Ryan Capes soars into the record books with distance jump

Note: Check out the exclusive world premier webcast of Capes’ world record jump on www.expn.com today!

CORONA, Calif., (July 30, 2008) ? Monster Energy’s Ryan Capes, once dubbed the “King of all motorcycle distance jumpers” by Evel Knievel himself, has stepped up and uncorked a jump of the ages ? a 390-plus footer at Toe’s MX Park in Royal City, Wash.

Capes, aboard a Pro Circuit-tuned, Monster Energy emblazoned Kawasaki KX450F, took the bike up into a power range rarely used ? 5th gear pinned ? and hit his custom Monster Energy take off ramp, which stood some 341 feet (gap) away from the landing ramp, in excess of 100 mph.

But, unlike most of Capes’ seemingly smooth flights of YouTube lore, he ran into some problems early ? which nearly spelled disaster for the former motocross racer. “I don’t know what happened, but when I came off the ramp (100 mph) the front wheel dove,” said Capes. “So the first half of my flight was a panic rev?(censored) gnarly.”

Once he leveled off in flight ? at an unnerving height of 72 feet ? Capes then began to drift. And drift. And drift. So when it came time to set the Kawi back down on the transition of the landing ramp, Capes figures he only had about four feet of area in which to land ? or it’s off the side of the ramp with most certainly horrific consequences.

“Yeah, coming down from where I was at the landing looked pretty (censored) small,” he said. “And on top of that the winds were gusting from the side, so that carried me over from where I needed to be even more.”

When he finally touched down Capes cracked the throttle again to gain some inertia and help lessen the “THUD” on the bike’s entire geometry. But the KX with the Pro Circuit-tuned suspension and motor held up like a champ and Capes’ rear wheel left a measurable trench at 390 feet, four inches ? a new world record!

“I’m pumped, yeah, but I still want to get 400,” said Capes. “We’re close. I figure if I can pull 103 on the in run it’ll put me well past 400. Already did the speed run leading into it and got 103. So all that’s left now is to get the wind to cooperate and we’ll be good-to-go for 400.”

Added Monster Energy’s Action Sports Manager Terri Sacks: “I was standing on the landing ramp when Ryan jumped and it was just huge. He came flying over me so fast that I was actually a little scared. I could only imagine how Capes was feeling while he flew through the air.ÿRyan’s jump just dwarfed every other distance jump on a dirt bike. Monster Energy is stoked for Ryan and highly proud of him.”

Also, there’ll be a special “Live” re-broadcast of Capes’ incredible jump, shot by Jay Schweitzer and Powerband Films, on the Home Depot Center’s JumboTron at the Los Angeles X Games, Saturday, August 3th.ÿCapes will be there, in person, to recount his jump into history in front of the X Games’ sellout crowd!

Monster Energy supports the sport. Be it distance jumping, enduro, hare scrambles, MX, road racing, supermoto, FMX, skate, MTB, off-road, surf, snow, BMX ? name it ? the athletes are rockin’ Monster Energy more than anything these days. Check out all the types ? Original Monster Energy, Monster Lo-Carb, Monster Assault, Monster Khaos, the new Monster/fruit juice hybrid called “M-80” and the ground-breaking Java Monster premium coffee & cream supercharged with our Monster Energy blend. Ryan Capes digs ?em ? so will you. On the ?Net at www.monsterenergy.com