Villopoto and Weimer Set to Return to Monster Energy Kawasaki with Multi-Year Deals

**Irvine, Calif. (September 7, 2012) - **Monster Energy Kawasaki will continue with its successful team of Ryan Villopoto and Jake Weimer on board the championship proven KX™450F for 2013 and beyond.

“Our goal from the beginning was to have the best riders on the track and we have that with Ryan and Jake,” said Reid Nordin, Kawasaki Senior Manager of Racing. “The guys work extremely well with each other and the rest of our team, and have both had exceptional seasons. We are looking forward to having two Kawasaki’s on the podium and continued success for many years to come.”

In 2011, Villopoto had a dominating season winning the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship title, the AMA 450 Motocross Championship, the Motocross of Nations Chamberlin trophy, and the Monster Energy Cup. He successfully defended his Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in 2012, but an injury forced him to miss his title defense in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Villopoto has been with Kawasaki since his amateur career as part of Team Green. He has a Supercross Lites West Region Championship and three 250 motocross championships. Earning his first supercross class win in 2009, Villopoto has since accumulated a total of 24 supercross wins and sits seventh on the all-time win list.

Villopoto’s teammate Weimer competed in his first full season on the KX450F this year, finishing fifth overall in Supercross. He has carried the team through the summer by consistently battling for the podium during the outdoor nationals. Weimer made the jump up to 450 class after a successful lites career. Weimer captured the 2010 Supercross Lites West Region Championship, earned a total of eight supercross lites wins, three 250 motocross wins, and helped Team USA win the 2009 Motocross of Nations in Italy. After a broken arm hindered his debut 450 season in 2011, Weimer scored five supercross podiums in 2012 and currently sits fourth in the AMA Pro 450 Motocross Championship.

Both riders have agreed to multi-year deals with the team, keeping them with Monster Energy Kawasaki for the foreseeable future. The No.1 Kawasaki of Villopoto will return to action along side Weimer at the Monster Energy Cup on October 20, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nev.