen Chad up there too. The only time I didn’t see him was when he was gone at the des Nations. So I’m pretty sure he’s going to be full-wing into the season. I think he’s got a jumpstart on us. While we’re all regrouping from the outdoors, he’s been putting in laps. I think he’s going to be tough, for sure. You know, going into this race, I can tell you right now — and I’m sure this isn’t going to surprise anybody — I cannot run the pace of James for a full 20 laps yet. So every time I ride I’m going to work n being able to keep as close a pace to him for as long as I can.
Yet you placed second twice and won a race in the 2008 supercross series….
Yeah, but in my mind right now, I’m going into the U.S. Open with the mindset that I don’t want anybody to beat me but James and Reed. Right now I’m going to say that it’s gong to take some problems on James’ side to win. I don’t know how Reed is riding right now, but James is ripping already. I feel really good and I felt like I was pretty gnarly until I got to ride with James the last couple of days (laughter).
How have you been doing? You ended up in a little bit of hot water by thrashing up a rental car in Texas last June. Have you been able to get all that put behind you?
Yeah, I do. It was about me just not being focused. It was about not being too focused and goofing around at the races. It was a bad thing at the time, but I think it was probably one of the best things for me. I don’t know what Yamaha was feeling, but I was feeling that I might lose a ride over that. I think that maybe if I wouldn’t have done as good as I did in supercross, maybe I would have. I kind of felt some job insecurity there and figured I should probably pull my head out.
Well, it sounds like it’s all full speed ahead for you now…
Yeah, other than just riding and everything, I’ve been trying to get into my own program. That’s my biggest thing. When I’m in my own program, and I’ve had times when I’ve been on real strong programs, I keep the consistency. I need to keep the inconsistency of those strong programs all year round. I think this year was good for me. I had a lot of fun this year. I had some success and had a lot of fun and I had some tough times to make me realize that there’s time for fun and time to good off, but you need to have more time in the point in my life for work.
Josh, what are your goals for the 2009 season?
Top thee in the series and top five every weekend. I figure that that if I’m n the top five every weekend, and put myself in the position from the get-go of every race to be in the top five, then I’m going to end up being on the box. And if I can be on the box every weekend, I’m going to be close to the front of whatever else is going on. I don’t want to say at this point in my training program that I’m going to come out and set the world on fire, but believe me, that’s what I want to do.
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Undefeated Currie (Graves/Yamaha), 4-0, has a good chance of sweeping the Lites division while Burkhart has eight points to make up on Herfoss in premier class
 CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 7, 2008) – Within the Austin city limits a street battle’s brewing the likes of which the hip Texas capital hasn’t seen since Sam Houston came to town, along with sounds for the self-proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World more akin to that of booming four-stroke technology than the Barenaked Ladies.
AMA Supermoto rolls into Austin this weekend – literally – for the final two rounds of the 2008 AMA/XTRM Supermoto Championship dubbed the “Armadillo Supermoto” on the downtown streets of the capital. And, as they have in the past, two Monster Energy-backed racers – Brandon Currie and Mark Burkhart – are in the hunt for championships on their Graves/Yamaha rides. Beginning with the Supermoto Lites class, Currie has been unstoppable thus far in 2008. The 23-year-old defending class champion is undefeated through four rounds and has consistently put up top lap times ahead of the next closest competitors by more than two seconds. And similar to Monster Energy athletes James Stewart (Monster Energy/Kawasaki) and before him Ricky Carmichael, Currie has a shot to pull off a perfect AMA race season.
“I’m not really thinking as much about the undefeated season as I am bringing the title back to the Monster Energy/Graves/Yamaha team,” said Currie, who holds a 14-point lead over 2nd place Matt Burton (100-86) for the Lites title. “I’ve been lucky so far so I’m just going in there and racing my own race and seeing if I can come away with a couple more wins. Not making any changes because that might change my luck.”
Luck or not, Currie has been downright dominant this summer on his YZ250F. The defending Lites class champion has taken on a field of fast up-and-coming racers and come out victorious at every round – and usually by a fairly wide margin. And even when ’07 rival David Pingree stepped down from the premier Supermoto class to challenge Currie this past race in Utah (Miller Motorsports Park), Currie had Pingree covered by nearly three seconds in the fastest lap time department (1:46.418 to 1:49.240) and won the race by nearly seven seconds over local supercross star Gray Davenport.
“I just need to go out there and have fun. The lap times will come, I just can’t worry about them too much,” said Currie on his race strategy for Austin. “I’ve seen the track layout and it looks like they’ve made the dirt section pretty technical. The downtown asphalt portion looks really fast – and fun. Times will be gained and lost in the dirt I think.”
Currie’s teammate Burkhart is having to play the ‘hunter’ role this weekend. Down eight points to Troy Herfoss (95-87), Burkhart won the first round (Monroe, Wash.), then has seen Herfoss reel off three straight victories. To his credit Burkhart has hung in there and made the podium at each event that Herfoss won – even at the last rounds in Wisconsin and Utah when he was banged up after that spectacular crash at X Games 14 in Los Angeles.
“I pretty much have to win both races with Troy finishing 2nd and 3rd,” said Burkhart. “Not sure how they’ll (AMA scoring) break that down after that as we could be tied in points and with the same number of wins if I can sweep. But I look at it as I’ve got nothing to lose, really.”
With a neck and back injury that’s been bothering him the past couple months, Burkhart says he’s been able to ride near his home in Ohio relatively pain-free lately. He’s also used a low handicap golf game to keep his neck and back loose and his concentration sharp. So with Herfoss in the cross hairs, Burkhart’s looking forward to the gate dropping this weekend in Austin.
“Troy’s got it together and I haven’t been racing as good as I usually do,” he said. “I’ll be good for Austin, though. Nothing to worry about and a long break afterwards before we start the ’09 AMA Supermoto season - so I need to go for it.
“And I need a good start...two of them!”
For more information on the AMA/XTRM Supermoto Championships in Austin, Texas, this weekend, link to www.amasupermoto.com
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it supermoto, MX, MotoGP, road racing, distance jumping, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Brandon Currie and Mark Burkhart dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Wakeboardingmag.com has teamed up with CWB, Monster Energy Drinks, and Reef to bring you the biggest and best bikini contest the Web has ever seen.
The photo doesn't have to have anything to do with wakeboarding, but our panel of very partial, extremely biased judges definitely leans towards chicks who ride. All you have to do is submit your photo to the "chicks" channel on mywake.tv's photo pages and you're automatically entered to win a year's supply of Monster Energy Drink along with a fridge to keep it frosty cold (along with a case each for the top ten entrants); a Reef bikini, sandals, towel and beach bag; and a full setup from CWB including the all-new Transcend Platinum with Zeus bindings, a neoprene vest, and a Proline LG handle.
Yes, at wakeboardingmag.com it pays to be a smoking hot chick.
Submit now, contest ends December 1, 2008.
Mywake.tv "chicks" channel link:
http://videos.wakeboardingmag.com/photoList.php?pg=photonew&cid=7
Wakeboardingmag.com's video showing how to upload pics link:
http://www.wakeboardingmag.com/article/Features/Video-Chicks-Contest-Upload-Instructions
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Monster Energy’s Dietrich scored a podium 3rd place finish at the Ohio AMA/Maxxis EnduroCross Series while an injured Huffman DNQ’d the main
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 6, 2008) – Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Ricky Dietrich, trailing teammate Damon Huffman by 11 points heading into this past weekend’s 2008 AMA/Maxxis EnduroCross Series round in Columbus, Ohio, took over the series points lead with a 3rd place podium finish in the main event, coupled with an unfortunate number of breaks for Huffman as he failed to qualify for the main.
Along with Monster Energy/Kawasaki teammate Destry Abbott, the two boulder sections on the Columbus EnduroCross track would be the source of great discourse for all three riders on Saturday as they ran into difficulties amongst the loosely-piled rocks ranging in size from a football to a washing machine. Dietrich failed to qualify out of his heat race and was forced to a semi, as was Huffman and Abbott. Dietrich then stepped up and won his semi in great battle with western U.S. off road racing great Ty Davis.
With the LCQ looming, Huffman, the series points leader heading into the action at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of Ohio State University, entered his semi contest after suffering a grotesquely dislocated finger in a slow speed wreck in one of the two tricky rock sections in his heat race. Race medics put Huffman’s finger back into place and the gritty veteran of many supercross and outdoor national MX races got right back into the mix, having to grip the bars in a painful two more races (semi and LCQ). Unfortunately neither Huffman nor Abbott would get out of their semis – both having to contest a third race (LCQ).
In the LCQ, Huffman pulled the holeshot and battled early with Kawasaki Team Green racer James Lanza. On the white flag lap Huffman was in a position to challenge for the only transfer spot to the main when he got a bit forward on his bike and tipped over in the elevated rock section – finishing his night.
“Tough luck for Damon, but I’m sure he’ll be back for Vegas,” said Lanza in some words of encouragement. Abbott failed to win the LCQ as well and was there to cheer on Dietrich in the main event.
In the main Dietrich pulled the holeshot and rode spectacular early. He tripled the finish line jump – which the landing puts his front tire about 12 feet from a hip-high log he’d have to hit straight on. But, with a possible $50,000 Triple Crown bonus on the line from the series promoters and sponsors, Dietrich was for sure charging hard. Also on his mind was the fact that Huffman was on the sidelines, so he didn’t want to jeopardize anything in terms of the overall points chase – to which he’d have the lead if he could keep things on two wheels.
“Yeah, the $50,000 bonus was on my mind a bit, but I didn’t let it get in the way of finishing the race or crashing out,” said Dietrich, who would have had to sweep Oklahoma (which he won), Columbus and Vegas to win the 50 grand.
By lap four rival Taddy Blazusiak had caught up to Dietrich and took the lead. Dietrich also gave up a spot (2nd) to trials expert Geoff Aaron, who rode the rock portions better than anyone on Saturday. Solidly in 3rd, Dietrich finished out the race in strong a strong and consistent fashion to score the overall podium and take a ten-point lead over Huffman, 111-101, with one round remaining (Vegas, Nov. 22).
“A course like this definitely favored the trials riders,” said Dietrich. “I got the lead because our Monster/Kawasakis make a bunch of horsepower and usually puts me or Damon out front. Then I made a couple mistakes that those who ride the technical stuff better took advantage of. It was definitely the most technical track we’ve seen all year.
“But I’ll come to Vegas with a big smile on my face and hopefully win the No. 1 plate!”
Next up for Monster Energy riders on the AMA/Maxxis EnduroCross Championship tour – with Monster Energy being the “official” energy drink of EnduroCross – is this weekend the Nov. 22 finals at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it EnduroCross, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Ricky Dietrich, Damon Huffman and Destry Abbott dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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Watch any ASP event or Movie that Dane Reynolds is in and you'll know he feeds off adrenaline and creativity. This month, Dane wants the Monster Army Community to design him a surfboard. Download the graphics below, design your best board, and submit! The winner will win some killer gear from Dane. Good luck Army! 
Check out the CONTEST Page to start the Hunt.
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On land, Dane Reynolds sometimes looks like a deer caught in the headlights. All he wanted to do was surf and he begged and pleaded his parents to move back to the coast from Bakersfield. Since then, Reynolds has been going up and out like Charlie in the Great Glass Elevator and he seems a little shocked by, embarrassed by, and uncomfortable with all the fame, money and pressure that his talent has attracted.
CLICK HERE To See His Complete Bio Last Month's Winner Congratulations goes out to last month's PLG MonsterArmy.com Hunt Contest winner Aaron Sudia.
Aaron's getting hooked up with a signed PLG Skate Deck! This Month's Mission Watch any ASP event or Movie that Dane Reynolds is in and you'll know he feeds off adrenaline and creativity. This month, Dane wants the Monster Army Community to design him a surfboard. Download the graphics below, design your best board, and submit! The winner will win some killer gear from Dane. Good luck Army!
Check out the CONTEST Page to start the Hunt.Featured Solider Spotlight This month's Soldier Spotlight is Colin Moran, a Surfer from Costa Mesa, CA.
Check out the Interview w/ Colin and more photos HERE.
 Featured Monster Army Gear Monster M Claw Belt
Normal Price: 27.25
Monster Army Price: $16.50 Remember, as a Monster Army Community Member, you get a 35% discount (already applied) on all Apparel. Check out the rest of the gear in the STORE. Monster USA des Nations Team
Monster USA des Nation Team Wins for 19th time!
Monster Energy motocross stars James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto and Tim Ferry – all aboard Kawasaki motorcycles – kept America on top of the MX world for a record 19th time, winning the annual Motocross Des Nations – a global MX event of Olympic stature pitting nation vs. nation to decide who can field the best three-man motocross team. Read More>>
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Trax Racing Racing Update for the Can/Am AIR International Race August 30th and August 31, 2008 Last race at Welland Motorcycle Club September 6, 2008
 Area 51, Batavia, New York, Can/AM Air International Race, August 30th and August 31, 2008 This was a Canadian/American international motocross race. This was the weekend my brother/Mechanic Josh and I were going to be racing for Hospice of Orleans County. This was the weekend I was to be racing the Kawasaki KX250f provided by Hebeler’s Sales and Service in Pendelton, NY and Eyser Show Productions, Hamburg, NY. The race on August 30th was the pit bike race. Josh entered the pro class 3 pro-money class on his stock Yamaha ttr110. He was up against some tricked out pit bikes. The limit for this class is 165cc max. Believe me, a lot of them were pushing the envelope. Josh did awesome. Overall for moto 1 and moto 2 was 7th overall. He had a blast. He was pleased with his finish, it actually totally surprised him, he was just out there having fun. On August 31, 2008 was the race for me on the Kawasaki. The bike has a lot of power, but the suspension was set up for a heavy person. I came off from practice with a headache and upset stomach, so mom and dad purchased lighter springs from Pro-Action Suspension. This helped out 100%. The track was rough and rutted, but I tried to stay out of the ruts when possible and smooth it out through the rough sections. Overall for moto 1 and moto 2 I earned 8th overall. The team was pleased with the results. It was a great time! We were able to race and collect donations for a great cause, Hospice of Orleans County. Hebeler’s Sales and Service and Eyser Show Productions produced the KX250f for me to race in this event. Steve and Nancy Smith, friends of the family loaned us their motor home for the weekend. I was able to get to know some other motocross female racers. We talked about my flattrack racing and they told me about motocross for them as a female. I had the support of my team and team mates; Caleb Schnell, pit bike racer with Josh. Randy Pearl, raced on Sunday borrowing Dan Michaud’s, (another teammates) Yamaha YZ250f, and Dan Michaud who also raced on Sunday. I am truly thankful for Hebeler’s and Eyser Show Productions for allowing me to race the KX250f, Steve and Nancy Smith for the use of their motor home, Area 51 for allowing us to take up collections for a wonderful and needed organization, Hospice of Orleans County, and for my flattrack friends who showed up to cheer all of us to the finish. It was something to cherish and remember. Welland Motorcycle Club, ¼ mile oval, Welland, Ontario, Canada, September 6, 2008 This was to be the last race of their season. Our race team decided to head up to Canada the day before the race and do some sight seeing and visit with friends. On Friday we arrived at the LaBelle home to visit and hang out. On Saturday, the day of the race the weather once again was not looking to promising. Mr. LaBelle was helping to get the race track for the race on Saturday and he said it was not looking good. He was right, by 2:30pm they called the race off, due to weather. I was bummed, I was looking forward to finishing out the season with a race and not a cancellation, but I can’t control the weather. We were able to do some sightseeing. We saw the Welland locks, Port Colbourne and various other locations around Welland. This was nice to have a chance to see the sights. Usually we hurry to Welland for racing and because this race is raced at night, we hurry and get loaded up to head back to the states to be ready to race at Culvert tt. So this was a nice change. Later in the afternoon a friend called my mom and said to check the CMA website and Welland’s website, to check my stats. I was so surprised to find out that I am the 2008 CMA National Champion for the 450 and 600 novice division. Also I am the Welland points champion for the 450 and 600 novice division. This is a bitter/sweet ending to the season. When we first decided to race the 450 in Canada, my grandpa Traxler said to me,”Becki you can’t take the 450 to Canada to race.” I thought at first he was joking. Then he repeated it,” I’ve made an executive decision, you can’t take the 450 to Canada”. When I asked him why? He said,”Because I will worry about you.” I said,”Grandpa don’t worry”. Since that time my grandpa Traxler got really sick with lung cancer and passed away on July 14, 2008. Even though grandpa was too sick to attend my races, I believe he was watching over me. That’s why it is bitter/sweet. Other tidbits: At this time of year flattrack racing is basically done for me. The racetracks we chose we finished out for the year. There are a few coming up in October in other states, which we might decide to do just to keep up to speed. I need to focus on my studies; this is my senior year in high school, so I will be thinking about college and the future. I also still have my part-time job at Subway in the Wal-Mart Center in Albion, but part-time have turned into almost full time. On November 8, 2008 we at Trax Racing will be having our first Fundraiser. It will be held at the Medina Bowling Center from 6pm – 1am. Tickets will include bowling, shoe rental, live band (Distant Views), and food. We will be hosting a chinese auction and 50/50 raffle. The tickets can be purchased through G & D Repair and the team members, Becki, Josh, Randy and Caleb. My mom has coordinated this fundraiser with the lanes and sponsors. All proceeds after expenses will be divided up between the four of us to be used for our 2009 race expenses. I would like to thank my mom for not just thinking about me, but the other team members. I hope you will all consider joining us for this fundraiser, it will be a blast. Till next time, Becki #90t
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RC qualifies in 9th place, then steps it up in practice at his first-ever ARCA event, posting the second-fastest time today prior to tonight’s 5 p.m. race on SPEED
 
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 3, 2008) – Monster Energy’s Ricky Carmichael checked in from the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway to let us know he just cracked off the second-fastest practice time of the day in his No. 4 Monster Energy Chevrolet for tonight’s ARCA RE/MAX 250 race (5 p.m. EST on SPEED).
Carmichael is taking a break from competition with the Ken Schrader Racing program on the Camping World Series East competition (currently 7th overall in his rookie year) to compete in this evening’s ARCA event broadcast “Live” on the SPEED Channel. In addition, Carmichael’s been the subject of a great deal of media attention this week as he continues his successful transition from two to four wheels.
Running a car courtesy of his longtime racing friend, NASCAR star Kevin Harvick, Carmichael is pretty pumped with his effort so far at this his first-ever super speedway race.
“I think things are going very well,” said Carmichael. “The solo runs (on the first day of testing) almost made me sick because I was so focused and so anxious to get out there and learn about drafting. That was all I was thinking about – drafting – because it was such an unknown to me. Things that are unknown are usually scary and my brain was solely focused on that. I really enjoyed it. It’s a different skill than racing on a short track where you can just throttle-up coming off of a corner.”
Note: Harvick’s car RC will be driving has the No. 33 on it (Harvick’s #29 plus RC’s #4).
Be sure to check out all the action tonight on SPEED, including the ARCA RE/MAX 250 race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (5 p.m. EST), along with interviews throughout the day on CNN, SPEED and ESPN.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it NASCAR, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, off-road, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Ricky Carmichael digs ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterenergy.com .
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Mixed success for the Monster-backed racers on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship tour’s penultimate round – wins, podium finishes and wrecks!
 
CORONA, Calif., (Oct. 1, 2008) – Monster Energy-backed racers were at both the top and base of the standings at this past weekend’s Silverstone (UK) round of the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship with Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) taking the win in the second of two races while his teammate, Cal Crutchlow, brought his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade home in 2nd place in the first race.
The win in the second race was a bit of poetic justice for Haslam as he was taken out of the first contest – while leading – on the final turn. Spurned on by the misfortune and the 11th place finish in the first race, Haslam wicked up the action in the second race – dominating the rest of the field en route to victory.
“Race one was a disappointment as I wanted to do the double today and was confident we had the pace to do that,” said Haslam. “I was a bit battered and bruised after the crash and it hurt my left knee but there’s no lasting damage. Tom Sykes (the racer who cleaned out Haslam in the first race) came to the motor home to apologize, which is fair enough. When we were sitting on the grid for race two the team were telling me to just go out there and go for it, which I did. I just got my head down and got a bit of an advantage, my tires went off towards the end of the race, but it was enough to take the win. We only have Brands Hatch left now and I want to get there and end the season with a double win.”
And though teammate Crutchlow’s day started out better with a podium 2nd place o/a, the second race saw him run off the track and ended up in the back of the pack. Crutchlow did manage to mount a bit of a comeback before technical difficulties forced the DNF.
“I’m gutted at how things have gone this weekend, to be frank,” he said. “We chose what we thought were the best tires for us in the first race, but they didn’t perform exactly how we expected, so perhaps it was a difference in temperature. For race two things were better tire-wise and I was confident, but we made some changes to the front suspension and that made the bike turn a little differently so I ended up running off the track around Becketts. After that I got my head down until the technical problem saw me retire at Abbey. All I can do now is hope my luck changes for Brands Hatch.”
Monster Energy’s third entrant in the contest, Hydrex Bike Animal/Honda’s James Ellison, posted a 6th place finish at Silverstone, coming back from an 8th place effort qualifying (on his back-up bike) to gain a couple spots to place just outside the top five overall. This effort came in the second race as Ellison slid out in the first race and failed to finish – the first time that’s happened to him this season.
“I felt really comfortable on the bike in the first race and got a good start, then I got pushed wide and lost a couple of places, then got elevated up again when a couple of riders crashed out and I was within chance of a race win so I was pushing to catch Cal (Crutchlow),” said Haslam. “Then coming into the chicane, I went down a gear too early and it just spat me off and that was that. In race two the temperature plummeted just before the start which meant that the front tire that we'd chosen just didn't get any heat in it all race long and I nearly crashed so many times so it was just a case of keeping the bike upright.”
The final round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place in two weeks (Oct. 11-12) at Brands Hatch in Kent (UK).
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it superbike, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. The guys running the Bennetts British Superbike Championship dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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By Eric Johnson
This Friday, October 3, 2008 at precisely 5:00 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time),
stand in front of your television and make sure the thing is turned on and
tuned in to SPEED TV. Upon doing so, you¹ll live broadcast emanating from
the 2.66-mile, 33- degree high banks and 4,000 and 4,300-foot front and
backstretches of Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. And participating in
that race will be on other than Monster Energy¹s Ricky Carmichael. As we
like to call him, The G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) will be turning
another page in the still evolving scrapbook that is his racing life as
he¹ll take part in the 250-mile (94 lap) Auto Racing Club of America (A.K.A.
ARCA) RE/MAX 250.
Currently seventh in the 2008 NASCAR Camping World East point standings and
with three top five and seven top 10 finishes to his name, at Talladega, the
10-time AMA motocross and supercross champion and 150-time race winner will
take a huge step forward in fulfilling is dream of making it to the elite
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Carmichael was granted this opportunity to race on
NASCAR¹s biggest and fastest track by 2007 Daytona 500 and 11-time NASCAR
Sprint Cup race winner Kevin Harvick. Aware of Carmichael¹s near mythical
work ethic, desire and will to win, the native of Bakersfield, California
arranged for Carmichael to participate in an ARCA test at Talladega on
September 17, 2008 with 22 other race teams, one of the drivers including
the sensational young and highly regarded talent named Joey Logano (Tony
Stewart's replacement in the number 20 Home Depot Toyota Camry for the 2009
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series). Driving a 750 horsepower, 3,400-pound,
V8-powerred, non-descript black ARCA superspeedway car, RC passed the test
with flying colors, paving the way for his first ARCA start on October 3.
³I think it went very well,² reasoned Carmichael of going nearly 185 miles
per hour around the huge asphalt salad bowl of speed. ³The solo runs (on the
first day of testing) almost made me sick because I was so focused and so
anxious to get out there and learn about drafting. That was all I was
thinking about ¬ drafting ¬ because it was such an unknown to me. Things
that are unknown are usually scary and my brain was solely focused on that.
I really enjoyed it. It¹s a different skill than racing on a short track
where you can just throttle-up coming off of a corner.
My goal is to learn as much as I can and do a good job for KHI so I can get approved by
NASCAR to race at Daytona next year in the Truck Series. That¹s the big
picture here: showing what we can do and trying to get the sponsor support
to go Truck racing in 2009. I need to finish the race, avoid trouble, and
try my best to earn all of the experience and respect that I can. I have a
great car and the KHI team is so supportive and confident in me. I¹m
thankful for the chance and I think we¹ll do well together.²
And what was it about Carmichael that not only made him sit up and take
notice of Carmichael in an automobile, but actually take the time and effort
to create a car for him to both test and race in?
³I like the fact he has the determination and drive to have won multiple
championships running motorcycles,² explained the driver of the #29 Richard
Childress-prepared Shell/Pennzoil Sprint Cup car. ³I believe he will put the
same will and determination toward his stock car career. He knows how to
race and he takes care of his equipment. Every time I¹ve seen him race, he
has shown great promise.²
Every bit the racer as Carmichael, Harvick has a masterplan for the
motocross/supercross/X Games champion, but he also realizes that such a
thing takes time, patience and realistic goals and results.
³We are going to Talladega to get him some superspeedway experience in hopes
of running a full truck season in 2009,² said Harvick, citing that ARCA is
one of the last true stepping stones to the Sprint Cup Series. ³Our main
goal is for him to make laps, get drafting experience and finish the race.
There are no unrealistic expectations from our point of view.²
So there you have itŠ Lie, beg, borrow or steal, make sure you are in front
of your TV at 5:00 P.M. and have it tuned to SPEED this Friday. Every other
true race fan will.
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Jeff Matiasevich and Damon Bradshaw, throwbacks from an era of neon and mullets, to don Monster Energy helmets and drop the gloves at U.S. SX Open
 
Matiasevich photo courtesy of www.motoracing-japan.com
Bradshaw photo courtesy of www.old.supercross.com ‘s Bill Q.
CORONA, Calif., (Sept. 29, 2008) – Talk about crashing a party! Monster Energy announced today that it has secured helmet sponsorship deals with throwback supercross icons Jeff “The Chicken” Matiasevich and Damon “The Beast” Bradshaw for their legends rematch race at the Las Vegas U.S. Open of Supercross this weekend.
 
With a war of words making its rounds via the MX industry’s online community, there appears to be no love loss between the two former on-track adversaries – either of which haven’t lined up against each other since 1989.
“Monster’s the meanest energy drink out there – so it’s perfect for them to step up right into the middle of this battle,” said Matiasevich, who’ll run a Monster Energy/Kawasaki KX450F. “And I’ll probably pound a few in the hours leading up to the race so I’m good and wired when the gate drops. Then all heck’s gonna break loose.”
For his part Bradshaw – who Matiasevich insists was the instigator back during their tenor atop the SX standings (circa 1990-’93) – is looking forward to the contest as well and figures, at the very least, the fans at the U.S. Open are going to dig the action.
“If I get my ass kicked I know that I have done everything to get ready for this race,” said Bradshaw who, along with riding a new Yamaha YZ450F, is said to be growing a mullet for the contest. “It is motivating to get back to riding. I would never race supercross again, but I’m excited about racing Chicken at the U.S. Open.”
Back in their heyday Matiasevich was more of a 125cc class specialist to Bradshaw’s expertise in the premier 250cc class (now known as SX Lites and SX classes). Bradshaw is 8th on the all-time supercross premier class win list with 19 main event wins – but no titles. Matiasevich only has one overall premier class win, but can boast of two 125cc class titles (1989 and ’90). Their five-lap contest will be a full-on blitz of action, showcasing talent that helped put the sport of supercross on the map leading into Monster Energy’s Jeremy “Showtime” McGrath’s reign.
The unique one-on-one SX bout, scheduled for each night of the U.S. Open (Oct. 3rd & 4th), is the second legends rematch put on by event promoter Feld Entertainment® Motor Sports. Last year’s event featured Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Damon Huffman, the current AMA/Maxxis EnduroCross points leader, former SX champion Jeff Emig and Mike LaRocco – who was the overall winner.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, 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 and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. The Chicken & Beast dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com
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