Progressive Direct to Sponsor Holeshot Award at the Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open

AURORA, Ill. – The Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open today announced that Progressive Direct® will be the official sponsor of the holeshot award. The Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open takes place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena October 13-14, featuring the world’s top motocross racers.

Progressive Direct, which sponsored the holeshot award in the 2006 Amp’d Mobile Supercross season, extends its involvement in indoor off-road motorcycle racing as they support this year’s Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open.

“This sponsorship is a great opportunity to increase awareness of all our products with an ever-growing audience of motocross enthusiasts. Whether you’ve got a car, pickup truck or dirt bike, we make it easy to shop for, buy and own insurance,” said Miriam Deitcher, advertising manager, Progressive Direct. “Rewarding the rider who gets the early lead in the main event is a perfect fit for Progressive Direct since we’ve been leading the way in insurance innovation for years.”

Built into this year's Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open format will be the three part Toyota Trifecta bonus program that will pay additional money to the fastest qualifier for each night's event, a bonus to each night's Progressive Direct Holeshot winner and a bonus for any rider that can complete the Toyota Trifecta challenge by being the fastest qualifier, getting the Progressive Direct Holeshot and winning the main event. Any rider that hits the Toyota Trifecta will earn a $50,000 bonus each night in addition to the regular event purse and any rider that can "Double Down" and hit the Toyota Trifecta both nights will walk away with $250,000 for the weekend.

Tickets are now available for the ninth-annual Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas October 13-15, 2006 at www.ussx.com, www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 702-474-4000 or the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office. Regarded as one of off-road motorcycling’s premier races, the Rock Star Energy Drink U.S. Open is the final ‘major’ race of the motocross season. Tickets are available for as low as $20 through Ticketmaster.com. Fans can upgrade their weekend experience with the X-Treme Package. X-Treme Packages include premium tickets for all 3 days, Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open t-shirt, hat, and weekend long pit pass. X-Treme Packages are only available through www.ussx.com.

About The Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open

The ninth-annual Rockstar Energy Drink U.S. Open is an invite-only indoor off-road motocross race inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena October 13-15, 2006. Reigning champion Ricky Carmichael stages his defense of the title against the world’s top motocross racers competing for the world’s largest single race purse. Invited riders include 14-time AMA National champion Ricky Carmichael, two-time U.S. Open champion Chad Reed (Yamaha), two-time 125cc regional supercross champion James Stewart (Kawasaki), former 125 Western Regional AMA Supercross Series champion Kevin Windham (Honda) and more to be announced after the upcoming Amp’d Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series. Live Nation is a leading live event and venue management company focused on creating superior experiences for artists, performers, corporations and fans. Live Nation owns, operates and/or has booking rights for 153 venues worldwide and produced more than 29,500 events in 2005. Live Nation operates more than 60 websites globally. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.” For more information regarding Live Nation and its businesses, please visit the company’s website at www.livenation.com.

About AMA Pro Racing

AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com.

About Progressive Direct

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation for auto insurance and number one for motorcycle insurance based on premiums written and provides drivers with competitive rates and 24/7 in-person and online service. The products and services of the Progressive Direct Group of Insurance Companies are marketed directly to consumers under the Progressive Direct® brand by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE and online at www.progressivedirect.com and www.progressiveseguros.com, a site for Spanish-speaking consumers. Progressive Direct offers consumers conveniences that help make car insurance easier, including comparison rates of other top companies and the ability to shop for, buy and manage their policies by phone or online, 24/7. More information can be found at www.progressive.com.