October 27, 2006 – (San Diego, CA) Bombshell/Avent Cycles has hired BMX and Mountain Bike World Champion Mike King to their staff as the company’s Brand Manager. King will oversee many facets of the organization which will include areas of marketing and promotions, product development and team management.



"Bringing Mike onboard as Brand Manager was an easy decision,” says company President and Founder, Gary Hickman. “His successful racing and management career which spans over three decades will bring Avent and Bombshell a wealth of knowledge and experience. We believe Mike will strengthen and add some creditability to our product lines along with mentoring future athletes.” added Hickman.





“This is a great opportunity for me,” said King. “Avent and Bombshell make great products and I want to make sure we continue that path and become even more innovative. This creates a huge challenge for me which I look forward to.”



Before joining Avent/Bombshell, King was semi-retired racing a select few mountain bike events over the past two seasons, most notably, being one of top eight invitees competing in the Jeep King of the Mountain series. “My last full-time gig racing and managing was a rewarding experience for me. I was able to race at the highest level and help others reach their full potential. The time away from the sport has allowed me to focus on other projects and see what life had to offer.” added King.



Mike begins working for the organization on November 1 and can be reached by email at mikedhking@bombshellparts.com



For more information on Avent and Bombshell products, please visit the following websites at www.aventcycles.com and www.bombshellparts.com

Heading into his fourth Jeep King of the Mountain (JKOM) season, former World Champion Mike King plans to become more involved in the Series than ever before. In past years, the San Diego resident and former World Champion merely served as one of the toughest, battle tested athletes in the field, pushing every competitor to the limit and earning multiple JKOM event titles along the way.



This year, however, he adds the title of course designer to his resume. The 2006 Mountain Biking Professional World Championships will be the stage for the first Competitor Inspired Courses. King will partner with race director Ted Martin to develop the race course during the tour’s first stop, July 8 in San Luis Obispo, with other professionals offering their influence for the events in Elkhart Lake, Wis., and Beaver Creek, Colo. Among FIS, UCI and NORBA competitions, the Jeep King of the Mountain Series will be the first event to involve competitors in the design of its racecourse.



We had the chance to visit with King regarding the upcoming season and his increased role in helping make a world-class event even better.



Q. Why do you participate in the JKOM Series?



A. I participate in the JKOM Series because the events are hands-down the best at everything they do. They offer the best prize purse, the best selection of athletes, the best course design and lastly, the best staff that listens to the athletes. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of this event for four consecutive years.



Q. What separates the JKOM from other races you participate in throughout the year?



A. These events are open only to invited athletes, whereas other events I compete in are open to other professional riders.



Q. What have been your top MTB/BMX results since the end of the last JKOM season?



A. None. I have been focusing on the JKOM Series, along with the National Championships the following week and then the World Championships in New Zealand in August.



Q. What has been your top non-MTB-related highlight since the end of the last JKOM season?



A. It has to be family. My beautiful girlfriend is pregnant and this will be my first child.

Q. If you were not a professional MTB racer, what career path would you pursue?



A. It would start with a higher form of education, maybe business management.



Q. What new sponsors have you secured since last year?



A. Most recently, crankbrothers, Michelin, No Fear and Rock Shox.



Q. If you had to describe the Y racecourse in one word, what would it be?



A. Challenging. I hope to design a spectacular course for the first venue of the 2006 season in San Luis Obispo.



Q. Why do you think you can bring home the World Professional Champion title this season?



A. I’ve been a top-three overall athlete the last three years. Maybe my experience and some good luck will follow me in 2006.

style=`font-size:18.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>

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color:black`>BLAKESLEE URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>PA 10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>.style=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> – (August 14,
2005) With an estimated crowd of over 5,000 cycling enthusiasts along with Camp
Jeep® attendees from across the U.S., sixteen of the world’s best mountain bike
athletes put on quite a display of clean passes and colorful crashes as they
battled one another on an innovative race course known as The Y. Facing
unseasonably warm and humid temperatures in the high 90s, Mike King of style=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>San Diego style=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, style=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>Californiastyle=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> was the events
top placing American athlete as he won the constellation bracket against 2004
Jeep King of the Mountain Champion, Bas De Bever of the style=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>Netherlandsstyle=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>. “With the
heat and humidity aside, my efforts today should have been better”, said King.
“Michal Prokop was flying today and everyone knew he was the guy to beat.” He
later said. King was eliminated from the finals when Prokop beat him the semi
finals where he continued his winning ways to win the days event and overall
2005 Jeep King of the Mountain title. With King’s third place finish today,
he ended the overall series ranked third behind last years champion Wade Bootes
of Australiastyle=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> and newly
crowned champion Michel Prokop of the font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>Czech 10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> 10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>Republicstyle=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>.

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color:black`>JEEP KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

color:black`>2005 font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>PROFESSIONAL style=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> style=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>MOUNTAINstyle=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> BIKING WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS

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color:black`>FINAL RESULTS

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color:black`>1. color:black`>Michael Prokop URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>Czech Republic

color:black`>2. color:black`>Wade Bootes URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>Australiafont-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>

color:black`>3. Mike URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>King font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, style=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>United Statesstyle=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>

color:black`>4. color:black`>Bas DeBever URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>Netherlands

color:black`>5. color:black`>Brian Schmith URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>United States

color:black`>6. color:black`>Chris Powell URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>United States

color:black`>7. Jarred color:black`>Rando color:black`>, color:black`>Australia

color:black`>8. Brian Lopes, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>United States

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color:black`>2005 FINAL STANDING

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color:black`>1. Michal Prokop, CZE 390 points

color:black`>2. color:black`>Wade Bootes, AUS 350

color:black`>3. Mike URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>King font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, style=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>USAstyle=`font-size:10.0pt;font-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> 300

color:black`>4. Brian Lopes, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>USAfont-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> 240

color:black`>5. Bas De Bever, NED 200

color:black`>6. color:black`>Chris Powell URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>USAfont-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> 200

color:black`>7. color:black`>Brian Schmith URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>USAfont-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> 150

color:black`>8. Jared Rando, AUS 80

color:black`>9. color:black`>Nathen Rennie URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>USAfont-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> 60

color:black`>10. color:black`>Travis Collins URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>, URWGroteskTLig;color:black`>USAfont-family:URWGroteskTLig;color:black`> 40

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color:black`>The finals from Jack Frost Mountain will air on CBS Sports on
October 9. The previous two races from the season have been broadcast to a
national television audience. This includes two, one-hour specials airing via
national syndication from June through August 2005.

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color:black`>The Jeep King of the Mountain was established in 1993. Jeep
is the title sponsor for the Jeep King of the Mountain Series. The
Professional Mountain Biking World Championships (href="http://www.jeepsports.com/">www.jeepsports.com) is the sister
competition to wintertime’s Jeep King of the Mountain Skiing & Snowboarding
World Championships, now in its 13th season as the most prestigious event in
professional snow sports. Other marketing partners include Columbia Sportswear,
Infinity Sound Systems, Jamis Bicycles, John Paul Mitchell Systems, Mopar and
Sirius Satellite Radio.

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color:black`>About Jeep® Brand

color:black`>The Jeep brand is synonymous with freedom, adventure, mastery and
authenticity. It is a reputation earned during more than six decades of
4x4 leadership. The launch this year of the Jeep Commander at the New York
International Auto Show represents continued strengthening and growth of the
Jeep brand. Jeep Trail Rated communicates the legendary Jeep capability that is
designed into every Jeep 4x4. As the brand’s lineup expands, Jeep vehicles will
continue to be what they have always been – the most capable.

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