Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha Racing
Star Racing was founded in 1999 by Bobby Regan to compete in the AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships as a full privateer effort, and in 2003, the team won the Supercross Privateer of the Year Award. Building off that success, Star Racing became an official Yamaha bLU cRU support team in 2005 and is now one of the most sought-after teams for top contenders and young riders looking to advance their careers.
Monster Energy, a long-time sponsor of Yamaha’s racing teams around the globe, has signed on as a title sponsor for Star/Yamaha Racing’s supercross and motocross team for 2018.
The new official team name is Monster Energy/Yamalube/Star/Yamaha Racing, and the riders include 2017 250SX West Championship third-place finisher and Seattle 250SX winner Aaron Plessinger (#23), along with Dylan Ferrandis (#24), Colt Nichols (#31), Mitchell Oldenburg (#52), and Justin Cooper (#62).
Monster Energy
Yamaha’s partnership with Monster Energy goes all the way back to 2007, when the two joined forces with Graves Motorsports to compete in the AMA Supermoto series, winning three championships and an X Games Gold in a two-year span.
After a brief hiatus, the partnership renewed in 2011 when Monster Energy became the title sponsor of the Yamaha Factory Racing Superbike team. Together, Monster Energy and Yamaha have won six AMA Superbike Championships in a row, in addition to three AMA Daytona SportBike/Supersport Championships, which includes the past two consecutive MotoAmerica Supersport titles.
In 2016, the successful partnership between Monster Energy and Yamaha extended to Supercross when Monster Energy also became the title sponsor of the Yamaha Factory Racing Supercross team, as well as the Yamaha Factory Racing Superbike team.
This year, Monster Energy is the title sponsor of both the Yamaha Factory Racing and Star/Yamaha Racing Supercross/Motocross teams, as well as the Yamaha Factory Racing and Graves/Yamaha Road Racing teams.
Monster Energy is way more than an energy drink. Led by its athletes, musicians, employees, distributors, and fans, Monster Energy is…A LIFESTYLE IN A CAN!
Yamalube
Yamalube formulates the only oil “built around” the unique demands, operating characteristics, and applications of the various motorsports engines that Yamaha produces. And, whether it’s Yamalube four-stroke or two-stroke oil, all of the races and Championships that Yamaha’s U.S. teams have won in supercross, motocross, off-road racing, and road racing over the years have been accomplished with Yamalube in the engines.
Yamalube also makes lubricants, quality care products, maintenance products, fork oils, fuel additives, and adhesives.
Rider Profile - Aaron Plessinger, #23
| Date of Birth: | 1/25/1996 |
| Home Town: | Hamilton, OH |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Height: | 6' 2" |
| Weight: | 155 lbs. |
| First Race: | Hare Scrambles, Columbus, OH |
| Year Turned Pro: | 2015 |
| Favorite Track: |
Glen Helen Raceway |
| Favorite Food: |
Sushi |
| Favorite Music: |
Country, Rap |
| Training: | Cycling, Mountain Biking, Gym, Gareth Swanepoel |
| Hobbies: | Cycling. Mountain Bikinge |
RACING HIGHLIGHTS
| 2017 | 3rd Overall in AMA 250SX West (Seattle 250SX Winner), 4th Overall in AMA 250MX |
| 2016 | 2nd Overall in AMA 250SX East (Indianapolis 250SX Winner), 5th Overall in AMA 250MX |
| 2015 | 5th Overall in AMA 250SX West, 6th Overall in AMA 250MX |
| 2014 | Monster Energy Cup Amateur All-Stars Champion, World Mini Champion (250 Mod Pro & 450 Mod Pro), California Classic Champion (450 Pro Sport), Daytona Amateur SX Champion (250A Pro Sport & 450A Pro Sport), Pell City Spring Classic Champion (250A) |
Rider Profile - Dylan Ferrandis, #24
| Date of Birth: | 5/31/1994 |
| Home Town: | Avignon, France |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Height: | 5' 8' |
| Weight: | 156 lbs. |
| First Race: | Pernes-les-Fontaines, at 4 years of age |
| Year Turned Pro: | 2009 |
| Favorite Track: |
Home Track |
| Favorite Food: |
French Food |
| Favorite Music: |
Rap |
| Training: | Mountain Biking, Cycling, Weight Training, Running |
| Hobbies: | Mountain Biking, Skating, Surfing |
RACING HIGHLIGHTS
| 2017 | 5th Overall in AMA 250SX West, 6th Overall in AMA 250MX |
| 2016 | 7th Overall in FIM Motocross World Championship (7 podiums, 1 win) |
| 2015 | 9th Overall in FIM Motocross World Championship (4 podiums, 1 win) |
| 2014 | 4th Overall in FIM Motocross World Championship (5 podiums), Represented France at Motocross of Nations |
Rider Profile - Colt Nichols, #31
| Date of Birth: | 3/22/1994 |
| Home Town: | Muskogee, OK |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Height: | 5' 11' |
| Weight: | 160 lbs. |
| First Race: | Ascot MX Park (Dora, OK) at 4 years of age |
| Year Turned Pro: | 2015 |
| Favorite Track: |
Reynard Raceway, Wellston, OK |
| Favorite Food: |
Seafood |
| Favorite Music: |
Rap |
| Training: | Gareth Swanepoel |
| Hobbies: | Playing basketball, attending sporting events, cycling |
RACING HIGHLIGHTS
| 2017 | 15th Overall in AMA 250SX East, 7th Overall in AMA 250MX |
| 2016 | 5th Overall in AMA 250SX West (2nd at Oakland SX), 21st Overall in AMA 250MX |
| 2015 | 14th Overall in AMA 250SX |
Rider Profile - Mitchell Oldenburg, #52
| Date of Birth: | 7/13/1994 |
| Home Town: | Staples, MN |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Height: | 6' |
| Weight: | 150 lbs. |
| First Race: | Acton County Fair |
| Year Turned Pro: | 2013 |
| Favorite Track: |
Oak Hill Raceway (Alvord, TX) |
| Favorite Food: |
Filet Mignon |
| Favorite Music: |
Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Training: | Mountain Biking |
| Hobbies: | Cycling, Running |
RACING HIGHLIGHTS
| 2017 | 2nd at Salt Lake City 250SX West, 3rd at Seattle 250SX West |
| 2016 | 4th at Phoenix 250SX West and Oakland 250SX West, 6th at High Point 250MX and Unadilla 250MX |
| 2015 |
8th at Washougal 250MX |
Rider Profile - Justin Cooper, #62
| Date of Birth: | 8/31/1997 |
| Home Town: | Cold Spring Harbor, NY |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Height: | 5' 7" |
| Weight: | 150 lbs. |
| First Race: | 2002 |
| Year Turned Pro: | 2017 |
| Favorite Track: |
Southwick |
| Favorite Food: |
Pasta |
| Favorite Music: |
Hip-Hop, Rap |
| Training: | Cycling |
| Hobbies: | Snowboarding, Basketball, Cycling |
RACING HIGHLIGHTS
| 2017 | Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award Winner, AMA Arenacross Lites East Champion |
| 2016 | Thor Winter Olympics Dunlop Silver Tire Award Winner |
| 2015 | 2015: Two AMA Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Championships |
