Monster Energy Triple Crown Celebrates Five Years

MORGANTOWN, W.V. - The 2009 Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross consists of three of the most important and established rounds of the 12-race 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship season and kicks off this weekend.

Entering its fifth year, the Triple Crown's opening round will commence this Saturday, June 13 at High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, Pa. Round two and the centerpiece of the Triple Crown takes place on the 4th of July with the celebration and tradition that is RedBud in Buchanan, Mich. A new event will serve as the site for the final round when Budds Creek Motocross in Mechanicsville, Md. hosts the crown jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday, August 22 for the first time in the property's four-year history.

It's anyone's guess as to who will set the bar this Saturday at High Point, but for the first time in Motocross history, all the drama will unfold live and in front of a national audience. Tune in to NBC at 4:30 p.m. ET to find out who stands atop of the box when all is said and done.

With cash on the line, the Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross is the opportunity of a lifetime for any rider. Additionally, should any two riders manage to pull-off the three-race sweep in the 450 and 250 class, they will receive a $25,000 bonus. Moreover, checks will be cut in the amount of $3,000 to the overall winner in both classes at each of the three Triple Crown races.

Privateer competitors will also get their chance to shine with $2,000 being awarded to the top finishing rider from the 450 and 250 classes. Should a sweep of the three-race series not occur, each rider to tally the most points in each class at the conclusion of the Triple Crown will be awarded with an additional $5,000.

Placing a bold exclamation mark to it all, the 2009 Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross will be exponentially important to the teams, riders and fans of the sport as for the first time ever, all three races will be televised live on network television on NBC Sports.

As far as history goes, only two riders have swept the Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross: The Greatest of All-Time Ricky Carmichael (2005 and 2006) and James Stewart (2008). While Carmichael and Stewart have won the Triple Crown on 450cc motorcycles, no 250cc-mounted rider has been able to accomplish the feat. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Ryan Villopoto came close in 2008, winning at both High Point and RedBud before being defeated by rival Ryan Dungey at Steel City in Delmont, Pa.

2009 Monster Energy Triple Crown Awards
Per race:
250 Class winner = $3,000
450 Class winner = $3,000
250 Class Privateer = $2,000
450 Class Privateer = $2,000 ( *Privateer awards are per race only)

Total for the 3 rounds = $30,000

Overall Sweep:
250 Class = $25,000
450 Class = $25,000

Total for 3 rounds = $50,000

No sweep:
250 Class = $5,000
450 Class = $5,000

Total for 3 rounds = $10,000

Overall Total: $80,000

For more information, please contact Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at brandon@mxsports.com or by telephone at (949) 365-5752.

For fan and racing information on the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, log onto www.allisports.com.

MX Sports Pro Racing
MX Sports Pro Racing manages and produces the world's most prestigious motocross series - the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. An industry leader in off road powersport production and management, its mission is to raise awareness of motocross racing through the production of professional championship racing events nationwide. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing fields more than 60,000 action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of active fans, spectators and enthusiasts. For more information, please visit www.mxsportsproracing.com.

Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports
Alli, the Alliance of Action Sports, is a global business that encompasses national and international action sports tours and events, multimedia production, and a consumer facing lifestyle brand. The Alliance includes: the Dew Tour, Winter Dew Tour, China Invitational, Maloof Money Cup, Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship, King of Wake series, and the Gatorade Free Flow Tour; Alli TV Productions, which creates original content, produces and presents content with partners, and distributes Alli content through a variety of channels. Alli is owned by NBC Sports and MTV Networks and represents a network of athletes, fans, brands and properties. Its mission is to facilitate the momentous growth of action sports, through competition and lifestyle, for a new generation of fans and athletes. The Alli properties are home to more than 550,000 spectators each year and broadcasts more than 150 hours of original content in 100 countries and 280 million homes worldwide. More information can be found at www.allisports.com.

Lucas Oil Products
Lucas Oil is a worldwide leader in the production of oils, greases, and additives. Based in Corona, Calif., Lucas Oil Products is one of the fastest-growing additive lines in the consumer automotive industry, featuring a premium line of oils, greases, and problem-solving additives. Through innovative product research and development, along with aggressive marketing programs, Lucas Oil Products has established itself as the top-selling additive line in the American truck-stop industry.

Forrest Lucas and his wife, Charlotte, founded Lucas Oil Products in 1989 after he spent 20 years as a truck driver and owner of a nationwide long-haul trucking fleet. They experienced firsthand the need for better lubricants and fuel treatments to maintain their equipment.

Lucas Oil is involved in an array of motorsports sponsorships, including the "Official Motor Oil of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship." For more information on Lucas Oil, please visit www.LucasOil.com.

AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. From its Daytona Beach headquarters, the organization operates and manages AMA Pro Road Racing, which includes AMA Pro American Superbike, AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro SuperSport and AMA Pro SunTrust Moto-GT. AMA Pro Racing also manages and works closely with the day-to-day operational organizations of the AMA Pro Flat Track Championship and the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship Series in addition to other two-wheel and ATV series. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.