2012 AMA Championship Banquet Award Nominees Announced

AMA announces award nominees for 2012 AMA Championship Banquet

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- December 5, 2012 -- The American Motorcyclist Association announces the nominees for 2012 year-end awards for standout individuals and organizations involved in AMA-sanctioned competition. The awards will be presented at the 2012 AMA Championship Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Aladdin Event & Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio.

"The AMA, our promoting partners and chartered clubs work hard to provide the country's leading competition and recreational events for motorcyclists and ATV riders," said AMA Vice President of Operations Jeff Massey. "Tens of thousands of dedicated racers and organizers pour their hearts and souls into this sport, so it's with great significance that we single out those who have excelled to represent their fellow racers, their clubs, their AMA Districts and the Association itself with the utmost skill, sportsmanship and character. All of the riders nominated for these awards have contributed to the AMA's mission of promoting and protecting the riding lifestyle."

The AMA's highest competitive honors are the AMA Athlete of the Year awards that recognize two exceptional racers: one from AMA National Championship Series competition and one who has excelled at an AMA Grand Championship event. Both awards are selected by an independent group that includes members of AMA Congress, retired AMA Athletes of the Year from previous years, and previous winners of the AMA Media Award.

 

"The AMA Athletes of the Year for National Championship Series and AMA Grand Championship competition recognize exceptional levels of performance, dedication and sportsmanship, and it's important that those riders are selected by an informed and diverse group of racing experts from across disciplines," Massey said. "We're appreciative of the time and effort our voters invest in this process."

All award winners will be announced and recognized alongside hundreds of their fellow competitors from numerous disciplines at the 2012 banquet. The banquet will honor riders who finished in the top three in AMA National Championship Series and AMA Grand Championship events. All honored riders will be invited to the stage, with class champions receiving their personalized AMA national No. 1 plates.

The AMA Championship Banquet will include a reception, bike show, dinner, an awards banquet and a full slate of activities for riders and fans of all ages. In addition to awards and No. 1 plates, attendees will have a chance to win a number of door prizes, including a Kawasaki KLX110 minibike. On Friday evening, Jan. 18, all riders are invited to an open house at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in nearby Pickerington, Ohio.

 

Tickets to the AMA Championship Banquet and event details are available here: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Racing/RacingBanquet.aspx.

AMA Rider Award Nominees

AMA Athlete of the Year: National Championship Series

* Steward Baylor, Belton, S.C.: Champion, AMA National Enduro Championship Series Second
* Taddy Blazusiak, Murrieta, Calif.: Champion, AMA EnduroCross National Championship Series
* Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky.: Champion, AMA Arenacross National Championship Series
* Kurt Caselli, Palmdale, Calif.: Champion, AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series
* Cory Graffunder, Palm Desert, Calif.: Champion, AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series
* Jeffery Lowery, St. Louisville, Ohio: 450cc Mod, 250cc Mod, 251-500cc DTX Champion, AMA Indoor Dirt Track National Championship Series
* Pat Smage, Elkhorn, Wis.: Champion, AMA/NATC MotoTrials National Championship Series
* Jedediah Haines, Fairfield, Pa.: AMA East Hare Scrambles Championship Series

AMA Athlete of the Year: Amateur Grand Championships

* Zach Bell, Cairo, Ga.: AMA Motocross Horizon Award Winner, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's
* JR Addison, Bucyrus, Ohio: AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award Winner, AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships
* Andre Ochs, Fallbrook, Calif.: AMA Roadrace Horizon Award Winner, AMA Roadrace Grand Championships
* Logan Cipala, Ellsworth, Wis.: AMA Hillclimber of the Year, AMA Hillclimb Grand Championships
* Kyle Johnson, Twin Lake, Mich.: AMA Ice Racer of the Year, AMA Ice Race Grand Championships

ATV Athlete of the Year

* Cody Gibson, Englewood, Tenn.: Pro-Am Production, Pro-Am Unlimited Champion, AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series
* Nicholas Gennusa, Wall Township, N.J.: 450 A, 4-Stroke A, Production A Champion, AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series
* Harold Goodman, Brownstown, Mich.: Pro, Pro-Am Champion, AMA ATV Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series
* Scott Samuel, Westborough, Mass., Champion, AMA ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series

AMA Veteran/Senior Rider of the Year

* Michael Grizzle, Dahlonega, Ga.: 45+ A Champion, AMA Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series
* Kurt Nicoll, Temecula, Calif.: Vet 35+ Champion, AMA Endurocross Grand Championships
* Gary Semics, Masters 50+ Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's

AMA Female Rider of the Year

* Maria Forsberg, Lynnwood, Wash.: Women's Champion, AMA Endurocross Championship Series
* Mandi Mastin, Whitehouse, Ohio: Bronze Medal, FIM International Six Days Enduro
* Molly Terry, Creve Coeur, Ill.: 450 Modified Mile Champion, Women's Grand Champion, AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships

AMA Youth Rider of the Year

* Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla.: Super Mini 1 (12-15), Super Mini 2 (13-16) Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's
* Sophia Olivera, Hollister, Calif.: Girls Champion, AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series
* Tyler Scott, Emmaus, Pa.: 50cc DTX PW Shaft, 50cc DTX Champion, AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships

AMA Media Award

* Dick Lague
* Next Moto Champion
* Moto Playground/The Pickle

AMA Sportsman of the Year

No nominees announced

AMA Organizer Award Nominees

 

Motocross Organizer of the Year

* RPM
* Unlimited Sports
* MX Sports

Off-Road Organizer of the Year

* WNYOA (Western New York Off Road Association)
* National Enduro Promotions Group
* 100's MC

Track Racing Organizer of the Year

* Steve Nace Racing
* Valley Springs MC
* Lodi MC

ATV Organizer of the Year

* Mid-America XC
* Extreme DT Michael Coburn Racing
* Racer Productions

Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year

* ABATE of Ohio
* Motorcycle Sport Touring Association
* Ride for Kids

Recreational Off-Road Organizer of the Year

* Tri County MC
* District 37 Off Road
* Enduro Riders

AMA Club of the Year

* Brandywine Enduro
* Polka Dots

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.

 

For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

 

 

Roadracing World.com Reports GPTech MotoGP CRT Team Awarded Wild Card Entries for 2013 U.S. MotoGP Rounds at COTA, Laguna Seca & Indy

The GP Tech team goes about readying the #20 BCL Motorsports/GPTech GP212 mount for rider Aaron Yates just before the afternoon practice session of testing hosted by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in August '12, while The Enforcer waits in the background with his helmet on and his steely-eyed focus on what was yet to come. 

In only their third outing on-track before the next weekend's events surrounding the 5th Annual Red Bull Indianapolis MotoGP, Yates and the team were still in the process of becoming familiar with the MotoGP-spec Bridgestone tires (after testing at two other venues with AMA-spec rubber) and making adjustments to the electronics on the GSX-R1000-powered CRT machine.

Only getting a brief minute to talk before he headed back out for more laps, I took the time to introduce myself to one of the true legends of AMA Pro Road Racing.  Having been a long-time fan of Yates' I explained, that it was great to see him back out at it again and that the sport needed more guys with his personality.  He took the time to thank me and shake my hand while casually saying 'we're just going to do what we can' and try and 'have some fun' in the process.  He also assured me his leg was completely healed from his devastating injuries suffered in an AMA Superbike practice session in California in spring of 2010.

Roadracing World.com reported earlier today that the GPTech team has been granted wild card entries with their CRT (claiming rules team) machine for all of the U.S. rounds in the 2013 season.  You can read more on that below.

Aaron Yates looks over the GPTech MotoGP CRT machine as the team preps the bike for another test run at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 11, 2012.  The team had previously entered wild card entries in the Moto2 class at Indy with Jason DiSalvo in 2010 and Jake Gagne during the 2011 round, and decided to 'step-up' to the premier class at the 5th Annual Red Bull Indy MotoGP.

With the new claiming rules team bikes allowed on the grid with the multi-million dollar MotoGP prototypes in order to help fill the grids, the GPTech team was one of the first along with Attack Performance Kawasaki to field entires in the first season with the new rules in one or both of the U.S. rounds of the series. 

Yates put in a great effort for himself and the team in what was his first big race back at the track.  He had previously done some WERA events in order to get re-acclimated to being back in the saddle again after his long break from the track after being injured at Fontana back in early 2010 while still riding for the Michael Jordan Motorsports AMA Superbike team (note Yates' leathers from that season).  Although they finished 16th and first out of the points in the final, they were still running at the end and held the distinction of being the last bike running at the end of the 28-lap race.

Hopefully with the team announcing their intent to run all three U.S. rounds in the upcoming 2013 season they will be able to utilize the fine efforts of 'Double A-ron' again.  With the first U.S. round scheduled in Texas in late April '13, they have just a few precious months to get ready.  And regardless of the outcome, it was great seeing Yikes Yates back on the track again!


David Swarts at Roadracing World.com reports today that the GPTech MotoGP team has been awarded wild card entries for all of the MotoGP rounds in the United States next year for their CRT effort.  Read on:

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=50411

Here's a great glimpse at the team's efforts from their inuagural outing in the MotoGP class at the 5th Annual Red Bull Indy MotoGP round in August, thanks to Dean Adams and SuperbikePlanet.com.  This also has a great shot of the bike in it's 'raced-in' livery as opposed to the 'testing' basic graphics as what were used during the team's initial outing at IMS just a week before the Indy round:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Aug/120817p2wsaxz.htm

And this was posted on Roadracing World.com back in early August '12 about the team's efforts to get ready for the Indy round over the August 17-19 weekend:

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=49267