Ricky Carmichael Captures Second Annual Monster/Kawasaki Triple Crown

All totaled RC reels in $43,500 in Monster/Kawasaki cash prizes

CARLSBAD, Calif., (Sept. 5, 2006) – Monster Energy-backed Ricky Carmichael kept the second annual Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross bonus money in the family, this past Sunday taking home a total of $43,500 in cash and product from the popular AMA MX Nationals performance bonus promotion.

Carmichael, who won previous Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown events at High Point (Mt. Morris, Pa.) and RedBud (Buchanan, Mich.), topped the field at Steel City (Pa.) on Sunday afternoon with a decisive 1-1 performance.

“I’m definitely pumped to win the Triple Crown again,” said Carmichael. “The crew at Monster Energy have been very generous to the sport of motocross the past several years and the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross is for sure the premier performance bonus program going for the racers. Thanks again to Monster for pulling it all together.”

For winning High Point, RedBud and Steel City Carmichael was awarded $30,000 by Monster Energy and Kawasaki. In addition, Carmichael won a check for $1,500 for each individual race he won ($4,500) and three Kawasaki/Pro Circuit KLX110 mini cycles – valued at $3,000 each.

“Monster Energy and Kawasaki really stepped it up this year to elevate the Triple Crown of Motocross and, of course, everybody at Monster’s was happy that their own ‘RC’ was able to keep the bonus money in the family,” said Monster Energy spokesman, Scott Sepkovic. “The exposure and response through out the industry to the Triple Crown has been fantastic and Monster Energy is definitely looking forward to expanding on the bonus for next year, which had already been expanded to $72,000 this year.”

Coming close to another ten grand of that bonus money was Lites class points leader, Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy/Pro Cirucit/Kawasaki). The winner of the first two Triple Crown rounds was poised to take the overall at Steel City and Lites portion of the bonus, but also had to consider his AMA Lites class points lead and a super-charged Broc Hepler, who’d won the past two races and was racing in front of his hometown fans in Pittsburgh.

“The Triple Crown was definitely on my mind, but there was no way I was going to take any chances and possibly jeopardize my points lead for the Lites title,” said Villopoto. “I’d like to congratulate Ricky on winning the Motocross class’ Triple Crown and I’ll definitely plan on being in the hunt again next year for it.”

Monster Energy, the multiple-year sponsor of the Kawasaki/Pro Circuit team, has been involved in the great sport of motocross for several years now. Synonymous with the action sport movement, the Monster Energy glowing green “Clawed M” logo can be seen nationally from one end of the action sports spectrum to the other.

In addition to the king’s ransom that Carmichael pulled in, the Monster Energy/Kawasaki Triple Crown of Motocross also rewards the top privateers at each of the three races $1,000 each. Those athletes have been:

High Point: David Vuillemin (Motocross class), Danny Smith (Lites class)

RedBud: Tim Ferry (Motocross class), Paul Carpenter (Lites class)

Steel City: Nick Wey (Motocross class), Kelly Smith (Lites class)