OPENING NIGHT OF COMPETITION
13 October 2006 - Rock Star Energy Drinks

Kawasaki’s James Stewart won the Alpinestars AMA Supercross class at the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S.

Honda’s Grant Captures Night 1 Win in MMI AMA Supercross Lites Feature

Open inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Stewart, of Haines City, Fla., won the opening night of the Toyota Trifecta by winning the Superpole, Progressive Direct Holeshot Award and main event, landing him a $50,000 pay check.

Leading all 20 laps Honda’s Josh Grant, of Riverside, Calif., won night one in the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) AMA Supercross Lites class. CBS Sports Spectacular will broadcast the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open Saturday, October 21, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. EST.

After banging bars down the start straight with Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael, the defending champion, Stewart pushed his motorcycle first across the $5,000 Progressive Direct Holeshot line. Carmichael, of Tallahassee, Fla., slid out and remounted in last place. Carmichael fought his way back to second place on Lap 18 of 25 and settled for second. Honda’s Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., finished third.

“I do that every once in a while,” said Carmichael, who was three U.S. Open wins in his illustrious career. “I was just trying to put myself in a good position, but things happen. I had to take it easy on some of the left hand turns because of my shoulder. I am proud of how I came back from last night. This place is so exciting, and I will be back tomorrow night. I can be the spoiler tomorrow night.

“I wanted to get out front,” said Stewart. “It is hard to pass so I needed a good start. I focused on the start and it turned out great. I saw that I had a good gap on the first lap. This place feels like home.”

In the MMI AMA Supercross Lites class main event Grant snuck by KTM’s Josh Hansen to earn the Progressive Direct Holeshot Award. Kawasaki’s Chris Gosselaar worked his way around Hansen, Temecula, Calif., on Lap 4 and secured second place. On Lap 9 Hansen pulled out of the race. The win for Grant was his first-ever in Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open competition. Gosselaar, of Corona, Calif., finished second and Yamaha’s Justin Brayton, of Murrieta, Calif., finished third.

“I have been riding great and feel really comfortable,” said Grant. That is what it takes to win. Chris (Gosselaar) rode a great race tonight and kept me honest.”

Alpinestars AMA Supercross Class Results

James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Kawasaki
Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee, Fla., Suzuki
Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
Ivan Tedesco, Murrieta, Calif., Suzuki
Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Kawasaki
Michael Byrne, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
David Vuillemin, Menifee, Calif., Honda
Josh Demuth, Kingwood, Texas, Honda
Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Suzuki
Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
Brock Sellards, Sherrodsville, Ohio, Honda
Cole Siebler, Emmett, Idaho, Suzuki

MMI AMA Supercross Lites Class Results

Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Honda
Chris Gosselaar, Victorville, Calif., Kawasaki
Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
Jake Weimer, Corona, Calif., Honda
Sean Collier, Saugua, Calif., Yamaha
Steve Boniface, Lewisville, Texas, Honda
Troy Adams, Brookville, Fla., Suzuki
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Suzuki
Matt Georke, Valencia, Calif., Yamaha
Ben Townley, Tallahassee, Fla., Kawasaki
Josh Hansen, Temecula, Calif., KTM
Eric Sorby, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda

KTM Junior Supercross Challenge

Ashton Hayes, Rockford, Mich., KTM
Ricky Beaton, Holland Landing, ON, KTM
Davy Pootjes, Ammerzoden, Holland, KTM
Jerry Robin, Big Lake, Minn., KTM
Mark Worth, Quenn Creek, Ariz., KTM
Senett Ferris, Pacific, Wash., KTM
Rookie White, Winchester, Calif., KTM
Tyler Rosa, Mission Viejo, Calif., KTM
Jacob Edison, Woodenhaven, Mich., KTM
Tyler Kirschner, Columbia, Md., KTM
Ryan Miller, Ocala, Fla., KTM
Brandon Tolsma, Holland, Mich., KTM
Mason Bryan, Elizabethtown, Ken., KTM
Troy Archer, San Diego, Calif., KTM
Jeremy Crookshank, Moreno Valley, Calif., KTM
Casey Kinney, Ukiah, Calif., KTM
Blake Green, Riverside, Calif., KTM

Built into this year''s Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open format will be the three part Toyota Trucks Trifecta bonus program that will pay additional money to the fastest qualifier for each night''s event, a bonus to each night''s Progressive Direct Holeshot winner and a bonus for any rider that can complete the Toyota Trucks Trifecta challenge by being the fastest qualifier, getting the Progressive Direct Holeshot and winning the main event. Any rider that hits the Toyota Trucks Trifecta will earn a $50,000 bonus each night in addition to the regular event purse and any rider that can ''Double Down'' and hit the Toyota Trucks Trifecta both nights will walk away with $250,000 for the weekend.

About The Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open

The eighth-annual Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open is an invite-only indoor off-road motocross race inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena October 13-15, 2006. Reigning champion Ricky Carmichael stages his defense of the title against the world’s top motocross racers competing for the world’s largest single race purse. Live Nation is a leading live event and venue management company focused on creating superior experiences for artists, performers, corporations and fans. Live Nation owns, operates and/or has booking rights for 153 venues worldwide and produced more than 29,500 events in 2005. Live Nation operates more than 60 websites globally. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.” For more information regarding Live Nation and its businesses, please visit the company’s website at www.livenation.com.

About AMA Pro Racing

AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com.

www.amaproracing.com

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