Vuillemin Clinches Top Privateer Honors

David Vuillemin Clinches Top Honors in U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Pro Privateer Challenge

Voss/Carpenter Duke it out This Weekend for $15,000

AURORA, Ill. (May 3, 2007) – Honda’s David Vuillemin, of Murrieta, Calif., clinched top privateer honors at Seattle’s Qwest Field last Saturday evening, earning top billing in the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Pro Privateer Challenge. At this weekend’s Amp’d Mobile Supercross Finals Kawasaki-backed Paul Carpenter, of Ithaca, N.Y., and former World Supercross GP champion Heath Voss, of Mico, Texas will race for the second and third place honors.

As a result of his outstanding season as the Top Privateer, he will be awarded a new 2007 Weekend Warrior Supercross Edition trailer courtesy of Giant RV and $25,000 from US Smokeless Tobacco Company at the season-ending supercross banquet. The U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company will award $15,000 and $10,000 to the second and third place finishers respectively in Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP.

"I am really happy I kept the Top Privateer Award with the MDK team,” said Vuillemin, referring to last year’s top privateer Nick Wey who gave MDK motorsports their first Top Privateer Award. “It was a goal of ours at the beginning of the season, and we worked hard as a team to achieve it. I'd like to thank Live Nation and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company for their support in this program."

Heading into Seattle last weekend Honda’s Voss held a three-point lead over Carpenter for the runner-up position. After Voss failed to make the main event, Carpenter gained valuable points and now holds an eight-point lead (183-175). This weekend they will lay it all on the line at Sam Boyd Stadium for the US Smokeless Tobacco Company’s $15,000 payday for second place honors.

“The privateers are an integral part of Amp’d Mobile Supercross and we are proud of our history as title sponsor of the Pro Privateer Challenge,” said Jody Deal, 1-on-1 marketing manager for Skoal.  “Obviously, we had a great three way battle between David, Heath, and Paul all season for the $25,000 with David prevailing in the end, but its nice to see the privateers compete bar to bar with the high profile factory backed teams each week”

Last year Honda-backed Nick Wey, of DeWitt, picked up top finishing privateer honors. Honda’s Ryan Clark, of Waddell, Ariz., was second, while Kawasaki’s Jeff Gibson, of Blacklick, Ohio, was third.

For more information about the Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, please log on to www.supercrossonline.com.  For media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig at 630-566-6305 or e-mail at dennyhartwig@livenation.com.