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Monster Energy’s Ryan Villopoto Rocks The AMA Lites Class With First-Ever SX Win At Dallas
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s rookie Supercross racers notches his first career win – leading wire-to-wire at Dallas’ Texas Stadium
CARLSBAD, Calif., (April 24, 2006) – Foreshadowing what was to be a dominant performance in the AMA Lites class finals, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s rookie sensation Ryan Villopoto topped teammate Grant Langston in the first heat race and took that “Monster” energy with him to the main, where he pulled the holeshot and won going away.
“I pulled the holeshot in my heat and battled with Grant the whole way,” said a pumped Villopoto following the Dallas race. “I wanted to carry that momentum into main.”
The No. 51 bike of Villopoto led the entire AMA Lites class main event. Langston, who would wind up on the podium in 3rd overall at Dallas, got caught up with rival Andrew Short early in the race and had to play catch up in order to make the podium.
“Andrew ran me up on the Tuff Blocks and after that I was surrounded by guys on all sides – which made it extremely tough to get back up towards the front,” said Langston. “It wasn’t an easy track to pass on and even when I had a clear track it seemed like there was nothing I could do with it.”
Langston, who trailed Short for the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Lites class overall lead by two points heading into Dallas, is now four points back (140-136) with one race remaining (Seattle). The two will meet again for the Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Lites Shoot Out in Vegas (May 6th).
Monster Factoid: Villopoto’s first-ever supercross win came at the exact stadium – five years later – after Langston recorded his first-ever supercross win!
This weekend Villopoto and Langston return to Villopoto’s hometown of Seattle for Round 15 of the 2006 Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series.
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team sponsors include: Parts Unlimited, Thor, Scott, Maxima, Amp’d Mobile, KMC Wheels, Vans, Bridgestone, Hinson Clutch, Components, Showa, The Garage People, Troy Lee Designs, Excel, Renthal, N-Style, Works Racing Parts, Twin Air, VP Racing Fuels, Athena, Motion Pro, DP Brakes, RK Racing Chain, UFO, Mechanix Wear, CTI2, Vertex, Alpinestars, PPG, Trek Bicycles,
Imagine It Graphics.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it motocross, surf, skate, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the flavors – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault and the new Monster/fruit juice hybrid called “Khaos.” Ryan Villopoto digs it – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterenergy.com.
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Monster Energy’s Grant Langston In Heated Western Region Lites Title Chase With Rival Andrew Short
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Langston two points back, 118-116, with two races remaining in Western Lites title chase
CARLSBAD, Calif., (April 18, 2006) – Team Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Grant Langston is looking to repeat as the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series’ Lites class champion, adding to his trophy case this year’s Western Region title to go with the Eastern Region title he won last year.
Standing in Langston’s way is a worthy adversary in Andrew Short. Both racers have either won or been on the podium in all but one of the six Western Lites races so far this year. And at the race where neither was on the podium both had faltered – Langston finishing 15th and Short finishing 13th in the mud at San Francisco’s SBC Park.
Overall, Langston has two wins to Short’s two wins. The only difference in points being the throw away race at San Francisco.
“It’s going to come down to the final event of the last Western Regional race in Seattle,” said Langston. “Andrew’s raced well this year and has a shot at the title. And I feel I’ve put in the work needed to bring the title back to Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki. So it’s just going to come down to who wants it more.”
Langston added that he wants to win the title straight up. “Nothing is more important to me right now than to win this title outright and add it to the Eastern Region title I won last year,” said Langston. “The tracks are different in the east and to be able to win that portion of the series shows your versatility as a racer and adds a certain legitimacy to being a Lites class champion.”
Langston, the only racer to have won World GP, Supercross and AMA Outdoor National motocross title, returns to action this Saturday at Texas Stadium in Irving. His teammate, Ryan Villopoto, trails Mike Alessi for fifth place overall by only one point (95-94).
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team sponsors include: Parts Unlimited, Thor, Scott, Maxima, Amp’d Mobile, KMC Wheels, Vans, Bridgestone, Hinson Clutch, Components, Showa, The Garage People, Troy Lee Designs, Excel, Renthal, N-Style, Works Racing Parts, Twin Air, VP Racing Fuels, Athena, Motion Pro, DP Brakes, RK Racing Chain, UFO, Mechanix Wear, CTI2, Vertex, Alpinestars, PPG, Trek Bicycles,
Imagine It Graphics.
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it motocross, surf, skate, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the flavors – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault and the new Monster/fruit juice hybrid called “Khaos.” Grant Langston digs it – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterenergy.com.
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Monster Energy’s Shane Dorian Wins ‘Monster Tube Award’ At Recent Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards
Presenting sponsor Monster Energy bestows $5,000 on one of its own athletes for catching the best tube ride of the year at Teahupoo in Tahiti
CARLSBAD, Calif., (April 17, 2006) – Monster Energy’s Shane Dorian caught the best tube ride of the year, aka “Monster Tube Award,” at the recent Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards, presented by Monster Energy. His Sept. 11th, 2005 ride of Tahiti’s Teahupoo earned Dorian $5,000, but better yet, the recognition from his peers of pulling the best tube ride during the 2005 surf season.
“It’s definitely one for the memory banks,” said Dorian of his Teahupoo ride. “You can surf an entire lifetime and not get a ride like that. I’m not only fortunate to have been in that position, but also to be surrounded by generous sponsors – such as Monster Energy - that make global surf travel and the potential for barrels like Teahupoo possible.”
After Dorian picked up his award, the evening’s premier award – the 2006 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Award – presented by Monster Energy – went to San Diego’s Brad Gerlach who rode a 68-foot skyscraper at Todos Santos Island off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. The 40-year-old Gerlach received a check for $68,000 – or a grand for every foot of the giant he rode.
“When I caught that wave I didn’t really know how big it was,” said Gerlach. “The swell was still building and it was the last wave of the day, just before it got dark, so I was hoping to get one more. When I kicked out of the wave everyone went nuts…you don’t know what’s behind you when you’re on it. I’ve been surfing Todos Santos for a long time, but that was the most amazing day I’ve ever seen.”
Also winning awards were:
. Robert Brown ($5,000), who shot the picture(s) of Gerlach’s wave.
. Diego Medina (Bellavista, Chile) won $10,000 for the Monster Paddle Award with a wave he caught off Punta Lobos point south of Santiago, Chile.
. Jamie Sterling (Hawaii) who won $5,000 in the Surfline Best Overall Performance (paddle and tow-in).
. Jamilah Star (California) $5,000 for the Billabong Girl’s Best Performance.
. Garrett McNamara (California) get the “Golden Donut” for the year’s most artistic wipe out. McNamara was awarded a new watercraft rescue sled.
A replay of the 2006 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy will air on FUEL-TV on June 5th at 9:30 p.m. (EST).
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it surf, motocross, skate, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the flavors – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault and the new Monster/fruit juice hybrid called “Khaos.” Shane Dorian digs it – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterenergy.com.
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CARLSBAD, Calif., (April 14, 2006) – On the heels of winning one of the more prestigious skate contests in the world – the Tampa Pro Street Finals - the world’s hottest street skater, Greg Lutzka, has joined Monster Energy Drink’s list of skateboard greats, including vert specialists Pierre “PLG” Luc-Gagnon, Jake Brown and skateboarding’s future, Taylor Smith.
Lutzka, who hails from Milwaukee, Wisc., has been on a tear as of late, pulling a series of top five and podium finishes before breaking through with his first major contest win of ’06. Unattached as far as energy drinks go, when Lutzka was approached by Monster Energy he put down the little energy drink he had in his hand and rolled out a handshake and a big smile to join established crew of Monster Energy skaters.
“Monster Energy is insane!,” said Lutzka. “I’ve had it before, definitely liked it and was stoked when they approached me to skate for them.”
Competing for some time on a global scale, Lutzka was known more for epic magazine shots than he was for putting together contest-winning runs. That all changed about a year ago when he won the Tampa Pro Street qualifier. Since then he’s mined X Games street silver, was just a click off the top ten in the Slam City Jam, won the West 49 Canadian Open and pulled some more silver out of the Dew Tour Street finals last summer and again at the recent Aussie Global Assault contest.
“Things have for sure been going real well lately,” said Lutzka.
“I look forward to representing Monster Energy.”
Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it skate, motocross, surf, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the flavors – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault and the new Monster/ fruit juice hybrid called “Khaos.” Greg Lutzka digs it – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterenergy.com.
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