The video segments feature Rufus, the Charlotte Bobcats basketball team mascot, learning to ride motocross. Rufus starts out on a Yamaha PW50 with big dreams of becoming a motocross star. Jim Neese and Jim Chester, of the Carolina Xpress, are his teachers. The final segment features Rufus on a Suzuki RM-Z450 blitzing the track and launching off the catapult. Jim Chester is dressed up as Rufus in the final segment.

“It was fun to work with the Bobcats marketing people to create the video. The exposure for our team and motocross is definitely a good thing. The video segments of the training sequence are hilarious,” commented Jim Neese.

“Launching off the catapult jump in a Rufus costume was definitely one of the craziest things I have done. The headpiece limited my visibility and the full suit restricted my head movement, but I was able to manage and I think that the fans will enjoy it,” added Jim Chester.

Charlotte News14 was onsite covering the action and the coverage aired on the nightly news program. The video shoot took place at Aaron Stancil’s arenacross practice track in Concord, North Carolina.

The video segments will run at the Charlotte Bobcats games December 27, 29 and January 1.

About the Carolina Xpress

The Carolina Xpress is a professional motocross race team based in North Carolina. The team is a Suzuki factory support team and races in both the Lites (250cc) and Motocross (450cc) classes in the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series. Racing for the team are Jim Neese and Jim Chester, two national caliber riders. Jim Neese and Jim Chester are professional motocross racers, motocross instructors and operate businesses that serve the off-road community. Jim Neese runs a training school for motocross racers aiming to tap their potential, called the Jim Neese Rider Development System. He is also a track developer and partner in OCR – Action Sports Park located in Durham, NC. Jim Chester owns a bicycle/motorcycle shop in Hickory, NC called Moto-Velo where he sells and services motorcycles and bicycles. He also trains future professional motocross racers and sponsors a bicycle racing team.

About Toyota AMA Arenacross Series
In its 23rd year, the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series, owned by Live Nation, is the premier indoor motocross series in the U.S. playing to sold-out arenas nationwide. Information on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series events may be found at www.arenacross.com. Live Nation is a leading live event and venue management company focused on creating superior experiences for artists, performers, corporations and fans. Live Nation owns, operates and/or has booking rights for 153 venues worldwide and produced more than 29,500 events in 2005. Live Nation operates more than 60 websites globally. Headquartered in Los Angeles , California , Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.” For more information regarding Live Nation and its businesses, please visit the company’s website at www.livenation.com.

About AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. Accredited media outlets can also access AMA Pro Racing's online Press Room at www.amaproracing.com/pressroom.