Monster Energy's Christophe Pourcel Captures 1st Place

CORONA, Calif. – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel got the team off to a big start at the ESX Lites class opener this past weekend, pulling the holeshot in the main event and completing a green-to-checkers 1st place effort at Houston’s Reliant Stadium on Saturday, round four of 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

Pourcel, who injured his shoulder in practice just prior to the start of the 2009 supercross season, looks to be back up to speed in winning his second-ever AMA pro Lites class supercross race. The Frenchman was second-fastest in the afternoon’s practice session (51.663 to 51.701 behind Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammate Austin Stroupe) and parlayed that speed into a 2nd place finish in the first heat race behind former Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki racer Brett Metcalfe, while Stroupe won the second heat race to transfer to the main.

When the gate dropped on the Houston SX Lites class main event, both Pourcel and Stroupe had a good line on the holeshot. But Stroupe would tangle with another rider (Darryl Durham) while Pourcel got through clean. Stroupe battled back valiantly towards the front, reaching the top ten (9th) by the end of the first lap and moving up to 4th by lap four.

While Stroupe was having to race through traffic, Pourcel was on it – extending his lead and making it quite apparent that the shoulder is in much better shape, as is Stroupe’s as he injured his as well right around the same time Pourcel did.

“I am very happy to have come back from injury so soon and to be able to win,” said Pourcel. “I would like to thank my Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team for giving me the fastest bike. I will head back to France now for a while then be back ready to go for the Atlanta Supercross.”

For his part Stroupe was equally as fast and would have likely challenged for the podium at the end had he not got hung up at the start.

Next up for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team is the round five of Monster Energy Supercross at San Francisco’s AT&T Park, where it’s back to WSX racing with Jake Weimer and Ryan Morais Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki.

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it SX, rally, insane distance jumping, MX, MotoGP, road racing, supermoto, off-road, FMX, skate, MTB, wake, mini bikes, surf, snow, BMX – name it – the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types – Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, Monster’s fruit juice hybrid dubbed “M-80,” the party-friendly MIXXD, the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream drink line supercharged with our Monster Energy blend, along with the new Monster Energy “Hitman” energy shot. Christophe Pourcel and Austin Stroupe dig ‘em – so will you. On the ‘Net at www.monsterarmy.com and www.monsterenergy.com