Infineon Raceway Unveils Premier Downhill Course During Cycling Weekend
Contact: John Cardinale Infineon Raceway 707-933-3907 Contact: Pamela Heisey Cougar Mountain Classic 415-359-0730 pheisey@o2sm.com Infineon Raceway Unveils Premier Downhill Course at Infineon Technologies Cougar Mountain Classic SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - The Infineon Technologies Cougar Mountain Classic has added a new wrinkle for 2005, and it's one that should be very appealing if you're a fan of mountain bike downhill racing. The three-day event, which takes place Sept. 9-11 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, will feature potentially one of the best mountain bike downhill courses in the country. The course will begin high atop Cougar Mountain, which sits nearly 400 feet above the raceway, and should be as challenging as they come. "For years riders, event sponsors, television producers and gravity racing fans have longed for the perfect blend of rider challenge, spectator-friendly viewing, and a three-minute run that literally propels downhill racing onto TV in a manner that does the sport justice," said Rick Sutton, chief operations officer of the event. "I think we have finally found the perfect mountain." The Infineon Technologies Mountain Bike Downhill course is just under two miles long and will feature rolling terrain, open-fast sections and challenging man-made jumps like hips and small booters. It will also feature high-speed G-force turns and speeds should be in excess of 35 mph. Many of the natural ravines and other hillside features will be incorporated into the design layout. One of the most appealing and unique features is that the entire course - nearly two miles long - will be 90-percent visible to spectators. The perch atop Cougar Mountain is also spectacular - on a clear day you can see the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. "It is a different course than what most downhill riders have ever faced," said Jeff Frost, one of the course designers for the Infineon Technologies Cougar Mountain Classic. "This course will reward the riders who have really good high-speed bikes, handling skills, and turning skills. You have to be very good on a bike to run this course well." The mountain bike pro finals for men/women will take place on Sunday, Sept. 11. The event is part of the American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) Series schedule for 2006, which features 35 events around the country. The top 10 finishers in all categories on the mountain bike downhill in Sonoma will qualify for the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) Championships at Mammoth Mountain, Sept. 15-18. The lower portion of Cougar Mountain will also be used for the Infineon Technologies AMBC Mountain Cross. This event features four riders springing out of a start gate and rocketing down a 30- to- 45-second course filled with bumps, jumps and bermed turns. The mountain cross pro finals will take place on Saturday, Sept. 10. Infineon Technologies Cougar Mountain Classic: WHEN: Sept. 9-11, 2005 WHERE: Infineon Raceway ROAD CYCLING: Road circuit race, (NRC, NCNCA) MOUNTAIN BIKE: Cross country, short track, downhill and mountain-cross (NORBA, AMBC affiliated) RUNNING: Road and trail running race (AATRA) EXPO: Trade team trailers, cycling and running vendors, family activities, wine tasting and vintage bicycles SWAP MEET: Buy, sell, trade. Pro teams and sales rep.'s sell off used gear and excess stock PARTICIPANTS: On-site registration is available for a full slate of amateur racing classes, with entry fees ranging from $30 to $45. Non-competitive events for mountain bikers and road cyclists are $10 each SPECTATORS: $10 per car per day or a three-day pass for $20 CONTACT: For more information call 650.364.7612, email info@cmclassic.com, or visit http://www.cmclassic.com/ <http://www.oschamps.com/> About Sea Otter Classic LLC Sea Otter Classic LLC specializes in promoting outdoor sports festivals. The company's premier property is the Sea Otter Classic Cycling Festival, now in its 16th year. The festival will be held April 6-9, 2006 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California. The company's newest sports festival is the 2nd annual Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic. This event, co-produced with Infineon Raceway, will be held September 9-11, 2005 at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California. More information can be found at www.cmclassic.com <http://www.cmclassic.com/> , or call 650.364.7612. The Cypress Youth Fund, Sea Otter Classic's philanthropic arm, provides funding to organizations that benefit their communities in the areas of Youth, Sport, Education, or Environment. - 30 - --------------------------- John Cardinale VP of Media/Community Relations Infineon Raceway Highways 37 &121, Sonoma, CA 95476 wk: 707-933-3907 cell: 707-334-9805