AURORA, Ill. (October 12, 2006) – This Friday night the ninth-annual Rockstar U.S. Open kicks off at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. Today at 3:00 p.m. PT Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael will make a major announcement at the pre-race press conference at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Fans can listen live at www.ussx.com. The classic showdown between Carmichael and James Stewart will air on CBS Sports Saturday, October 21, 2006 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. (EST).

Past Winners U.S. Open Winners

’98: Damon Huffman, Kawasaki

’99 Jeff Emig, Yamaha

’00: Ricky Carmichael, Kawasaki

’01: Ricky Carmichael, Honda

’02: Mike LaRocco, Honda

’03: Chad Reed, Yamaha

’04: Chad Reed, Yamaha

’05: Ricky Carmichael, Suzuki

Last Year’s Overall Results

AMA Supercross class

1. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Suzuki
2. Michael Byrne, Temecula, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Kevin Windham, Centerville, Miss., Honda
4. Mike LaRocco, Buchanan, Mich., Honda
5. Ernesto Fonseca, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
6. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Honda
7. Jason Thomas, Melrose, Fla., Honda
8. Kyle Lewis, Henderson, Nev., Honda
9. Jeff Gibson, Westerville, Ohio, Honda
10. Tiger Lacy, Wolf Creek, Ore., Honda

AMA Supercross Lites class

1. Bret Metcalfe, Murrieta, Calif., Yamaha
2. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., KTM
3. Robert Kiniry, Skaneateles, N.Y., Honda
4. Billy Laninovich, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
5. Andrew Short, Colorado Springs, Colo., Honda
6. Jake Weimer, Pupert, Idaho, Honda
7. Mike Brown, Johnson City, Tenn., Suzuki
8. Dylan Lord, Apple Valley, Calif., Honda
9. Kyle Mace, Hesperia, Calif., Honda
10. Logan Darien, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
    

2006 Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open Stats

• Carmichael holds the most wins at the U.S. Open
• Reed and Carmichael are the only riders to win the U.S. Open in back-to-back years
• Carmichael and Reed are the only riders to win the U.S. Open in the same years they earned AMA Supercross championships
• Emig, LaRocco, Reed and Carmichael have won the FIM World Supercross championship as well as the U.S. Open
• U.S. Open wins by brand: Kawasaki: 2; Yamaha: 3; Honda: 1, Suzuki: 1
• Every winner of the U.S. Open has won an AMA Supercross Lites regional championship
• Last year Carmichael became the only rider in history to win the U.S. Open, AMA Supercross, World Supercross GP, AMA Motocross and Motocross of Nations championship.
• Seven-time AMA Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath’s best finish at the U.S. Open was second in 2001.
• LaRocco, Emig and Carmichael are the only riders to win an AMA Motocross championship and a U.S. Open championship.
• Huffman’s only major AMA Supercross championship is the U.S. Open.
• James Stewart is competing in his first-ever professional U.S. Open this year. He won the mini class in 1999.
  

Other Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open News

• The 2006 Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open will air on CBS Sports Saturday, October 21, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. (EST)
• Joining the CBS Sports broadcast team this year is former U.S. Open champion Jeff Emig. Emig will be in the booth with Ralph Sheheen, while Krista Voda will be reporting from the pits.
• The pre-race press conference will be webcast Thursday, October 12, from Noon-2:00 at www.ussx.com, featuring James Stewart and Ricky Carmichael.
• Each night of racing will be webcast starting at 7:00 p.m. PST on www.ussx.com. DENNY – ADD SOME FLUFF ON WEBCAST AND THE AMOUNT OF LISTNERS.
• The inaugural Toyota Trifecta program will debutat  this weekend’s event, offering $250,000 to the winner of all six events.
• This year’s track layout will be completely different from Friday to Saturday night.
• Tickets for the 2007 U.S. Open will go on sale to Cross Club members only Monday, October 16 and to the general public on Thursday, October 19.
• The nation’s top amateurs will be competing this Sunday in the seventh-annual Toyota Arenacross World Finals.
• This year’s event kicks off at 7:00 p.m., running during a three-hour time frame and finishing one hour ahead of last year’s schedule.
  

2006 Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open Sponsors

Official Energy Drink and Title Sponsor: Rockstar Energy Drink

Official Truck: Toyota

Presenting Sponsor: Thor and Parts Unlimited

Official Insurance Company: Progressive Direct

Official Military Branch: U.S. Air Force  

Official Smokeless Tobacco Product: USST 

Other official sponsors for the 2006 Rockstar Energy Drink US Open include Alpinestars (Official Boot), Carter Powersports (Official Dealership), Honda (Official Non-Exclusive OEM), Kawasaki (Official Non-Exclusive OEM), KTM (Official Non-Exclusive OEM), Makita (Official Power Tool), MasterCraft (Official Boat), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (Official Technical School), Ogio (Official Bag), Suzuki (Official Non-Exclusive OEM), Transworld Motocross Magazine (Official Magazine), and Yamaha (Official Non-Exclusive OEM and ticket consignment outlet), Spy Optic (Official Eyewear).

Starting Line Up

AMA Supercross Class

1. Ricky Carmichael
2. James Stewart
3. Ivan Tedesco
4. Nick Wey
5. Michael Byrne
6. Ryan Clark
7. Timmy Ferry
8. Jason Thomas
9. Kevin Windham
10. Tyler Evans
11. Heath Voss
12.  David Vuillemin
13.  Broc Sellards
14. Jeff Dement
15.  Kyle Lewis
16.  Jiri Dostal
17. Erick Vallejo
18.  Josh Demuth
19. Chad Johnson
20.  Jeff Willoh
21.  Doug Dehann
22.  Michael Sleeter
23.  Danny Smith
24.  Kevin Johnson
25. Kyle Partridge 

AMA Supercross Lites Class

1. Chris Gosselaar
2. Josh Grant
3. Tommy Hahn
4. Jake Weimer
5. Sean Collier
6. Matt Goerke
7. Josh Hansen
8. Steve Boniface
9. Ryan Spies
10. Troy Adams
11. Ben Townley
12. Ryan Dungey
13. Sean Hackley
14. Dennis Ewing
15. Marvin Musquin
16. Justin Brayton
17. Matthew Lemoine
18. Eric Sorby
19. Leighton Lillie
20. Michael Willard
21. Greg Crater
22. Kyle Phenix
23. Clayton Miller
24. Charles Castloo