Yamaha Announces Custom Sport Bike Show Series and MotoGP Contest! Cypress, California – Yamaha Motor Corporation is pleased to announce the return of the annual custom sport bike show, the SSB Yamaha Custom Showdown Presented by Silver Star Casting Co. and Yamalube. This year the show features a new name, new sponsors, and a whole new set of exciting incentives and recognition for amateur and pro builders. Yamaha’s popular custom show has attracted a new lineup of sponsors, including title sponsor Super Streetbike Magazine. Winning builders and show participants can look forward to seeing their bikes featured in the pages of this nationally distributed magazine as Super Streetbike plans detailed editorial coverage of each of the three events. “Super Streetbike is thrilled to be the title sponsor of the new Yamaha Custom Showdown” said Marty Estes, Group Publisher, Motorcycle Group for Source Interlink Media exclaimed. “We’re looking forward to seeing all the quality bikes first-hand at the three events this year.” Yamaha welcomes back mega lifestyle clothing brand Silver Star Casting Co. as a presenting sponsor. Known for their involvement in UFC and action sports, Silver Star has been making an aggressive foray into motorcycles: “Luke and I each ride Yamaha motorcycles, so sponsoring the show is a great fit for us” explained Charis Burrett, who co-owns Silver Star with husband Luke Burrett. “Plus the energy and adrenaline of street bike culture really matches our brand image.” Yamaha’s own line of high performance oil, Yamalube, has also jumped aboard as a presenting sponsor: “Yamalube Care Products are used on the factory YZR-M1’s of World Champion Jorge Lorenzo and his teammate Ben Spies,” said Mo Murray, General Manager of Yamaha’s Parts and Accessory Division, “and as these shows will be at both U.S. MotoGP rounds, it’s just a natural fit for more exposure of these world championship winning motorcycle care products.” Dynamic new changes to the show include $300 cash to help cover travel expenses for each selected builder who competes onsite. “With the increasing cost of fuel, we want to make it easier for the amateur builders to attend our shows”” explained Yamaha Marketing Manager, David Docktor. “By offering amateur builders this incentive we can showcase an exciting new array of custom Yamaha sport bikes and support aftermarket customization at an essential grass roots level.” Amateur builders will submit their customized Yamaha supersport motorcycles online, and thirty will be chosen by Yamaha to compete at one of the three Custom Bike Shows. Once onsite, Amateur builders will compete in three classes, Best R1, Best R6 and the all new Open Class, receiving trophies and up to $500 in gift cards courtesy of Yamaha Parts & Accessories. What’s more exciting than $300 travel allowance? Entrants who participate in one of the rounds of the Custom Bike Showdown will be eligible to compete for the title of “Amateur Builder of the Year”, an online national contest judged by consumers and featuring a $1000 cash prize! All shows feature a Pro Builder Class showcasing some of the country’s premier professional sport bike building talent. At stake in the Pro Build class is over $5000 in cash prizes, and a brand new YZF-R1 to be awarded to the Pro Builder who attends all three rounds of the Showdown obtaining the greatest number of total combined votes. The SSB Yamaha Custom Showdown presented by Silver Star and Yamalube kicks off at Atlantic Beach Bike Fest at Atlantic Beach, SC May 27-28th. Next stop is the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, CA July 22-24th, and the series wraps up at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Indianapolis, IN August 2628th. For more details please visit yamaha-motor.com/ssvirtualbikeshow . If interested in participating in Atlantic Beach Bike Fest or for more info email [email protected].