The following is from the American Motorcyclist Association regarding award nominees for its 2016 Championship Banquet:
The American Motorcyclist Association has announced the nominees for the 2016 AMA Championship Banquet awards. The awards recognize individuals and organizations that excelled in AMA-sanctioned competition and recreational activity in 2016.
AMA members help select the winners of the competition categories with their votes, including the prestigious AMA Athlete of the Year honors. AMA members can vote at surveymonkey.com through Sunday, Dec. 18, at midnight Eastern Time. All AMA members who vote will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to AMAGear.com.
Award winners will be announced at the 2016 AMA Championship Banquet on Saturday, January 21, at the Hilton Downtown Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. Class champions from national and regional motorcycle and ATV championships also will be honored with number one plates. Second- and third-place finishers will receive awards, as well.
“The AMA Championship Banquet is one of the most diverse celebrations in motorsports,” said AMA Director of Racing Kevin Crowther. “Each year, we spotlight racers from all areas of motorcycle and ATV competition in what is always an amazing showcase for AMA racing. We honor everyone from youth champions to vintage racers and, of course, the country’s top talent in several disciplines.”
The AMA also will recognize AMA-chartered clubs and promoters that raised the bar for AMA-sanctioned activity in 2016.
The AMA Championship Banquet — which includes dinner, door prizes and a bike show — will recognize hundreds of top competitors from across the country in disciplines ranging from dirt track racing to motocross to woods racing and everything in between.
Tickets for the AMA Championship Banquet are $75 each. AMA Life Members receive a $10 discount. Register at events.r20.constantcontact.com.
A free open house will be held at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, on January 20. Attendees are encouraged to attend to see the historic bikes and memorabilia on display, featuring the 2016 inductees: motorcycling pioneer Gloria Tramontin-Struck, desert racing champion and tuner Chris Haines, the late motorcycle designer and engineer Charles Franklin, race frame builder Jeff Cole, road racing champion Miguel Duhamel, dirt track racer Ronnie Jones, desert racing champion Jack Johnson and engine builder and tuner Dennis Mahan.
The Hilton Downtown Columbus is located in the heart of downtown Columbus and less than 25 minutes from AMA headquarters and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, with easy access to the interstate and Port Columbus International Airport. Special room rates at the hotel are available through December 20 by calling 614-384-8600 and using group code AMA17 or by reserving online at aws.passkey.com.
2016 AMA Racer of the Year Nominees
AMA Athlete of the Year: National Championship Series
Russell Bobbitt, Champion, AMA National Enduro Championship Series
Ricky Brabec, Champion, AMA National Hare & Hound Championship Series
Gavin Faith, Champion, AMA Arenacross National Championship Series
Marc Freixa, Champion, AMA/NATC MotoTrials National Championship Series
Colton Haaker, Champion, AMA EnduroCross National Championship Series; Champion, FIM Super Enduro World Championship
Billy Janniro, Champion, AMA Speedway National Championship Series
Gage McAllister, Champion, AMA Supermoto National Championship Series
Brandon Paasch, Champion, AMA/FIM North America MotoAmerica KTM RC390 Cup
Taylor Robert, Overall Winner and member of Championship World Trophy Team, International Six Days Enduro
Kailub Russell, Overall Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
AMA Athlete of the Year: Grand Championships
Jody Barry, AMA Road Race Horizon Award Winner, AMA Road Race Grand Championship
Jarred Brook, AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award Winner, AMA Dirt Track Grand Championship
Eva Hakansson, Land Speed Record Setter, AMA Land Speed Grand Championship
Ben Kelly, Top Amateur, AMA Tennessee Knockout Enduro Grand Championship
Trevor Kline, AMA Vintage Off-Road Grand Champion, AMA Vintage Grand Championship
Nathan Prebe, AMA Hillclimb Racer of the Year, AMA Hillclimb Grand Championship
Chase Sexton, AMA Motocross Horizon Award Winner, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
AMA ATV Athlete of the Year
Colt Brinkerhoff, Pro ATV Champion, AMA National Hare and Hound Championship Series; Pro ATV Champion, AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series
Walker Fowler, Overall ATV Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
Alan Myers, 450 A Champion and Production A Champion, AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series
AMA Female Racer of the Year
Nicole Bradford, Women’s Champion, AMA National Hare and Hound Championship Series
Eva Hakansson, Land Speed Record Setter, AMA Land Speed Grand Championship
Jordan Jarvis, Girls Sr. (12-16) and Women (14+) Amateur Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
Alicia McCormick, WXC ATV Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
Becca Sheets, WXC Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
AMA Vet/Senior Racer of the Year
Bart Bast, Track Champion, Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway
Steve Bromley, 1970s 250cc and 1970s 750cc Champion, AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series
John Grewe, Masters 50+ Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
Fred Hoess, FIM ISDE Vintage Class Champion
Gary Roach, AMA Vintage Off-Road Senior Grand Champion, AMA Vintage Grand Championship
Billy Schlag, Senior A Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series; Open A Champion, AMA Full Gas Sprint Enduro Championship Series
AMA Youth Racer of the Year
Micah Hertrich, 125cc Expert Champion, AMA/NATC MotoTrials National Championship Series
Troy Hill, Youth All-Star (13-15) and Schoolboy Sr. (14-17) Champion, AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series
Sterling Martin, 150cc Youth Champion, AMA Youth Speedway National Championship
Mason Matthies, Big Wheel (12-15) Champion, AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series
Jett Reynolds, 85cc (9-11) Limited and 85cc (9-12) Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
Hunter Riemer, Super Mini Sr. (14-15), AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
Tyler Scott, AMA Youth Dirt Track Racer of the Year, AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships
2016 AMA Organizer of the Year Nominees
AMA Motocross Organizer of the Year
2x Promotions; Porterville, Calif.
Feld Entertainment Inc.; Palmetto, Fla.
MX Sports Inc.; Morgantown, W.Va.
AMA Off-Road Organizer of the Year
Full Gas Sprint Enduro Championship Series; Hickory, N.C.
Racer Productions Inc.; Morgantown, W.Va.
National Hare & Hound Association; Los Angeles, Calif.
AMA Track Racing Organizer of the Year
Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway; Auburn, Calif.
Steve Nace Racing Promotions; Paducah, Ky.
California Flat Track Association; San Francisco, Calif.
AMA ATV Organizer of the Year
National Hare and Hound Association; Los Angeles, Calif.
Racer Productions Inc.; Morgantown, W.Va.
Western New York Offroad Association; Newfield, N.Y.
AMA Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year
Roar on the Shore; Erie, Pa.
Schuylkill County Motorcycle Club; Schuylkill Haven, Pa.
Midwest Motorcycle Club; Indianapolis, Ind.
AMA Recreational Off-Road Riding Organizer of the Year
Knapp Creek Fire Department; Knapp Creek, N.Y.
Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders; Neenah, Wis.
Touratech USA; Seattle, Wash.
AMA Club of the Year
Trials Inc.; Louisville, Ky.
Polka Dots M/C (CA); Fair Oaks, Calif.
Ramapo Motorcycle Club; Congers, N.Y.
AMA Media Award
Racer TV; Morgantown, W.Va.
On The Pegs; Sapulpa, Okla.
Cycle USA; Franksville, Wis.