After an absence of eleven years MotoGP returned successfully to the US in 2005. Energy Drink manufacturers Red Bull will continue their title sponsorship of the event for another three years after reaching an agreement with MotoGP World Championship commercial rights-holders Dorna Sports. The Red Bull US GP was a landmark occasion for MotoGP in 2005, representing the first time that the 990cc four-stroke MotoGP machines had ever touched down on American soil. With sell-out crowds on all three days, and a thrilling debut Grand Prix victory for Kentucky-born Nicky Hayden, the spirit encapsulated by the race matches perfectly Red Bull and Dorna’s own ambitions for the event. Red Bull have been instrumental in helping bring top level motorcycle racing back to North America, having worked in close support with the circuit of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) to help make the necessary safety modifications to the track to bring it up to strict MotoGP standards. Apart from title sponsorship of the United States GP, Red Bull also support several riders in MotoGP as well as Austrian manufacturer KTM’s 250 and 125cc racing teams.