Inaugural Monster Energy Cup Kicks off this Saturday

AURORA, Ill. – Five days remain until the gates drop at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium for the highly anticipated Monster Energy Cup. This stand-alone race offers a purse of a quarter-of-a-million dollars and a potential $1 million bonus.

The world’s top supercross and motocross racers will square off in three ten-lap main events in this one-of-a-kind race that posts a $250,000 purse, awarding the winner with a $100,000 check, and for the “first time ever” a shot at $1 million to the rider who wins all three main events.

“I am looking forward to competing in the Monster Energy Cup,” said Ryan Villopoto. “With three main events and a million bucks on the line, we are going to have some great racing.”

Ricky Carmichael, the all-time greatest motocross racer, and Jeremy McGrath, the all-time greatest supercross racer, teamed up to produce the historic hybrid track design, which blends elements from both supercross and motocross. The final product will incorporate iconic elements including, for the first-time ever at Sam Boyd Stadium, a portion of the track that will send riders into the stands. A 100’ double set on the outside part of the track and a 200’ lane stacked with two-foot sand rollers will also defy the world’s top racers.

“Carmichael and McGrath are two of the best riders the sport has ever seen, and it will be fun to ride a track that they design,” said supercross veteran Kevin Windham.

“This is one of the most diverse race tracks ever assembled,” said Dave Prater, director of the Monster Energy Cup, Feld Motor Sports. “The track itself will be developed for an open-class displacement concept. We will create obstacles, corners, and the start straight to help the 250cc machines compete against the 450cc machines, which will in turn level the playing field. ”

The elimination of nearly all technical restrictions, with the exception of sound and fuel regulations, will allow riders and teams the opportunity to develop and test new technology during race conditions without being restricted by the current AMA Supercross rulebook.

“As a singular race, the Monster Energy Cup gives us more freedom to think outside the box and try some innovative concepts that might not always be practical for a national championship,” AMA Director of Supercross Kevin Crowther. “Between this rules package and the amount of money on the line, the Monster Energy Cup will be one of racing’s must-attend events this year.”

Built into a day of diverse racing action, the world’s most tactical freestyle motocross riders will square off in a one-trick, “go big or go home” Best Trick freestyle competition for a shot at $40,000. The contest will feature Todd Potter, Jackson Strong, Mark Monea, Kyle Loza, and Cam Sinclair. These elite freestyle motocross riders will push the limits as they make every best effort to take home the attractive purse.

The Monster Energy Cup will also host the nation’s top amateur racers in two-separate divisional races classified as the Super-Mini class and the Amateur All-Star class, respectively. The top finishes from the Super-Mini class (12-15 years old) and 250 A and 250 B modified classes from the AMA Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championships will make up the starting grid for these special events.

SPEED™ TV will broadcast the inaugural Monster Energy Cup live on October 15 at 10:00 p.m. ET. The lead into the live Monster Energy Cup coverage will be a one-hour season recap of 2011 Supercross – The Greatest Season Ever beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET. SPEED will deliver a total of 3.5 hours of live television coverage to the fans at home.

Tickets for the 2011 Monster Energy Cup can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, UNLVtickets outlets, online at www.UNLVtickets.com,www.MonsterEnergyCup.com,  or by phone at (702) 739-FANS. Tickets will be available at the Sam Boyd Stadium Box Office on the day of the event only.

For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305. To follow the Monster Energy Cup on Facebook and Twitter, log on to http://facebook.com/VegasMECup and http://twitter.com/VegasMECup.

About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz℠, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.