Monster Energy On Board As “Official Energy Drink” Of AMA/Maxxis EnduroCross

Unique motorcycle race series featuring off road obstacles built into an arena floor track opens this weekend at the Orleans in Las Vegas

CORONA, Calif., (July 3, 2008) – Monster Energy announced today that it has partnered with the AMA/Maxxis EnduroCross Championship Series, presented by Lucas Oil, as the “official energy drink” of the series which opens this weekend at Las Vegas’ Orleans Arena (July 5th).

The six-race series features an array of top athletes from all point on the compass, including top racers from the American Hare & Hound, WORCS and GNCC series – along with some of Europe’s great off road specialists - in what’s become a central stage for bragging rights as to who’s the world’s top off road racer.

For Monster Energy, which will field two of the favored racers to make the Endurocross podium in Monster Energy/Kawasaki’s Ricky Dietrich and Destry Abbott, the sponsorship agreement with promoter Eric Perronard and the EnduroCross Series is a natural extension of the already generous position Monster Energy holds in two wheel motorsports competition.

“When the EnduroCross started in 2004 Monster got involved immediately upon hearing the description of the project,” said Perronard. “Since then Monster has been continually supporting EnduroCross – a sport that requires a great deal of energy, which makes the relationship with Monster a natural. We’re pleased to have Monster on board again this year and wish their athletes competing the best of luck.”

Abbott spoke on behalf of the Monster Energy/Kawasaki team on the upcoming EnduroCross race at the Orleans and is understandably pumped to get things going this holiday weekend.

“EnduroCross is one of the most unique events I do and one of my favorite events of the year,” said Abbott, who’s leading the AMA Hare & Hound Series points chase. “It’s going to be awesome this year since it’s more of a series than just one race. I know I’ll have to be patient, consistent and sometimes willing to hang it out in some sections to make it to the main event. Last year I finished 7th in the main and my goal this year is to finish in the top five – or maybe a podium.

“And it’s cool that Monster Energy’s on board with this. Definitely shows their continued allegiance to the sport of off road racing.”

 From Monster Energy’s perspective, echoing what Perronard said, the backing of the 2008 AMA/Maxxis EnduroCross Series, presented by Lucas Oil, is a natural extension of what Monster Energy’s doing every weekend across this nation and now in Europe to further its brand image motorsports enthusiasts.

“What’s best about the EnduroCross events is that it’s an all-star race of sorts that brings together the off road community for six great weekends of racing,” said John Lee, Director of Sports Marketing for Monster Energy. “There’s always a lot of ‘what if this guy from the GNCCs raced that guy from WORCS?’ Well, EnduroCross answers those questions and then some as the top off road racers from all over the world will be in Vegas beginning this weekend to decide who’s the best. And Monster Energy is stoked to have been involved since Day One with this innovative form of motorsport.”

For more information on the 2008 AMA/Maxxis EnduroCross Series, presented by Lucas Oil and featuring Monster Energy as the “official energy drink,” check out the series website at www.endurocross.com <http://www.endurocross.com  >