Rock Racing Joins Chevron as Presenting Sponsor of Manhattan

Joining Chevron for this year’s race as a presenting sponsor is Rock Racing. Known for its notable roster including two former world champions, two Olympic gold medalists, four Tour de France stage winners and eight current and former national champions, the 2008 Rock Racing team will bring a new flair to the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. The team is led by Tyler Hamilton, Oscar Sevilla, Fred Rodriguez, Víctor Hugo Peña, Santiago Botero, and last year’s Manhattan Beach Grand Prix winner Rahsaan Bahati.

"We are excited about the addition of Rock Racing as the presenting sponsor of the Grand Prix and are proud that this race has achieved global prominence on the professional racing circuit," said Rod Spackman, of Chevron, the event’s title sponsor for the past 17 years.

Other elite cyclists in the field will include Ivan Dominguez, Dominique Rollin, Henk Vogels and Ivan Stevic with Toyota-United Cycling, and Rory Sutherland with Health-Net.

"Rahsaan Bahati’s victory last year was a great moment for Rock Racing and we are proud to come back this year as a presenting sponsor," said Team Owner Michael Ball. "The Manhattan Beach Grand Prix has been a fixture on the U.S. domestic racing scene for almost a half-century and we want to ensure the tradition continues for many more years to come."

Thousands of cycling fans will join the festivities and witness the two main events: the Women’s Pro Race beginning at 11:15 a.m. and the Men’s Pro Race at 1:10 p.m. The Community Races will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will offer children between the ages of two and 14 the opportunity to hop on their bicycles, or tricycles, and compete for various medals. Each participating child will receive an official race number, t-shirt and medal.

"We can expect an action-packed day of world-class racing," said Spackman. "The Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix has helped cultivate a new generation of cycling enthusiast in Southern California. Professional bicycle racing is exploding in popularity, and we are honored that the South Bay and this event continue to serve as its base of support. We’re looking forward to one of the most competitive fields this race has ever seen."

In its history, the Grand Prix has hosted some of the world’s top cyclists, including several U.S. Olympic and World Champions as well as Tour de France competitors. The race’s attraction is due to its reputation as a challenging and technical criterion. Shaped like a slightly bent 'paperclip,' the course features two long straight-aways and two sweeping 180-degree turns. Riders face a headwind on the downward slope, which hinders breakaways. Team tactics are a must and setting up for the final turn is essential to win the event.

Chevron has invited several local dignitaries, including Assemblyman Ted Lieu (District 53), to help kick-off the day’s festivities.

IBN Sports is webcasting the women’s and men’s pro races for fans who cannot attend in person. Please visit IBNSports.com http://www.ibnsports.com/ to access the online streaming video. For more information on the 47th Annual Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, please visit http://www.mbgp.com.