IRVINE, Calif. (January 22, 2007) - Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team will look to the all-new 2008 KFX450R racing ATV and three experienced riders as the keys to bringing home a championship in 2007. William Yokley will compete in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, while Jason Luburgh and Josh Creamer will compete in the World PowerSports Association (WPSA) Series and select All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA) AMA Pro Series races.
With over twenty years of riding experience William Yokley, 29, will lead Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team in its quest for the first-ever pro title with the all-new KFX450R. Yokley will be joined by teammate and three-time ATVA Pro Am Champion Jason Luburgh. Luburgh, 24, comes from a family of ATV racers and competed in his first race at the age of 16. Rounding out the team is 21-year-old Josh Creamer. Born and raised in Connecticut, Creamer has been racing ATVs for over five years and was the 2005 ATVA Pro Am Champion.
"This year is shaping up to be a very successful season for Kawasaki ATV racing," said Team Coordinator and former Kawasaki ATV Champion Jimmy White. "We have a team of experienced riders that know what it takes to stand atop the podium. I have no doubt that these guys will pilot the new KFX450R to the head of the pack."
Based on the championship-winning KXTM450F, the 2008 KFX450R features an all-aluminum frame, race-oriented chassis, and a low center of gravity. It is also the only model in its class with a reverse gear. This feature will allow quick exits in situations that formerly caused riders to retire from races before crossing the finish line.
As one of the premier ATV racing series, the WPSA consists of ten races that are run between from April and September. GNCC, the largest off-road racing series in America, kicks-off the season March 3-6 and ends the 13 round series in Crawfordsville, Ind. October 27-28, 2007.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft and utility vehicles through a network of more than 1,500 independent retailers, with an additional 7,700 retailers specializing in power products and general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 2,400 people in the United States, with 400 of them located at the Irvine, California headquarters.
Kawasaki's tagline, "Let the good times roll.TM", is recognized worldwide and the brand has become synonymous with powerful, stylish motorcycles for over four decades. Information about Kawasaki's complete line of recreational products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.