Monster Energy teammate Grant Langston is team’s top finisher in fourth, Matt Walker not far off the pace in seventh

 

CARLSBAD, Calif., (Aug. 16, 2005) – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ivan Tedesco rode a consistent 6-6 finish for fifth place overall, but more importantly, extended his lead in the overall standings of the 125 class to 51 points over rival Andrew Short with three races remaining in the 2005 AMA Motocross Championship.

 

This weekend the Monster Energy athletes and the world’s premier motocross racing tour roll into Upstate New York for Round Ten of the AMA National MX series at Broome-Tioga Sports Center in Binghamton, New York.

 

Leading the way this past weekend for the Monster Energy squad was actually Tedesco’s teammate, Grant Langston. The multi-time champion and three time ’05 summer MX National stop winner blazed to a 2^nd place finish in moto No. 2 and would finish fourth overall (10^th in the first moto). The stroke of good fortune, though it didn’t put him on the podium, was welcomed by Langston as he’s been suffering through an unfortunate string of bad luck in the last several races.

 

“First moto was not what I was expecting,” said Langston. “I got a descent start, around 10^th place and was making some passes. Was behind Josh Grant and wanted to get around him because I felt I had a slightly faster pace than him. Changed my line coming back through the whoops and on about the second whoop I caught a rut, started one of those big fishtails and (the bike) just spat me off. Came from 16^th back to 10^th with a twisted bike, which was kind of tough. Bars bent, sub frame bent – throttle sticking open, made for an average finish – not what I was looking for.”

 

Langston continued: “Second moto I figured the overall was out of the picture, so I thought a moto win would be a fantastic way to get the ball rolling again. Got a pretty good start, pulled up close to the front, then when (Andrew) Short got by (Mike) Alessi he just yarded us. Mike was kind of blocking me and I lost about six seconds in two laps to Andrew. Got around Alessi, kind pushed, made up some time, cut the lead to about five seconds, then with a couple laps to go it was real rough and I didn’t want to kill myself so I just settled for second.”

 

Also rippin’ it up for Monster was Matt Walker. The ultra-fast Georgian blazed to a 4^th place finish in the first moto, highlighted by an insane pass on Billy Laninovich on the downhill section right before the last couple turns prior to the finish line.

 

“There wasn’t a whole lot of places to be passing, so I knew I had to pull something there or sit behind him through the checkers,” said Walker, who would wind up 7^th overall (4-9). “I knew he (Laninovich) kept going to the inside, so I took the outside line and gassed it – beat him to the bottom of the hill and held on for fourth.”

 

Monster Energy’s fourth racer, Paul Carpenter (34^th o/a, 39-32) will look to rebound this weekend in front of his hometown fans in Binghamton. “Always look forward to heading home to race,” said Carpenter. “Binghamton’s a blast.”

 

Also keep in mind that Monster Energy Drink will sponsor the Triple Crown of Motocross – a $25,000 bonus to any racer who can sweep the High Point, RedBud and Steel City rounds of the 2005 AMA Motocross Championship. The rider with the only chance now is Ricky Carmichael, who won both High Point and RedBud. Mike Alessi, who won High Point, finished fourth at RedBud (125 class) and is out of contention for the Monster Energy Triple Crown of Motocross.

 

In addition to the sizable bonus opportunity, Monster Energy – in cooperation with Kawasaki and Pro Circuit – will award the top privateer placer in both 125 and 250 classes a factory Monster Energy/Kawasaki/Pro Circuit KLX 110 (valued at $3,000) while also awarding an additional $500 in cash to the top privateer at each race (both classes). Also, at the Steel City round, Monster Energy will award an additional KLX 110 and another $500 in cash to the top overall privateer finisher in each class. That’s eight custom Kawasaki/Pro Circuit mini bikes and $4,000 in cash!

 

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