Benicia, Calif./Boston. (May 2, 2013) – CytoSport™, one of the largest sports nutrition companies in the U.S. and parent company to Muscle Milk®, announced today that it has signed a partnership with two-time professional lacrosse All-Star and midfielder/attackman Kevin Buchanan. Buchanan is the first lacrosse athlete to represent the Muscle Milk brand.
"I’m really excited to join the Muscle Milk team," said Buchanan. "The company makes great nutrition products that I use during all stages of my workouts, and I look forward to working with them to help me achieve my training goals on and off the field."
Buchanan enters his sixth season in the professional lacrosse ranks. Last season, he tallied career highs in goals (31), total points (42) and ground balls (15) and was named an All-Star. In 2011, he helped lead his Boston-based team to the league championship.
“We’re happy to support Kevin’s training and look forward to utilizing this partnership to build brand awareness in the Boston area and throughout the lacrosse community,” said CytoSport Director of Sports Marketing Shane McCassy.
Buchanan will be featured in Boston-specific marketing and advertising programs and will also be a part of the Muscle Milk Beanshot tournament, an annual single-elimination collegiate lacrosse tournament held in conjunction with a Boston Cannons game.
ABOUT Muscle Milk®
Muscle Milk Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that helps promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins and minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk, is one of the largest sport nutrition companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum, presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.
Benicia, Calif. (May 1, 2013) – CytoSport™, one of the largest sports nutrition companies in the United States and parent company to Muscle Milk®, announced today that it has launched limited edition bottles featuring the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers to celebrate the 2013-14 baseball season. The 14 oz. ready-to-drink bottles are available now at retail outlets in and around their respective markets.
“This is a fun way we can activate these partnerships and allow fans to show their support for their hometown team,” said CytoSport Vice President of Sports Marketing Chris Kildow. “We are a proud supporter of each organization represented on these bottles, and this unique co-branded packaging is a great way we can showcase our support for these partnerships and teams.”
The White Sox and Dodgers bottles are available in Chocolate flavor, the Cubs bottle is available in Cookies N Crème flavor and the Rangers bottle is available in the Vanilla Crème flavor. The commemorative bottles feature the teams’ official logo and colors and are part of larger marketing partnerships that include a variety of product and marketing elements to be activated throughout the season.
ABOUT Muscle Milk®
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that helps promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins and minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk, is one of the largest sport nutrition companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum, presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.
Benicia/Oakland, Calif. (April 10, 2013) – CytoSport™, one of the largest sports nutrition companies in the U.S. and parent company to Muscle Milk®, announced today that it has signed an exclusive partnership with Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry.
“I’ve used Muscle Milk as part of my training routine for years, and I’ve grown to love the brand as much as the products,” said Curry. “We use Muscle Milk in our locker room now, and it’s the first thing I grab after practice and games.”
One of the NBA’s most prolific scorers, Curry is currently third in the league in three-point field goal percentage (.449) and at the top of the list in three-point field goals made (249). Averaging career highs in points, assists and minutes per game this season, Curry also holds the No. 2 spot in the league for free throw percentage, hitting nearly 90 percent at the line. In a Feb. 27 match-up, Curry dropped 54 points on 11-13 shooting from behind the arc, setting an NBA high this season for most points in a game.
“Stephen is a character athlete who is really stepping up as a leader,” said CytoSport’s Director of Sports Marketing Shane McCassy. “Muscle Milk calls the Bay Area home, and we’re fortunate that Steph plays in our backyard. This partnership will be a great way to engage with fans in and around our hometown and on a national scale.”
Curry will be featured in Bay Area-specific marketing and advertising programs and will also be highlighted as one of the brand’s marquee national athletes.
Curry joins an elite roster of Muscle Milk athletes including basketball big man Tyson Chandler, pitcher Clayton Kershaw, linebacker Clay Matthews, tight end Aaron Hernandez, second baseman Ian Kinsler, supercross champion Justin Barcia and snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler.
ABOUT Muscle Milk®
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that helps promotes workout recovery, lean muscle growth and sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins and minerals. CytoSport™, the maker of Muscle Milk, is one of the largest sport nutrition companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk was named Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and Company of the Year by Beverage Forum, presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World.
Benicia, Calif. (April 3, 2013) – CytoSport™, one of the largest sports nutrition companies in the U.S. and parent company to Monster Milk®, announced today that it has launched Monster Protein™, a new high-quality, multi-source protein blend of casein and whey that provides essential nutrients to aid in exercise recovery and muscle growth. Monster Protein is designed to be a foundational, daily use protein and contains 25 grams of lean protein and 180 calories per serving. Monster Protein is now available at specialty retailers nationwide.
“We found there was a need in the marketplace for a protein product that body builders and strength and power athletes would feel confident in using every day for their post-training recovery,” said Monster Milk Brand Manager Greg Sellers. “Monster Protein’s formula helps deliver muscle-building proteins into athletes’ diets, aiding in muscle recovery after intense workouts.”
Monster Protein is fortified with amino acids L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine and L-Valine. In addition, it is lactose and gluten free, and is NSF Certified for Sport® which ensures that the product does not contain undeclared ingredients or banned substances. Flavors available in the 2 lb. powder tub include Chocolate, Vanilla, Cookies ‘n Crème, Strawberry and Banana. Flavors available in the 4 lb. powder tub include Chocolate and Vanilla. Monster Protein is designed to mix easily in a shaker bottle or blender, providing a great-tasting shake either at home or on-the-go.
Benicia/Los Angeles, Calif. (April 1, 2013) – CytoSport™, one of the largest sports nutrition companies in the U.S. and parent company to Muscle Milk®, announced today that it has signed an exclusive partnership with Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star Clayton Kershaw. As part of the partnership, Muscle Milk has committed $100 for every strikeout he throws during the program period to Kershaw’s Challenge, a nonprofit organization founded by Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, to assist at-risk children and provide valuable resources for underserved communities in Zambia, Los Angeles and their hometown of Dallas.
“Muscle Milk shares my vision and passion for making a difference, and I’m excited to join their team,” said Kershaw. “I’m not only thankful for their part in my daily fitness and nutrition routine, but also that they’ve taken this partnership to the next level by supporting Kershaw’s Challenge, an initiative very important to me.”
Motivated by his desire to use the platform of baseball to make a difference in the lives of others, Kershaw himself will donate $500 per strikeout as part of his #PITCHING4PURPOSE social media campaign. Individuals who also want to contribute can go to his website, www.kershawschallenge.com, and make their own pledge.
Kershaw enters his sixth season in the big leagues with numerous accolades and honors to his credit, including the Cy Young, Gold Glove and Pitcher’s Triple Crown in 2011 and also was named the 2011 Sportsman of the Year by the Los Angeles Sports Council. He led the National League in ERA each of the last two seasons and was honored with the prestigious 2012 Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes his dedication to philanthropy.
“Clayton is one of the best pitchers in the league, which makes him a great fit for the Muscle Milk brand, but we’re equally interested in what he stands for off the field,” said CytoSport Senior Vice President of Marketing John Peirano. “He is an amazing athlete, role model and philanthropist, and we’re proud to support his personal and professional goals.”
Kershaw will be featured in Los Angeles-specific marketing and advertising programs to coincide with Muscle Milk’s exclusive partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He will also be highlighted as one of the brand’s marquee national athletes.
He joins an elite roster of Muscle Milk athletes including basketball big man Tyson Chandler, linebacker Clay Matthews, tight end Aaron Hernandez, second baseman Ian Kinsler, supercross champion Justin Barcia and snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler.
Benicia, Calif. (March 26, 2013) – CytoSport™, one of the largest sports nutrition companies in the U.S. and parent company to Muscle Milk® and Muscle Milk® Light, announced today that it has launched a new Peach Mango flavor in its Muscle Milk Light 14 oz. ready-to-drink bottles. Peach Mango is the first Muscle Milk Light beverage option to be naturally flavored and sweetened with stevia, monk fruit and cane sugar.
“We receive a lot of great feedback about our Muscle Milk Light beverages because they appeal to consumers who still want an amazing protein shake with fewer calories,” said CytoSport Chief Marketing Officer Nikki Brown. “We’re excited to provide a naturally-flavored option for our consumers to incorporate into their post-workout recovery or daily snack routines.”
Muscle Milk Light Peach Mango contains 20g of premium protein, 7g of fiber and is lactose and gluten free. With only 190 calories and 4.5 g of fat, the protein-enhanced beverage helps promote sustained energy, lean muscle growth and recovery from exercise. It also makes a great on-the-go snack or meal replacement for health-conscious consumers who are trying to balance an active lifestyle.
The time for making a claim, opting out, or objecting to the proposed settlement described below has been extended to May 4, 2013. For more information, see www.CytoSportClassActionSettlement.com.
For Immediate Release
April 6, 2012
If You Purchased Certain CytoSport Products, You May Be Eligible To Receive Benefits Under A
Proposed Class Action Settlement
LOS ANGELES, CA [4/6/12] /PRNewswire/ - The following statement is being issued by Pearson, Simon,
Warshaw & Penny, LLP, Whatley Drake & Kallas, LLC and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP regarding
CytoSport.
Pearson, Simon, Warshaw & Penny, LLP, Whatley Drake & Kallas, LLC, and CytoSport jointly announce
that the Los Angeles Superior Court has granted preliminary approval of a settlement resolving
Proposition 65 and related legal claims brought against CytoSport. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit alleged
that CytoSport did not adequately inform consumers that certain products, including Muscle Milk® and
Monster Milk®, allegedly contained lead, cadmium and/or arsenic. CytoSport vigorously denies these
claims, responding that trace amounts of metals are found in the environment and in many agricultural
products, and that the products are safe, as confirmed by independent testing by accredited third parties.
Plaintiffs’ Complaint does not allege that CytoSport violated the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, and
plaintiffs did not contend that any consumer was physically harmed by CytoSport’s products; rather, the
lawsuit pertained to labeling requirements under California law. The Court did not rule in favor of plaintiffs or CytoSport. Instead, the parties agreed to a settlement to avoid the expense and risks of continuing the lawsuits.
People who purchased a CytoSport product, including any Muscle Milk® or Monster Milk®, CytoMax®,
and Mighty Milk® varieties in any form, including powder beverages, ready-to-drink beverages, bars or
capsules, between June 4, 2006 and January 5, 2012, may be members of the proposed class unless
they opt out before June 15, 2012. Qualifying households may file a claim to receive up to $20. A list of
qualifying products and other details of the proposed settlement are available by calling (888) 313-1922
or online at www.CytoSportClassActionSettlement.com.
# # #
_____________________________
Source: Pearson, Simon, Warshaw & Penny, LLP; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Benicia, Calif./St. Paul, Minn. (March 7, 2013) – CytoSport™, one of the largest sports nutrition companies in the U.S. and parent company to Muscle Milk®, announced today that it has released a limited edition Minnesota Wild bottle to celebrate the 2012-13 National Hockey League season. The 14 oz. ready-to-drink bottle is currently sold in retail outlets in and around the Minneapolis-St. Paul area throughout the remainder of the season.
“Our commemorative bottle is a fun way we can activate this partnership locally and allow fans to show their support for the Wild,” said CytoSport Vice President of Sports Marketing Chris Kildow. “We are excited to showcase the partnership throughout the season with this unique co-branded packaging and look forward to our continued support for the Wild.”
The commemorative bottle is available in chocolate flavor and features the Wild’s official logo and colors. The bottle is part of a larger marketing partnership between Muscle Milk and the team that includes a variety of product and marketing elements to be activated throughout the season.
Minnesota Wild Vice President of Corporate Partnerships Carin Anderson added, “The Wild is excited to partner with Muscle Milk for the new Wild-branded bottle in the Twin Cities marketplace. We look forward to building on our unique partnership with them in the years to come.”
CytoSport is working to verify that goods in its supply chain are not produced by slavery or human trafficking. At the present time, this verification is conducted in-house and not by an independent third-party.
CytoSport audits its direct suppliers to evaluate their compliance with CytoSport's standards prohibiting trafficking and slavery in its supply chains. At the present time, these audits are conducted in-house and are not independent unannounced audits.
CytoSport requires each of its direct suppliers to certify in writing that all supplied goods and materials comply with all laws regarding slavery and human trafficking of all countries in which each direct supplier is doing business.
CytoSport maintains internal accountability standards and procedures for its employees and contractors who might fail to meet CytoSport's standards regarding slavery and trafficking.
CytoSport provides its employees and management who have direct responsibility for supply chain management with training on human trafficking and slavery, particularly with respect to mitigating risks within CytoSport's product supply chains.
For additional information please contact CytoSport Customer Service.
In these trying financial times, high schools are eliminating sports programming and cutting funding to athletic departments and sports teams. Muscle Milk® understands the importance that high school sports competition plays in the overall development of students, and we are committed to helping the next generation of American athletes reach their full potential.
During the 2012-13 school year, Muscle Milk will donate up to $250,000 to selected high school sports programs around the country. These grants will be awarded to athletic departments, sports teams, and other high school based athletic programs that show a financial hardship and a need.
To learn more about the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant online, visit the Official Muscle Milk Facebook Page.
CytoSport athlete Chrissie Wellington made history once again at the 2011 Ironman® World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Chrissie captured her 4th World Championship title behind a historic comeback to once again prove she is the fastest female triathlete in the world.
Chrissie’s day started in un-typical fashion as she exited the swim 10 minutes behind leader Julie Dibens. It was clear from the beginning that something was bothering Chrissie as she typically swims at a much brisker pace than the 1:01 time she registered. Dibens continued her fast start by finishing in the lead at the end of the bike; however a pre-existing foot injury flared up and caused her to begin walking shortly into the run.
The ever-determined Wellington was able to make up ground during the bike and eventually overcome Mirinda Carfrae for the lead deep into the run. Through the 24th mile on the run, Chrissie had only a slight lead on Mirinda until she was able to open up the gap the last mile into town to secure the win.
Chrissie was able to capture her 4th World Championship despite suffering a significant bike crash two weeks prior to World Championship. She concealed most of her injuries to everyone leading up the race, only admitting to road rash and bruises. Chrissie did not reveal that as a result of her prior crash, she had torn pectoral and intercostal muscles and had been taking antibiotics for nearly two weeks. Additionally, she was forced to miss many swim workouts as a result of her injuries.
Despite dealing with pain and injuries from the onset, Chrissie was able to will her body to her 4th Ironman® World Championship.
Like much of New England, the Moto X 338 track in Southwick, Mass. is rich in history. The track is owned by American Legion Post 338, hence the name Moto X 338. The first race at the track was held in 1972 and its first professional race was in 1976. “The Wick” is the only sand track on the AMA Pro Motocross Championship tour.
Davi Millsaps continues to recover from knee surgery. While Millsaps is on the mend 20 year-old South Carolina privateer Les Smith has been piloting the second Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX machine alongside Justin Brayton. The race narrowly escaped the worst of the advancing Hurricane Irene by just hours. However, the outer reach of the storm brought some off and on rain during qualifying.
Brayton began the first moto just outside of the top-10 with Smith 10th on lap one. Over the ensuing 30 minutes plus two laps the teammates advanced practically in tandem through the treacherous wet sandy conditions with Brayton finishing seventh and Smith eighth, a season best for Smith.
Shortly after the first moto a steady rain began falling on the Southwick sand and the track was quickly deteriorating. Brayton gated very well running second on the first lap with Smith sixth. To illustrate how tough the conditions had become the top-10 were turning lap times barely over two minutes in moto one, during the second moto the times were in the two minute and 25 seconds plus range. Brayton held second position for nearly the entire race, relinquishing the spot with just four laps remaining to earn a podium and season moto best third place. Smith ran comfortably in seventh for the better part of the moto ultimately finishing ninth. Brayton’s seven – three moto scores gave him fourth overall.
Catch the Muscle Milk/ JGR crew next week in Steel City, PA.
For Immediate Release
July 13th, 2011
Statement Regarding FDA Labeling Inquiry
San Francisco, CA - CytoSport, Inc. this week received a letter from the San Francisco office of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerting the company to concerns about its use of the word “milk” in its Muscle Milk trade name and to questions about the language used to describe Muscle Milk to consumers.
While CytoSport is proactively and openly addressing the FDA’s labeling concerns, it is important for CytoSport’s retail partners and for consumers to understand that at no point has the FDA raised any questions or concerns about the safety of Muscle Milk products.
The FDA’s inquiry is specifically about the use of the word “milk” in the name Muscle Milk and whether the use of that term is appropriate. Concerns like this have been raised before when the dairy lobby complained that other industries or products like Soy Milk, Almond Milk, Coconut Milk and Rice Milk are using the word “milk” in connection with a product other than fluid dairy milk, all of which appeal to lactose intolerant consumers just as Muscle Milk does. CytoSport is working with the FDA to ensure that we address the FDA’s concerns.
As always, CytoSport is committed to maintaining a dialogue with its consumers and we ask all of our partners to direct questions or concerns to our customer service desk at 888.298.6629.
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About CytoSport, Inc:
Founded in 1998, CytoSport, Inc. is a global industry leader in sports nutrition and offers a complete line of protein enhanced powders, beverages, and bars. CytoSport distributes a portfolio of premium brands that appeal to a variety of consumer lifestyles. CytoSport products are produced in their wholly owned, NSF GMP Certified for Sport® manufacturing facility. For more information on CytoSport and its family of products, visit www.cytosport.com.
MM FDA FAQs
Why is the Food and Drug Administration interested in Muscle Milk?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised concerns about the use of the word “milk” in the Muscle Milk trade name. Concerns like this have been raised before when the dairy lobby complained that other industries or products, like Almond Milk, Rice Milk and Soy Milk, are using the word “milk” in connection with a product other than fluid dairy milk. CytoSport is preparing a response and will engage in conversations with the FDA to address their concerns.
Is Muscle Milk safe to consume?
Yes. At no point has the FDA raised any questions or concerns about the safety of Muscle Milk. Muscle Milk beverages have been sold for more than seven years and last year millions of consumers safely enjoyed the product.
Is there dairy milk in the product?
Muscle Milk protein nutrition shakes contain no milk, and the label clearly states that the product “CONTAINS NO MILK.” Muscle Milk does contain proteins that are derived from dairy milk (caseinates, milk protein isolates, milk protein concentrates, whey protein). Muscle Milk products prominently include the allergen statement “THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS INGREDIENTS DERIVED FROM MILK AND SOY.”
Do I need to return the Muscle Milk product I have in my house?
No, the FDA has raised concerns about certain aspects of the product labeling, but not the product safety. Muscle Milk beverages, which have been on the market for over seven years, have always been considered to be safe.
What is CytoSport doing to address the FDA’s concerns?
The company is preparing a response to the FDA and looks forward to meeting with the Agency to further address its concerns.
What if I have more questions?
We like hearing from our customers. You can reach us at 888.298.6629.
Round three of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship was held at High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, Pa. Founded in 1976 by Dave Coombs Sr., the track has been the site of many epic races and is rich in the history of the sport.
In the first moto Davi Millsaps began the race in tenth position, and following the momentum he created since Freestone began a spirited charge to the front, landing on the podium in third place.
Things changed dramatically for moto two. As the riders were on the gate the skies opened up and what can only be described as a sheer deluge occurred turning the track into a muddy quagmire. Millsaps was fortunate to get a good start inside the top-five and looked to be heading for his first overall podium finish of the season when he slid out in a slippery turn. Re-mounting with muddy gloves and without goggles, he soldiered on to finish ninth. Millsaps 3 – 9 moto scores gave him fifth overall. ]
Davi feels strong and ready to go for round 4 of the Motocross Series taking place next Saturday in Budds Creek, Maryland.
Freestone Raceway in Wortham, Texas was the site for the second round of the 2011 AMA Motocross Championship Series. Freestone is generally thought of as the hottest stop on the tour. Each year several athletes succumb to the heat during the event and the forecast was predicting 100 degrees.
When the gate fell for moto one Millsaps found himself just inside the top-10. Over the ensuing 30 minutes plus two-laps Davi steadily improved his track position finishing just one place from the podium in fourth.
Millsaps got another good jump at the start of moto two ending up in 5th place on the first lap. The heat wasn’t going to get Davi as he steadily moved up all the way to 2nd place by the last lap giving him 2nd overall with a moto score of 4-2. With his first podium in 18 races under his belt you can bet Davi will be up front for the rest of the summer.
After a weekend off the next round of the AMA Motocross Championship will be June 11 at Highpoint Raceway in Mt. Morris, Pa.
For the 40th time in AMA Motocross Championship Series history, Prairie City Recreation Park in Sacramento, Calif. hosted the Annual Hangtown Motocross Classic.
Davi Millsaps, who has not raced motocross in nearly a year due to a potentially career ending injury suffered at the 2010 Budd’s Creek, Md. round was ready to race. When the gate fell for the first moto Millsaps began the race inside the top-10 of the 40 rider field. During the 30 minute plus two lap moto he methodically advanced, finishing fourth. The second moto began in similar fashion for Millsaps, completing the first lap in seventh position. Throughout the race he would fluctuate within a place or two, ultimately taking the checkers in seventh. Millsaps four-seven moto finishes were good for sixth overall on the day.
Justin Brayton, who sustained ligament injuries during the final round of the supercross series in Las Vegas, Nev. was not able to compete in Sacramento. Brayton is undergoing rehabilitation therapy at the Muscle Milk Training Facility within the NASCAR headquarters of Joe Gibbs Racing’s three Sprint Cup teams. Brayton’s goal at this time is to return to racing at the third round of the series.
Muscle Milk teamed up with Volcom for the 2010/2011 VQS amateur surf series with stops hitting East and West Coasts, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and finishes up at 54th Street in Newport Beach, CA. Big hair, tight pants, and animal prints were running rampant on the beach with the Heavy Metal theme for the championships.
Big crowds made it out to the event despite bad weather in the forecast to see who would take home the $10,000 cash prize and the Muscle Milk edition Harley Davidson. Andrew Doheny came out on top taking home top honors in the pro division. Look for the Muscle Milk and Volcom to team up for the 2011/2012 season of the VQS to fuel contestants in the journey to the 2012 finals.
(3/4/11)
CytoSport™ has been recognized two times by GNC® at their recent annual Vendor Awards Ceremony! GNC® presented CytoSport™ with the Outstanding Partnership of the Year award, while Monster Milk™ Ready-to-Drink was named Best Protein RTD of the Year. GNC® recognizes their best products and vendors each year through a combination of sales as well as input from knowledgeable GNC® employees.
These awards are a great honor as they were earned amongst a very competitive pool of brands and products. This is the first year that GNC® has offered a Protein RTD of the Year award, partly due to the tremendous popularity and innovation posted by CytoSport Monster Milk™.
CytoSport™ greatly appreciates these awards and would like to thank GNC and all of the fans who have helped make CytoSport™ products a success!
Houston is one of the longest running stops of the AMA Supercross Championship, hosting the series annually since 1974. The 45,859 fans that packed Reliant Stadium experienced the most exciting race of the season thus far. When the gate fell for the 20-lap main pandemonium broke out when a first-turn pile up claimed several riders, including Brayton. By the time the chaos was sorted out Brayton was nearly a lap down and began the race in 19th. Meanwhile in a breakout performance, Millsaps was at the front of the field in second position.
Millsaps rode an inspiring race battling in podium contention until just the last two laps finishing a 2011 season best in fourth place. Millsaps also turned in the fastest lap of the night, clocking a 48.800 as compared to the race winner’s best 49.138. Brayton made a determined effort to come back from the first turn melee and was able to salvage 13th position at the checkers. Hear Davi talk about what he’s doing to make improvements week by week in the video below.
Next week the Supercross series heads back west to the home of the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm stadium Saturday Feb 19th.
Muscle Milk athlete Clay Matthews continued his rapid ascension to one of the best defensive players in pro football on Sunday after helping Green Bay capture their 13th championship. Clay made his presence felt all game long, highlighted by forcing the decisive fumble in the second half of their 31-25 victory.
The championship further capped what has been a major breakout year for Matthews. He was named first team All-Pro this season after narrowly being edged for the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year honors. In only his second pro season, the former walk-on at USC finished with 60 tackles, 13 ½ sacks, an interception return for a touchdown, and a penchant for delivering decisive plays on a weekly basis. He continued his stellar play in the playoffs, with an additional 3 ½ sacks and constant disruption of opposing offenses.
The championship is the first in the long, storied history of the Matthews family. His father, Clay II played professionally for 19 years while his uncle Bruce is a 14-time Pro Bowl selection. Additionally, his grandfather Clay also played professionally in the 1950’s.
“The monkey is off the Matthews family back”, Clay Matthews proclaimed after their championship victory.
Historic Dodger Stadium was the site of round three of the 2011 AMA Supercross Championship. This was the first time the famed park hosted an AMA Supercross Championship event, and 41,107 fans were on hand to see the debut of AMA Supercross in Los Angeles.
Both Justin Brayton and Davi Millsaps transferred to the main event directly from their heat race. In the main event Millsaps got tangled up at the start and began the race mired in the back of the field with Brayton in the top-five. Millsaps began methodically moving forward ending the race in 13th position, while Brayton battled his way to a top-five finish with a fifth overall on the night. Oak-Alameda City Stadium will host round four of the AMA Supercross Championship Series Jan. 29 in Oakland, Calif. CBS will air the original broadcast from Oakland on Jan. 30 at noon (EST).
Chase Field in Phoenix Ariz. was host of round two of the 2011 AMA Supercross Championship. A sold out house of enthused fans were on-hand and for the second straight week SPEED broadcast the entire event live.
Both Justin Brayton and Davi Millsaps qualified for the main event directly from their respective heat races. In the main event Brayton started toward the front of the field rounding the first lap in fourth position with Millsaps ninth. Brayton battled up front on the extremely slick track to come across the checkers with a strong 6th place overall with Millsaps in 11th after a late race crash.
Check out the video of Justin Brayton from the team semi after the race.
JGRMX team partner Toyota debuted its Trading Places commercial debuted on the Jumbotron at the Phoenix event.
The commercial can be seen on Youtube.com
The next race for the Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team will be round three of the 17-race AMA Supercross Championship series held for the first time at historic Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif. on Jan. 22. CBS will air the original broadcast from Dodger Stadium on Jan. 23 at noon (EST).
More exciting news and recognition continues to happen for the Muscle Milk brand! Muscle Milk has received a prestigious Packaging of the Year Award from Beverage Industry Magazine for our limited-edition augmented reality Shaquille O'Neal bottle. Muscle Milk was one of a select group of major beverage brands to receive this accolade. The limited-edition Shaquille O'Neal bottle was initially launched during the spring of 2010.
A recent innovation in marketing, augmented reality, is an online application that allows the user to interact in real-time with computer-generated imagery. Special instructions on product packaging directed purchasers to a website where they could see five virtual videos from Shaquille challenging popular Cleveland landmarks such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or Key Tower.
By simply holding the bottle and marker code two feet from their webcam, consumers can see what appears to be Shaquille actually popping out of the bottle! While on the website www.musclemilk.com/cleveland.
Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team rider Justin Brayton Brayton swept both nights of the 25th Annual International Supercross Geneva at the Palexpo in La Voie de Moens, Geneva on Dec. 3 – 4. Brayton dominated the event on his 2011 Yamaha YZ450F, setting the fastest practice times and winning the two 15-lap main events earning the title “King of Geneva.”
Brayton’s new teammate Davi Millsaps traveled to Geneva questionable to race after pinching a nerve in his back practicing last week. He did practice and attempted to ride in his heat race Friday but was forced to pull off due to the pain. Millsaps will undergo treatment for the injury and is expected to be ready for the start of the supercross season in the U.S.
Video of the Saturday night main event can be seen via the following link:
http://www.motocross-gum.at.ua/news/dzhastin_brejton_justin_brayton_korol_zhenevy/2010-12-05-2579
The next race for the Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team will be the opening round of the AMA Supercross Championship on Jan. 8, 2011 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif.
Tempe, AZ - Chrissie Wellington erased any bad memories from having to unexpectedly pull out from the Ironman World Championship this past October, by setting a new women's Ironman® world record at the seventh annual Ford Ironman® Arizona.
Prevented by illness from competing for a fourth consecutive Ironman® World Championship in Hawaii, Wellington shattered the world record for an official Ironman® course by more than 11 minutes in 8:36:13. The record-setting performance was good for 8th place overall - the first time a female has finished in the top-10 overall. With her dominant performance in Arizona, Chrissie remains undefeated in 10 Ironman® distance competitions (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run). In addition to owning a new world record, Wellington also holds the course record in Kona (8.54:02).
Wellington came out of the water 43 seconds behind Leanda Cave, but didn’t put her stamp on the race until about 30 miles into the bike ride. Through 37 miles she was in the lead and never looked back as she powered through a 4:47 bike split to arrive in T2 more than 12 minutes ahead of Cave.
If Wellington was dominant over the last two-thirds of the bike, there really aren’t words to describe what she did to the rest of the field on the run. Averaging 6:15 per mile for the first 12 miles (2:44 marathon pace), Wellington would eventually post a 2:52:56 marathon split, which earned her the new world record at an official Ironman race.
Top Female finishers
1. Chrissie Wellington, Great Britain: 8:36:13
2. Linsey Corbin, U.S.: 9:05:33
3. Leanda Cave, Great Britain: 9:13:50
4. Meredith B. Keeran Kessler, U.S.: 9:15:01
5. Heather Wurtele, Canada: 9:19:10
Muscle Milk®/Toyota/JGRMX Team rider Justin Brayton won the third round of the 2010 Australasian Supercross Series at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania. The event featured a Survival format consisting of four seven-lap sprints with the last five riders eliminated after each race, making the final a head-to-head duel between the final five.
Brayton, who was racing the series for the last time before returning home, was determined to leave Australia with a win after earning podium finishes in the two prior rounds. He set the fastest qualifying time and went on to win three of the four finals, with last one determining the night’s overall positions. In the final it was fellow American and former Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team rider Josh Hansen with the early lead. Brayton stalked Hansen making his move just after the halfway point on lap four. He went on to win unchallenged with a 2.365 second margin of victory.
"I am excited to go out on top, but it's a little bittersweet because I would like to stay and race the whole series. I have had such a good time here in Australia and I really hope I can come back and compete here again next year. I really want to thank the team at (the Australasian) Super X for bringing me out here and for putting on such good events as well as Craig Dack and his team for making me feel right at home," said Brayton.
The next race for Brayton will be the 25th Annual International Supercross Geneva at the Palexpo in La Voie de Moens, Geneva on Dec. 4 – 5. Davi Millsaps, Brayton’s new teammate has been adapting very well to the Yamaha YZ450F and may elect to race in Geneva as well to test his readiness for the opening round of the AMA Supercross Championship on Jan. 8, 2011 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif.
Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team rider Justin Brayton repeated his podium performance of last week at the second round of the 2010 Australasian Supercross Series at Canberra Stadium in Canberra, Australia.
In the first of the three-race challenge format Brayton was third after battling fellow American riders Josh Hansen and Kevin Windham. In the second race Brayton pulled the holeshot and led the race before relinquishing the lead to Windham. Brayton was closing the gap to challenge for the lead when he slipped in the whoops allowing two riders to go by him and causing him to finish fourth. In the final race Brayton finished third, earning third overall for the night, and moving him into second place in series points.
“I think it’s really good for this seriesand for us to be able to come out here and race and have the opportunity to raise the profile of the sport. The different formats each week keep it interesting and the racing is always at a high intensity. It is my final round next week and it would be great to finish off with a win,” said Brayton.
The next and final round of the Australasian Supercross Championship Series Brayton will contend will be Oct. 30 at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Australia.
Brayton’s newly signed teammate Davi Millsaps has settled into his new surroundings and is riding and training in North Carolina focused on his Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team debut at the opening round of the AMA Supercross Championship on Jan. 8 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, Calif.
The Former Lites Supercross Champion Joins the Team for 2011
The Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team is proud to welcome Davi Millsaps for 2011 racing season and beyond. The 22 year-old from Tallahassee, Fla. will accompany Justin Brayton in contesting the AMA Supercross and National Motocross Championship Series.
Millsaps will run the number 18, the first number ran by Joe Gibbs Racing in NASCAR 19 years ago and currently on Kyle Busch’s M&Ms and Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry. Millsaps, who claims nine amateur national titles, a Lites Supercross Championship, and numerous podium finishes including wins in the premier class, is energized about the 2011 season. “I am making some major changes in my program and look forward to having the best season of my career,” said Millsaps. “Davi moved into a place near our NASCAR and motocross shops so he can train with our in-house fitness staff. He is focused and eager and I am excited to have him join the JGR family,” Coy Gibbs, the team owner added.
Millsaps first scheduled race with the team will be the opening round of the 2011 AMA Supercross Championship on Jan. 8, 2011 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
Diet Muscle Milk® walked the runway at New York Fashion week in debut as our new meal replacement protein shake designed to promote hunger control and weight loss. Diet Muscle Milk was the ultimate “meal-on-the-go” for celebrities, models, designers, fashionistas and members of the press as they made their way through Fashion Week September 9th-16th. The sugar free, lactose and gluten free shake contains 160 calories, 10 grams of high-quality protein, and 20 vitamins & minerals. Diet Muscle Milk incorporates Fabuless™, an all natural ingredient that has been clinically proven to significantly reduce hunger at subsequent meals.
“Fashion Week is an avenue for innovation, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. These virtues align with how we approach our products and consumers today,” said Nikki Brown, CytoSport’s Chief Marketing Officer. “In addition, we had a great experience fueling Fashion Week in 2009 and are thrilled to bring our new Diet Muscle Milk product to this on-the-go, energetic group.”
Diet Muscle Milk was the quick fix breakfast, lunch, or dinner for the health conscious crowd, keeping them full of energy and nutrition during their hectic schedules jumping from show to show. A stay fit secret for trainers and celebrities alike, Diet Muscle Milk is available in delicious chocolate and vanilla crème flavors.
LOS ANGELES--Muscle Milk®, CytoSport’s leading Ready-to-Drink protein enhanced beverage, announced today that they will introduce eight limited-edition Collegiate themed bottles. The program will include Georgia Tech, University of Miami, Ohio State, University of Colorado, Arizona State, University of California-Berkeley, USC and UCLA.
“With 30 sponsored collegiate sports programs using Muscle Milk products, this is a great way to showcase our continued support of collegiate athletics,” commented Nikki Brown, CytoSport’s CMO. “Football season is the perfect time to launch our bottle program as student’s enthusiasm is at a high and everyone is proud to represent their school’s colors.”
To launch the exciting collegiate bottle program, Muscle Milk will be running region specific out-of-home advertising and radio programming along with hosting a series of student-focused events on and off campus at some of the participating schools. Premier promotional giveaways, launch parties, custom retail point of sale and a speedway specific sweepstakes round out this great program. Expanding on the diverse demographics of the brand, Muscle Milk hosted the first annual Social Studies Music Tour to launch the bottle programs at Georgia Tech and the University of Colorado. With performances from artists including Mike Posner, Lil Jon, Shwayze and Kelley James, the campuses were transformed into festival-like atmospheres creating an interactive social environment for the students.
With college students constantly in motion, whether they are preparing for a big game or studying for exams, nutrition is an important element to their success. The limited edition 14 oz. Muscle Milk College themed bottles will be branded with school logos and will be available at retail outlets in and around campus.
ABOUT MUSCLE MILK
Muscle Milk® Ready-to-Drink is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes exercise recovery, lean muscle growth, and healthy, sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins and minerals. CytoSport, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was recently named Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet, Best New Product by CSP and 2009 Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World. For more information on Muscle Milk or additional CytoSport products, visit: www.cytosport.com.
MORAGA, Ca., (Sept. 8, 2010) – St. Mary’s College (SMC) Department of Athletics and IMG College, the exclusive third party sales representative for the college’s corporate sponsorship program, today announced a three-year partnership agreement with Muscle Milk®.
The new agreement, which will run through 2013, marks the largest corporate partner deal in St. Mary’s history.
“We are excited to announce this new partnership with Muscle Milk,” said Mark Orr, Director of Athletics, St. Mary’s College. “This multi-year deal is a great statement about where we are as an athletic program and the opportunities to come in the future.”
By entering into this sponsorship with St. Mary’s College, Muscle Milk will receive official corporate sponsor status including category exclusive marketing rights, television and web presence, and signage. The company will also receive on-court logo presence at the McKeon Pavilion, the college’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball indoor athletic facility. In addition, the Muscle Milk Collegiate brand will be provided to the institution for use as nutritional support and recovery products for student athletes at St. Mary’s College.
Muscle Milk's court decals will be on prominent display throughout an impressive, soon to be announced, men's basketball television slate, beginning with an early season ESPN contest when Saint Mary’s men’s basketball hosts St John’s University as part of ESPN’s 24 hours of hoops on November 16. In addition to the television exposure that men's basketball will receive, Muscle Milk will also benefit from the exposure of SMC's first-ever nationally televised home women's volleyball match as Saint Mary's takes on Pepperdine on October 20 on ESPNU.
“The tremendous exposure St. Mary’s has received due to the success of its basketball team in recent years and our local ties deemed the college a perfect fit for Muscle Milk,” said Chris Kildow, Vice President of Sports Marketing, Muscle Milk. “St. Mary’s College is an excellent platform for us to showcase our support of collegiate athletics and promote the Muscle Milk brand both locally and nationally.”
“It’s great when a partnership comes together that is truly a win-win for all parties, for the institution, the partner, and more importantly the student athletes and fans through resources for continued growth of the athletics program.,” said Dan Shell, General Manager, IMG College. “We thank Muscle Milk for its commitment to college athletics and anticipate a great partnership over the next three years.”
With a total fan base of more than 172 million fans, 77 million of which are female fans who influence buying decisions, the college sports market is a an ideal platform for companies like Muscle Milk. The college market's affluent fan base, with more than 29 million college fans earning more than $100 thousand, and 17 million fans between the ages of 18 - 24, provides a key consumer audience.
Muscle Milk will be able to tap into a share of the college market through its new sponsorship with St. Mary’s College.
About IMG College
IMG College is the leader in capturing consumer devotion to college sports through partnership opportunities in licensing, marketing, events and hospitality, multimedia rights, stadium and arena development, sales, and consulting across local, regional, and national platforms. IMG College partners with the nation's top collegiate brands, including the NCAA and its 88 championships, NCAA Football, leading conferences, and some of the most prestigious universities in the country. IMG College is a division of IMG Worldwide, the world's premier sports, media, and entertainment company. For more information, please visit www.imgworld.com.
About St. Mary’s College
Saint Mary's College of California is 14-sport Division I athletic program, located in Moraga, Calif., a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Saint Mary's athletic department strives to provide student-athletics with an opportunity to compete successfully in an intercollegiate athletic program that is an integral part of their educational experience. Saint Mary's is a member of the West Coast Conference, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (women's lacrosse), and the Pacific Coast Softball Conference. Saint Mary's was founded in 1863 and is based in Catholic, Lasallian and liberal arts traditions. The college currently enrolls more than 3,800 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. For more than 140 years the College has been guided by the Christian Brothers, the Catholic Church's oldest order dedicated exclusively to teaching. For more information on Saint Mary's Athletics, please visit SMCGaels.com.
About Muscle Milk
Muscle Milk® is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes exercise recovery, lean muscle growth, and healthy, sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins and minerals. CytoSport, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was recently named Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet, 2009 Best New Product by CSP (Muscle Milk Light) and 2009 Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World. For more information on Muscle Milk or additional CytoSport products, visit: www.cytosport.com.
# # #
CytoSport™ athlete Chrissie Wellington dominated from start to finish in capturing the Ironman® 70.3 Timberman on Sunday, August 22 in New Hampshire. Her impressive time of 4:10:11 put her in 10th place overall and a whopping 14 minutes ahead of second place female finisher Angela Naeth. The win is her 3rd straight Timberman victory.
Chrissie led from start to finish and was able to beat national team swimmer Dede Griesbauer out of the water. Although Griesbauer was only seven seconds behind, Wellington had already gotten away and there was no catching her. Her bike split of 2:22 and 1:19:06 run enabled her to keep well ahead of the rest of the field to the finish.
Wellington’s dominating performance came just weeks after she set a new world record at the Ironman 70.3 Kansas. Timberman is Chrissie’s final race before defending her title at the World Ironaman Championship in Kona, Hawaii on October 9th.
Top Finishers:
Women
1. Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 4:10:11
2. Angela Naeth (CAN) 4:24:59
3. Heather Jackson (USA) 4:26:08
4. Annie Gervais (CAN) 4:29:04
5. Dede Griesbauer (USA) 4:30:12
Los Angeles, CA (July 29, 2010) - In 1972 would-be promoter Mike Goodwin held the first Supercross race in the Los Angeles Coliseum. He coined the event “Supercross” as his vision was to make the growing sport of motocross more spectator and TV friendly by bringing the action into easily accessible football stadiums, so he named the event a hybrid of the Superbowl and motocross. A 16 year-old named Marty Tripes won the event and would go on to become a motocross legend. On Thursday, July 29th X-Games 16 brought Supercross back to its roots in the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Muscle Milk® rider Josh Grant was looking for redemption this year in Los Angeles after breaking both feet in a crash in last year’s X-Games 15. Grant and Justin Brayton, both Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX riders qualified easily for the main event this time around. When the gate fell for the final, it was two-time Super-X Gold Medalist Josh Hansen in the lead with Grant and Brayton giving chase. On lap two of 15 Brayton was passed by fellow Yamaha rider Ivan Tedesco, but stayed close to the third-place rider. Over the ensuing laps Grant, along with Tedesco and Brayton began to reel in Hansen. A consistent and efficient ride from Grant gave him the lead on lap 11 while fellow Muscle Milk rider Justin Brayton was able to make late rally to secure second. When the checkered flag flew, Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX rider Josh Grant celebrated his first X-Games gold while Brayton earned silver.
Wellington Shatters Her Previous World Record!
CytoSport™ athlete Chrissie Wellington broke the world record for the Iron-distance triathlon on Sunday, July 18th in Roth, Germany. She recorded a time of 8 hours 19:13 to beat her own previous mark by 12 minutes and 46 seconds, and won the Challenge Roth event by over half an hour from Australia’s Rebecca Keat. She obliterated her 2009 world record of 8:31:59, which was also set in Roth. Wellington’s world record performance was the combination of a 50:28 swim, a 4:36:33 bike, and a 2:48:54 marathon. Wellington’s marathon time of 2:48:54 after completing a 3800m swim and record breaking 112 mile bike ride was the fastest ever achieved in an iron-distance triathlon. Her win in Roth on Sunday was her ninth victory from nine Iron-distance starts.
Wellington, 33, is the reigning World Ironman® Champion, having won the title for the third year in a row in Hawaii last October.
Wellington said: “I’m overjoyed, yet overwhelmed. Hopefully I have redefined the limits for myself, and for others, of what is possible. It has been one of the best days of my life. Challenge Roth epitomizes everything that is great about triathlon.”
Quelle Challenge Roth Iron-Distance Triathlon
Roth, Germany – July 18, 2010
2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2 mile run
1. Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 8:19:13
2. Rebekah Keat (AUS) 8:50:10
3. Tereza Macel (CZE) 9:09:29
Previous Iron-distance World record: 8:31:59 on 12 July 2009.
Minneapolis, MN -- CytoSport™ athlete Matt Reed collected his first win in a weekend triathlon doubleheader Saturday, July 10th, racing to his second straight victory in the Life Time Fitness Triathlon.
Reed, a 2008 Olympian, capped his wild weekend at the Boulder Peak Triathlon by finishing 3rd overall - an incredible feet considering it was his second triathlon in less than 24 hours.
Reed edged fellow U.S. national team member Matt Chrabot of Colorado Springs by just eight seconds, finishing in 1 hour, 48 minutes, 34 seconds. Australian Craig Alexander was third and Boulder`s Cameron Dye, who had the day`s fastest swim and bike splits, finished sixth.
Reed is currently tied for the lead of Life Time Fitness Series standings after two events. Matt Reed is the defending chapion of the Life Time Fitness Triathlon Series after capturing the Toyota Cup last year in Dallas, TX.
Life Time Fitness Triathlon
Women -- 1. Sarah Haskins, Colorado Springs, 2:03:49, $20,000; 2. Rebeccah Wassner, New Paltz, N.Y., 2:05:41, $8,000; 3. Mary Beth Ellis, Boulder, 2:07:36, $6,000
Men -- 1. Matt Reed, Boulder, 1:48:34, $20,000; 2. Matt Chrabot, Colorado Springs, 1:48:42, $8,000; 3. Craig Alexander, Australia, 1:49:45, $6,000
CHICAGO, IL. (June 17, 2010) - Muscle Milk®, CytoSport’s leading Ready-to-Drink protein enhanced beverage, announced today the distribution of a Limited Edition bottle featuring the Chicago Cubs logo and marquee. In addition, local fans will have the opportunity to visit www.musclemilk.com/chicago for a chance to win the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs home game. The launch of this bottle is just the beginning of a unique and exciting collaboration between Muscle Milk and the Chicago Cubs.
“Muscle Milk is the latest corporate partner to join the Cubs family, and we’re excited to extend our Cubs-themed product to fans this summer,” added Wally Hayward, EVP, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of the Chicago Cubs.
Throughout June and July, Chicago-based Walgreens stores will be selling the Limited Edition Muscle Milk Cubs bottle and Jewel-Osco will feature the bottle in all of its 182 stores during July and August. Media support will include LED messaging and P.A. announcements at Wrigley Field, out-of-home advertising, an extensive online campaign, and other special events promoting Muscle Milk.
Muscle Milk is creating excitement about its product and furthering awareness of its relationship with the Chicago Cubs as they offer this unique package. This is not the first time Muscle Milk has created a Limited Edition bottle; in January, 2010 Muscle Milk released a bottle in Cleveland featuring Shaquille O’Neal, and it took the area by storm.
Following the bottle’s release Chicago’s hottest personality, Emmy Award Winning Billy Dec, will host a launch party at the popular Rockit Bar & Grill in Wrigleyville. Muscle Milk has been the delicious go-to beverage of many other health-conscious athletes and celebrities including Adrian Peterson, Ryan Braun, Brandon Roy, Shaquille O’Neal, Adrian Grenier, Ashley Greene, Audrina Patridge, Giuliana Rancic, Kate Bosworth, Kellan Lutz, Lauren Conrad, Mark Wahlberg, Mario Lopez and Shia LaBeouf among others.
“We are thrilled to celebrate our relationship with the Cubs with this Genuine Cubbies bottle campaign. It provides the opportunity to interact with both our consumer and the loyal fan highlighting the performance and lifestyle attributes of the Muscle Milk brand”, Nikki Brown, Chief Marketing Officer.
ABOUT MUSCLE MILK
Muscle Milk® is a protein-enhanced functional beverage that promotes exercise recovery, lean muscle growth, and healthy, sustained energy. Muscle Milk takes the guesswork out of high performance nutrition, delivering a precise blend of premium proteins, complex carbohydrates, functional fats, vitamins and minerals. CytoSport, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was recently named Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet, 2009 Best New Product by CSP (Muscle Milk Light) and 2009 Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World. For more information on Muscle Milk or additional CytoSport products, visit: www.cytosport.com .
Fingerprint Communications Media Contact:
Ann Jonas / Ann@Fingerprintcom.Net / 310.276.7500
Matt DiBenedetto Earns First Career Top Ten Finish In Only His Second Nationwide Series Race
Joe Gibbs Racing Rookie Pilots No. 20 Muscle Milk® Toyota To 10th-Place Finish In Nashville
Date: June 5, 2010
Event: Federated Auto Parts 300 (Round 13 of 35)
Series: NASCAR Nationwide Series
Location: Nashville Superspeedway (1.366-Mile Quad-Oval)
Start/Finish: 15th/10th (Running, completed 225 of 225 laps)
Winner: Brad Keselowski for Penske Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Matt DiBenedetto was impressive in his 2010 NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Nashville Superspeedway this past Saturday night, bringing home the No. 20 Muscle Milk Toyota in 10th-place.
It was the first of six scheduled starts for the rookie driver in 2010 and only his second Nationwide Series career start after posting a 14th-place finish in Memphis last fall. The long gap between races was worth the wait with DiBenedetto earning his first career top ten finish in the Series despite having never raced on the Nashville oval. In addition, although proven on both short tracks and road courses, the 18-year-old driver had never raced on an oval track the size of Nashville Superspeedway.
A regular in the Muscle Milk Training Facility at Joe Gibbs Racing, DiBenedetto’s conditioning certainly paid off on a long hot day and night in Nashville. The rookie qualified in the 15th spot earlier in the afternoon and never once dropped below his starting position. In fact, DiBenedetto spent much of the night riding just outside the top ten. Crew chief Kevin Kidd and the Muscle Milk crew made the necessary adjustments with each pit stop to help him find the proper handle on his Camry.
With each lap DiBenedetto gained valuable experience and the respect of those driving around him as he showed improvement over the course of the 225-lap race. He
would race as high as the sixth position following a round of pit stops roughly midway through the night. In the end, thanks to some good early race calls by Kidd, the Muscle Milk team would come down pit road during the race’s final caution and get two tires for the final run of the day. DiBenedetto restarted in the 14th position on lap 201 and managed to climb into the 10th spot and nearly claimed ninth as he crossed the finish line at the checkered flag. In the end all goals were met by the young driver and his team as the Muscle Milk Toyota returned to the garage without a single scratch and an impressive 10th-place finish.
“It was a real good night, it went smooth,” said DiBenedetto. “I’m really happy with a 10th place finish because going into the race I said I wanted to finish with no damage – I did that. I said I wanted to finish on the lead lap – I did that. I said I wanted to get a top-10 and we did all three and that’s exactly what I was shooting for, no more, no less. The best thing I could do is bring the Muscle Milk Toyota back in one piece to the shop and that is the more impressive thing. I learned a lot and will apply it to my next outing.
“I learned about as much as I did in my first Nationwide race. I’ve never been on an intermediate race track before so I learned a lot of the aero-tight, aero-loose and all of that stuff. I took the race pretty cautious. Next time I will be a little more aggressive. I didn’t want to wreck anybody. I wanted to earn the respect of everybody I was racing with – that’s the main thing and I think I did that. I didn’t have any run-ins with anyone and had a good, smooth day.”
Nashville marked the first time that Muscle Milk appeared on a JGR Nationwide Series entry. Muscle Milk is the title sponsor for JGRMX, Joe Gibbs Racing’s motocross operation and provides both the motocross athletes and JGR Pit Crew members with nutritional products.
Muscle Milk Protein Nutrition Shake is the leading protein enhanced functional beverage used by athletes like Adrian Peterson who rely on the shake for performance and active people who are looking for grab and go nutrition for their busy lifestyle.
Although he will step aside next week to allow his teammate Joey Logano the opportunity to race for his third consecutive victory at Kentucky Speedway next Saturday 
night. DiBenedetto will return to the Nationwide circuit in two weeks at the Road America road course in Wisconsin. First up is Kentucky however, with the race set for next Saturday, June 12 at Kentucky Motor Speedway. The race starts at 8 PM EDT with live coverage provided by ESPN beginning with its pre-race show at 7:30 PM.
World Ironman Champion Captures Second Straight Kansas Ironman® Event
Lawrence, KS (o6/6/10)- Three-time World Ironman® World Champion Chrissie Wellington showed there is no letup in sight as she dominated the Kansas Ironman 70.3 at Clinton State Park. winning by a eye-popping margin of 16 minutes, 40 seconds, Wellington finished in 4:07:49 to break her previous course record by more than seven minutes.
"It was absolutely phenomenal" said Wellington, who placed 11th overall after finishing 15th overall a year ago. "I'm always a bit emotional when I come through the finish line, but this is a very special event for me. I'm so happy to be able to race here, and to get the victory again means so much to me."
The three-time defending World Ironman Champion took the lead midway through the second leg of the race - which featured 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run and included 2,100 competitors from 14 countries. Her times of 2:21:16 on the bike leg and 1:15:12 in the run were the fastest of any female competitors by a significant margin.
"I really, really love the sport" said Wellington, "I love pushing my body and my mind to the limit, (and) of course I love racing all the other great competitors, the men and the women out there, and the crowd support just keeps me going and gives me the the wind beneath my wings."
TESTING CONFIRMS MUSCLE MILK SAFETY
June 3, 2010
An article appearing in the July 2010 Consumer Reports publication regarding protein drinks brought into question the advisability of consuming protein drinks instead of ingesting regular food sources of protein because of the possibility of ingesting unsafe levels of certain heavy metals. Trace levels of these elements are naturally found in the environment and in many foods & beverages we consume daily; such as shellfish, potatoes, rice, leafy greens, avocados, honey, raisins, cottage cheese, red wine, and many more.
The article presents the test results of fifteen sampled protein products, three of which are Muscle Milk products. The test results concluded that three servings a day of Muscle Milk powdered Chocolate or Vanilla Crème (210 grams), almost a half a pound of powder, were shown to exceed the proposed maximum daily limits of cadmium and lead.
This Muscle Milk powdered 3-serving test weight amount (210 grams) was 84% more product than the average 3-serving test weight of the eleven other companies’ products tested. In essence, Consumer Reports used almost twice as much Muscle Milk powder than the average weight of the other 11 companies’ powdered brands tested.
It should also be noted that skewing the Consumer Reports test results even further is the fact that Consumer Reports inexplicably chose to apply the purposed limits of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) permitted daily exposure (PDE) limits calculated using a body weight of 50 kg or 110 lbs. The Reference Man is typically 70 kg or 154 lbs. The average US adult male is 195 lbs and the average adult female is 165 lbs (McDowell MA et al. Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2003-2006. USDHHS, CDC, and Nat’l Ctr. for Health Statistics (10/22/08)). That weight is still short of the average weight of our target, intended, heavy workout user for which Muscle Milk powder is clearly marketed in the health food stores and gym markets.
Importantly, the tests underscored the fact that Muscle Milk Chocolate liquid shakes, by far and away our company’s most popular consumer form of Muscle Milk, did not exceed the proposed maximum levels of any heavy metals tested, even when used three times per day. Muscle Milk liquid protein shakes, or RTDs (ready-to-drinks), are the most popular and fastest growing protein products in the entire US enhanced beverage market. Muscle Milk bottles and tetra-paks (juice packs) are available in grocery, drug, convenience/gas, and mass market locations nationwide.
Independent, certified third-party testing reconfirms that Muscle Milk liquid, ready-to-drink products, when used responsibly up to two times per day as part of a balanced diet, do not exceed the levels of these heavy metals as proposed by the USP, and discussed in the Consumer Reports article.
Active, health conscious consumers increasingly find Muscle Milk ready-to-drink shakes a quick, easy, convenient and cost-effective way to get the added protein they’re looking for to support their active lifestyles, while reducing the unwanted carbohydrates, fat and cholesterol that often accompany proteins from common food sources.
The Consumer Reports article suggests three other potential food sources with 25g of protein (3 glasses of Whole Milk, 4 oz Chicken Breast, 3 Scrambled Eggs). The article failed to mention that those three sources also contain the following undesired nutrients:
FDA’s publication Total Diet Study Statistics on Element Results (December 11, 2007), which analyzes 200 foods found in grocery stores four times per year, showed the following:
Food Item vs. Lead Content per Serving (mcg= 1 millionth of a gram):
As an industry leader in quality nutritional products, CytoSport maintains the highest commitment to compliance with all current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMPs”) for food supplements. CytoSport's customers can be confident that our products contain only the highest quality ingredients and are made in the safest manner possible.
FOR MORE INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO THE CONSUMER REPORTS ARTICLE, PLEASE READ BELOW
To Our CytoSport Muscle Milk Customers,
A recent Consumer Reports story raised questions about the trace levels of cadmium and lead found in popular protein shakes including CytoSport Muscle Milk Chocolate and Vanilla Créme powdered shakes. We want to assure you that there is no safety risk from the responsible use of CytoSport Muscle Milk protein shakes.
Consumer Reports testing was based on consumption of three shakes per day and the testing applied proposed U.S Pharmacopeia standards - not current, accepted or approved guidelines. Our recommended up to two servings of Muscle Milk daily, as stated on the label, is well below the current accepted standards and below the proposed U.S. Pharmacopeia limits.
Trace levels of these elements are naturally found in the environment and in many foods we eat daily (such as shellfish, potatoes, rice, and leafy greens). We conduct extensive testing to ensure the quality of our products. Each time the shakes have been tested for elements, such as cadmium and lead, the results are below the limit of all current, well-established safety standards.
You can continue to use Muscle Milk shakes with confidence. To calculate your estimated daily protein needs, please use the protein calculator by clicking on the image below (pop-up window). If you have questions about how much protein is appropriate for your needs, you should talk to your doctor or a licensed nutritionist.
FOR MORE INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO THE CONSUMER REPORTS ARTICLE, PLEASE READ BELOW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2010
CONTACT:
Bobbie White
707-747-3355
STATEMENT BY GREG PICKETT
FOUNDER CYTOSPORT™, INC.
Benicia, CA – Greg Pickett, Founder of CytoSport, Inc. today issued the following statement:
CytoSport is a family-run business built on a culture of creating products that are completely safe, effective and trusted by our loyal customers across the country. CytoSport’s devoted following of consumers includes high school, college and pro-athletes, coaches and everyday active people. It is our company mission to do everything possible to ensure that our products are superior in quality, reliability, authenticity and safety.
We work to meet our very high standards in several ways. Our wholly owned and operated manufacturing and packaging facility is state-of-the-art. Additionally, our products are rigorously tested by both us and independent third party agencies including NSF International to ensure their safety and efficacy. NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, is a world leader in standards development, product certification, education, and risk-management for public health and safety. NSF International is the recognized nutritional supplement certifying body for the athletic market, including the NFL, Major League Baseball, PGA, LPGA and others.
A recent Consumer Reports article raised questions concerning potential exposure to contaminants in a variety of protein drinks, including two CytoSport products, Muscle Milk Chocolate and Muscle Milk Vanilla Crème, if they are consumed frequently (3 or more per day). The article does not identify the lab that tested these products nor disclosed its test methodology. In the coming days and weeks, we will seek to carefully scrutinize the study in order to ensure our products’ quality. However, we do note the following, which raise serious questions about this particular lab’s tests:
1. Muscle Milk Chocolate and Muscle Milk Vanilla Crème have been independently tested and certified to meet NSF/ANSI Standard 173- Dietary Supplement – the recognized industry standard for dietary facilities.
2. The samples of Muscle Milk Chocolate and Muscle Milk Vanilla Crème (the two CytoSport products referenced in the article) were analyzed by NSF International and found to pass NSF/ANSI 173 standards for contaminants based on NSF’s validated test methods. Of the 15 products mentioned in the Consumer Reports article, Muscle Milk Chocolate and Vanilla Crème powders are the only products third party tested and certified by NSF International.
3. NSF International reported that their own test results “do not reflect the concentrations stated in the Consumer Reports article. NSF International uses validated test methods and is confident in the test results and its certifications.” [For the complete statement by the NSF, The Public Health and Safety Company, regarding Consumer Reports article on protein drinks please see
http://www.nsf.org/business/newsroom/pdf/NSF_Statement_Consumer_Reports_Protein_Drinks.pdf
For more information on NSF International and their Dietary Supplement testing certification programs, please visit
http://www.nsf.org/business/dietary_supplements/index.asp?program=DietarySups
4. Finally, it must not be overlooked that the substances tested by Consumer Reports are naturally occurring in the environment, and it would be uncommon, if not impossible, not to detect the trace amounts reportedly found in any agricultural product, such as dairy products, fruits and vegetables.
CytoSport stands firmly behind the quality and safety of our products. We are proud to have met the rigorous, credible testing methods of NSF International – developer of the only American national standard for dietary supplements and an accredited, independent, leader in standards development – because of our products’ safety and quality. We will continue to make every effort to assure that our products are superior in quality, reliability, authenticity and safety.
To view a printable PDF of this press release, click here.
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Laguna Seca, CA (May 22, 2010) - Muscle Milk Team CytoSport proved today at the American Le Mans Series Monterey race that giving up is never an option when it comes to sportscar racing.
Performing in front of the team's home crowd, Muscle Milk Team CytoSport fought back to score second place after having fallen to 18th place overall, six laps down midway through the race.
The finish was the best overall result in the American Le Mans Series for the Benicia, CA-based team. It was also a seventh consecutive podium for the squad who now stand second in the LMP championship.
Klaus Graf started the race in second place, after the Highcroft team was sent to the back of the field following yesterday's qualifying session, and immediately entered a heated battle for first place in the opening laps of the six-hour event.
Although Graf had fallen to third at the start when the car of Clint Field passed him, he didn't let the leaders get away. Keeping within striking distance, the German took advantage of some slower traffic entering Turn 11 on lap 22 and jumped ahead of the #16 Dyson Racing car, taking over second place.
Less than 20 laps later, the Muscle Milk Team CytoSport driver was in a close fight with Field for first place. The battle didn't last long however, as the Intersport car entered pit lane with a blown engine, giving Graf the lead.
The German led the race up until lap 55 when he headed to pit lane for fuel and tires. Upon returning to the track in second place, Graf kept on pushing hard and battling his way through traffic, finally reaching the first place car of Simon Pagenaud.
By lap 95, Graf had regained the lead with a pass on the Highcroft driver.
With a little over three hours and 30 minutes left in the race, Graf headed back to pit lane for fuel, tires and a driver change, handing the car to Memo Gidley during a full course caution.
Unfortunately Gidley, who was racing the Porsche RS Spyder for the first time, spun on the restart. In order to get back on track, Gidley had to drive through the gravel trap.
That's when bad luck hit Muscle Milk Team CytoSport. A small piece of gravel had lodged itself behind the shift paddle, causing the car to stay stuck in gear. Once the American was towed back to pit lane, the crew immediately assessed the problem, but had unfortunately fallen seven laps down to the leaders.
The team took advantage of the unexpected pit stop to put German Porsche ace Sascha Maassen in the Spyder, who returned to the track in 18th place overall and fifth in class with just over three hours to go.
That's when the comeback began. Maassen had one objective in mind, to keep the team's podium streak alive. With third place in the LMP class in sight, he went on his way and did even more. With a little less than one hour to go, he had made his way not only to third in class, but to third overall.
After bad luck had hit them earlier on in the race, the team had a little bit of good fortune in the dying minutes of the race. The second place car of Dyson Racing encountered some problems and had to retire from the race.
Graf, who had taken over the reins of the Porsche RS Spyder with about 30 minutes to go, took advantage of the situation and made up the laps he had lost to take over second place overall, giving Muscle Milk Team CytoSport its seventh consecutive podium finish.
The team now has a month break with no racing before the next race and will return to the track July 10 - 11, 2010 at Miller Motorsports Park for the Utah Grand Prix.
What they had to say:
Klaus Graf, Driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
"What a race. It was pretty exciting, unbelievable. We were right there at the beginning and then we took the lead on the racetrack, not in pit lane, nice and clean. I was pushing really hard. I wasn't overly aggressive but I wasn't careful either. I tried to go and hang as well as I could. The car was very good. The guys, Brandon (Fry) my engineer, the crew, the drivers helping with the setup, everybody did an excellent job. We came back to finish second after the small problem we had with the gearbox, and were able to keep our podium streak alive, I think we showed a lot of strength today.
"I'm very happy with my performance and I feel extremely happy for Greg and for Mike Pickett, that we were able to perform like we did at our home race.
"We have a little bit of a break now, it's good to give the guys some time to catch up, but I already can't wait to get to Utah."
Sascha Maassen, Driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
"It 'ain't' over until it's over! That's what they say. I think these kinds of races are the sweetest, when there is a little bit of a setback and you have to recover. Fun is not a straight line and we were up and down and in the end to finish second is, I think, a great achievement.
"If you would have said at the beginning of the weekend 'you are going to be second behind Highcroft', I would have been happy and now after this race, with how it went, I have to say I am really happy, I'm proud of the team, the car and my teammates, they all did a great job."
Memo Gidley, Driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
"Unfortunately I looped it around on the restart, I then let everybody go by and got back going again but had to run through the gravel to get back out on the racetrack. Unfortunately a little piece of gravel got stuck behind the shift paddle which I guess the probabilities of that happening are pretty slim. But it did and the car wouldn't shift at that point. It was unfortunate but it was nice that the team came through and everybody kept digging and we finished second, so that was a good result overall."
About CytoSport
CytoSport, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was recently named the 2008 Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and 2009 Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World. For more information on Muscle Milk or additional CytoSport products, visit: www.cytosport.com.
Knoxville, TN (May 9th, 2010) - Muscle Milk athlete Matt Reed overcame a strong field to capture the 1st place at the inaugural Rev3 Knoxville Triathlon. The victory is the first of the year for Reed after finishing third overall at the Miami Triathlon.
The course began with a swim in the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville before beginning the 40k bike ride took the competitors through the rural roads outside the city. Competitors were greeted with below-normal temperatures in the low 40s on race morning. Despite the frigid air, the water stayed above 70 degrees and the professionals were forced to dive in without wetsuits.
The beginning of the race was a matter of who could handle the freezing conditions. American Cameron Dye exited the down-river swim in a time of 15:05. A chase pack that included Reed was right on Dye’s heels. Reed quickly went to work on the bike and maintained the lead in the early miles. Eventually he was overtaken by Sweden’s Bjorn Andersson and the United States’ Chris Lieto. Andersson pushed the pace through the windy course and headed onto the run with a 90-second lead over Lieto. Reed headed onto the flat and fast course with two and a half minutes to make up on Andersson. Reed ran a 32:53 10km to pass both Andersson and Lieto and take the win at 1:51:55. New Zealand’s Terenzo Bozzone ran his way to second place at 1:52:42 in his fourth race in four weeks. Despite putting in a sprint effort to the finish line, Lieto settled for third at 1:52:48.
With the words “Seattle” and “rain” practically synonymous, every year all eyes are on the weather leading up to the Seattle AMA Supercross event at Qwest Field. The forecast predicted a 50% chance of rain, so the track was covered in plastic after being built. The rain did arrive on Saturday, causing practice to be delayed and qualifying to be condensed into one session rather than two. Thankfully the rain stopped before the start of the races and 51,442 fans were able to watch the world’s greatest racers - although the track was extremely soft and technically challenging.
Both Michael Byrne and Justin Brayton pulled holeshots in their respective heat races and easily transferred to the main event. In the main event Brayton and Byrne again started toward the front, with Brayton in second and Byrne fourth. The track had deteriorated to the point that nearly every rider in the field was making mistakes at some point around the circuit. Brayton succumbed to the ruts and went from second to third on the 11th lap, with Byrne in seventh. They would maintain those positions to the finish, with the rookie Brayton earning his first Supercross Class podium finish, and Byrne equaling his best finish of the 2010 season. “I really want to thank all the guys who have been behind me 110%, Muscle Milk®, Toyota®, Yamaha®, SHIFT, Gaerne®, Oakley®, Leatt®, Bell®, this is for you guys.”
Brayton and the JGR team head to Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT where they hope to have a repeat visit to the podium!
Greg Pickett returns to victory lane at Sebring 23 years later -
Sebring, Fla. (March 20, 2010) - They say good things come to those who wait, and it was true for Muscle Milk® Team CytoSport™ on Saturday as the team went on to take the LMP2 class victory in the prestigious Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida.
While the Muscle Milk squad may not have had long to wait to score its first American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón victory, winning in its first race of the season, it was thanks to their patient approach at the 12 Hours of Sebring that they came out as the LMP2 class winners.
The victory is a special one for the entire Muscle Milk Team CytoSport, not only because it's the team's first but because it was scored in its first race of its first full season of American Le Mans Series competition and, it was achieved at one of the most difficult races known to man and machine.
Additionally, if scoring its first win wasn't enough, the victory also made them the first privateer team to win a race in the US in the fan-favorite Porsche RS Spyder. And the firsts don't end there. The win was Klaus Graf's first Sebring victory and Sascha Maassen's first in the Porsche RS Spyder at Sebring.
It was also Maassen's fifth victory at the 12-hour race and his 30th career win in the ALMS. As for Greg Pickett, it was a return to the winner's circle as the Trans-Am legend, who won the GTO class at Sebring in 1987.
The race started out with the same approach the team had all week, with patience and cautiousness. Starting second, the Porsche RS Spyder, driven by Pickett, fell to third in the opening laps but quickly returned to its second place in class when the Dyson Racing Mazda encountered difficulties and entered pit lane.
Pickett who was putting in consistent lap times completed his double stint handing the driving duties to Klaus Graf about two hours in to the 12-hour event. Already one lap behind the LMP2 class leaders, Graf was quickly catching up to the Highcroft Acura but had to make a pit stop for fuel only, thanks to the superb performance of the Michelin tires.
While coming in to the pits, Graf went over the pit lane speed limit and had to serve a stop and go penalty, costing him some precious time on the leader.
With Graf completing his double stint he handed the reins to Porsche ace Sascha Maassen. Once again, Muscle Milk Team CytoSport settled into the race with no issues whatsoever arising.
By the halfway point, the team was sitting second in class, and fifth overall but was two laps down to the LMP2 leaders.
With about three hours and 30 minutes to go in the race, the team had fallen five laps to the leaders, but remained patient knowing that there was still a lot of racing to be done.
As it is in racing, reversal of fortunes happen quickly. Within about 10 minutes the team had made up their laps on the leaders and then some after the Highcroft Acura remained in pit lane with electrical problems.
Muscle Milk Team CytoSport took the LMP2 class lead with about three hours and 20 minutes to go in the race and never looked back. At one point the Muscle Milk squad had built a six-lap lead on the second place Highcroft car.
With its first ALMS win now in the books, Muscle Milk Team CytoSport return to their home base in Benicia, California as they prepare for round two of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, the 36th annual Long Beach Grand Prix, which takes place April 17, 2010.
What they had to say:
Greg Pickett, Owner/Driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
Following First stint:
"I'm real happy. We're in a good position. What we wanted to do was keep the Highcroft car in sight in my first stint and we certainly were able to do that which I was very pleased about. We even led for about half a lap right before I pitted. It was kind of fun for me. The car is very consistent. We double stinted the tires and Michelin I can't say enough about them. The tires didn't deteriorate almost at all. I was just as fast at the end of two hours as at the beginning. My compliments are with the drivers, they are watching their mirrors and everybody is being pretty cool. It's fun."
End of race:
"This is a very, very special win. Sebring is even more difficult than most longer races. I've run the 24 Hours of Daytona many times and this race is more difficult than that. It's tougher on the cars, the surface is just unbelievable, it's hard to pass here, you have to be careful. Bringing your team together and growing it together it's almost like a family, everybody here gets along so well and they're doing it for the right reason. You can't pay guys really enough money to do this with the kind of energy that they do it, they have to love it and they have to bring a lot of passion and that is something that we work hard at trying to create in our business at Muscle Milk. It's the same philosophy that we put in place here and it's been pretty good for our fifth time out in this car. We've only had podiums before but to now win this contest against the competition that we had is very special indeed. No question about it."
Klaus Graf, Driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
Following first stint
"I think all in all it's pretty good. Right now we're trying to catch the Highcroft car. We got close at one point but then with the traffic it was tough to get by him to get back on the lead lap and eventually he went into the pits. I think it was a good two stints. The Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder was very solid and the Michelin tires were great. So far things are good. (About pit lane speed penalty) I was certain I had turned on the pit lane speed limiter but by the time I realized it wasn't, it was too late."
End of race:
"I don't know whether I feel what I should feel at the moment because it's still so hard to believe. It's a very special day for Muscle Milk Team CytoSport. It was a great team effort, and I think that really stands out. Thank you to Porsche and Michelin. You need reliable equipment to win these kinds of races. 12 hours is long and this is one of the hardest races in the world. To win it is very special and honestly, let's face it, we're going in to our first full season of competition and coming out with a win at Sebring doesn't get much better than that! Thanks to the whole team and thanks to Greg for making this possible. I can't wait to get to Long Beach."
Sascha Maassen, Driver #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
Following first stint
"I had a feeling, in the first hour of my double stint, that I was constantly having to lap people. It felt like there were about 30 of the GTC cars in the field because they were everywhere! I was not really happy because I wasn't doing good lap times because I was overtaking all the time. But the car was running great and so I had to learn to be patient. Then in the second stint somehow it all went well and I had some clear laps and I enjoyed it a lot. The car is running great and I am looking forward to some more laps in the car later on."
End of race:
"The Porsche RS Spyder is the car that I developed so I feel like this is my little baby. I'm really happy that it's still running well and I'm really happy to be part of this victory because when you develop a car you see it start walking and then running and now it's running really well, for quite a while now. What makes this special as well is that this car had never won in America in the hands of a privateer team until today and I think that is a great achievement. I have to thank the team and my teammates, Klaus and Greg. I'm just very happy, especially to have won it with such a great team like Muscle Milk Team CytoSport."
Geoffrey Carter, Team Manager #6 Muscle Milk Porsche RS Spyder
"What a great win for the whole Muscle Milk Team CytoSport, for me personally, this is the biggest race I've ever won. We stuck to our plan all week long, all race long. We thought that if any of the other guys in our class had any trouble at all that we'd be there to take advantage of it and we were. There wasn't one mark on the Porsche RS Spyder, there wasn't one mechanical problem. The guys in the pits, Mike Seymour and the crew did a wonderful job with the tire changes, the driver changes, filling the car full of fuel. We just went out and basically ran around all day and in a 12-hour race that's what you have to do. I couldn't be more proud. It doesn't exactly seem real at the moment."
About CytoSport
CytoSport, the maker of Muscle Milk®, is among the largest sport nutrition protein beverage companies in the U.S. and offers a complete line of protein-enhanced powders, shakes and bars. Muscle Milk® was named the 2008 Ready-to-Drink Beverage of the Year by bodybuilding.com, Best Functional Beverage and Beverage of the Year by BevNet and 2009 Company of the Year by Beverage Forum presented by Beverage Marketing Corporation and Beverage World. For more information on Muscle Milk or additional CytoSport products, visit: www.cytosport.com.
In these trying financial times, high schools are eliminating sports programming and cutting funding to athletic departments and sports teams. Muscle Milk® understands the importance that high school sports competition plays in the overall development of students, and we are committed to helping the next generation of American athletes reach their full potential.
During the 2012-13 school year, Muscle Milk will donate up to $250,000 to selected high school sports programs around the country. These grants will be awarded to athletic departments, sports teams, and other high school based athletic programs that show a financial hardship and a need.
To learn more about the Muscle Milk Recovery Grant online, visit the Official Muscle Milk Facebook Page.
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