Austin Burns to Make his Monster Energy Cup Debut in the Amateur All-Star Race

AURORA, Ill. (July 26, 2012) – Feld Motor Sports^® announced today that Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green rider Austin Burns, of Scottsdale, Ariz., will race the Amateur All-Star Class in 2012 Monster Energy Cup at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium on October 20.

Burns, 19, will make his Monster Energy Cup debut this year. He is one of 22 top amateur riders at this year's event that will represent the next generation of racers as they compete on the world's biggest stage with 3.5 hours of live television coverage. Consisting of two, five-lap Main Events, the Amateur All-Star Class features the graduating class of top amateurs that will turn professional the following season.

"The Monster Energy Cup is a great event with $1 million up for grabs," said Burns. "Preparation for the race is much different. We've grown up racing motocross our whole lives, so for this race you really need to be polished up on the technical side. To be where I'm at now and to be able to ride the same track pretty much next to those guys (the pros) is pretty sweet."

Like most amateur racers, Burns has long looked up to Monster Energy Cup track designer Ricky Carmichael, a five-time Supercross Class Champion, and is excited to ride the track that he is going to create.

"Obviously he will do a good job; he knows what the riders want and he's been there, done that," said Burns. "He is definitely going to make a design that is good for racing and good for the fans."

The 2012 Monster Energy Cup features an all-new track design inspired by five-time Supercross Class Champion Ricky Carmichael. The Carmichael-inspired track design will consist of supercross and motocross obstacles unlike any other racetrack design in the world. More than 200' of the track will be built into the grandstands, and the riders exit the stadium and race through the Monster Energy Fan Zone outside of the stadium and through the pit area before they catapult back into the stadium. The Monster Energy Cup posts a $250,000 purse with the winner walking away with a $100,000 check, and any rider that wins all three Main Events will take home $1 million. 

For more information on the Monster Energy Cup, log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com.  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 www.Facebook.com/VegasMECup and www.Twitter.com/VegasMECup.

Tickets for the 2012 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.

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 .