Cory Burleson, 28, of Harrison, Arkansas, was awarded the AMA Sports Road Race Horizon Award for his performance during the Grand Championships September 22-24 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, in Lexington, Ohio. The Horizon Award is presented to an “up-and-coming rider” based on his/her “performance and sportsmanship in the Grand Championships with the potential of successful advancement into AMA Pro Racing competition,” according to the September 2006 AMA Sport Road Race Grand Championships newsletter. Past Road Race Horizon Award winners include: Blake Young, Ben Spies and Jason DiSalvo. Burleson earned the Horizon Award thanks in part to his impressive finishes, which included: 750cc Superstock, 1st; 750cc Superbike, 1st, Pro-Am Superstock 1000cc, 2nd (on GSX-R750); 600cc Superbike, 3rd. In addition, Burleson crashed while attempting to take the lead on the first lap of the 600cc Superstock race and made a special effort to remove parts off his crashed motorcycle from the racing surface before the field returned for the next lap. The “Top Novice” racer at the AMA Sports Grand Championships was Robert Wilkey, 16, of Fairfax Station, Virginia. Wilkey won six Novice races on his Kawasaki ZX-6R and Suzuki GSX-R1000, including wins in: 1000cc Superstock Novice, 1000cc Superbike Novice, Formula 1000cc Novice, 750cc Superbike Novice, 600cc Superstock Novice and 600cc Superbike Novice.