Award nominees for 2015 AMA Championship Banquet released
AMA members invited to vote for AMA Athlete of the Year categories
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association is announcing the nominees for the 2015 AMA Championship Banquet awards, which recognize individuals and organizations that excelled in AMA competition and recreational activity during the previous 12 months.
The athlete of the year and organizer of the year award winners will be announced at the 2015 AMA Championship Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 23, at The Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio, where class champions will also be honored with medals and No. 1 plates. Second- and third-place finishers will receive awards, as well.
“This event brings the top competitors from all disciplines of AMA-sanctioned racing together for a night of celebration,” said AMA Chief Operations Officer Jeff Massey. “It’s inspiring to witness the determination, work ethic and pride that AMA racers have for the sport. It’s also uplifting to be able to recognize clubs and promoters who give back to the sport and embody the AMA’s mission to promote and protect motorcycling.”
The program — 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.
An open house will be held at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the day before the banquet. Attendees are encouraged to view the historic bikes and memorabilia on display while in town.
- Billy Janniro, Champion, AMA Speedway National Championship Series
- Gage McAllister, Champion, AMA Supermoto National Championship Series; Champion, MotoAmerica KTM RC390 Cup
- Ivan Ramirez, Champion, AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series
- Kyle Regal, Champion, AMA Arenacross National Championship Series
- Kailub Russell, Champion, AMA National Enduro Championship Series; XC1 Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series; U.S. World Trophy Team Member, International Six Days Enduro
- Ryan Sipes, Overall Winner and U.S. World Trophy Team Member, International Six Days Enduro
- Pat Smage, Champion, AMA/NATC MotoTrials National Championship Series
- Cody Webb, Champion, AMA EnduroCross National Championship Series
AMA Athlete of the Year: Grand Championships
- Luke Cipala, AMA Hillclimb Rider of the Year, AMA Hillclimb Grand Championship
- Benny Bloss, AMA Motocross Horizon Award Winner, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
- Kaley Johnson, AMA Ice Racer of the Year, AMA Ice Race Grand Championship
- Kevin Stollings, AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award Winner, AMA Dirt Track Grand Championship
- Xavier Zayat, AMA Road Race Horizon Award Winner, AMA Road Race Grand Championship
AMA ATV Athlete of the Year
- Beau Baron, Pro ATV Champion, AMA National Hare and Hound Championship Series
- Walker Fowler, XC1 ATV Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
- Kenny O’Brien, AMA ATV Hillclimb Rider of the Year, AMA Hillclimb Grand Championship
- Westley Wolfe, 450 A Champion, Production A Champion and Amateur Rider of the Year, AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series; College A (16-21) Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
AMA Female Racer of the Year
- Meg Blackburn, Women’s Champion, AMA National Hare and Hound Championship Series
- Shawn Davidson, Women’s A/B Champion, AMA National Enduro Championship Series
- Angel Knox, ATV WXC Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
- Megan Manshack, Women’s Champion, AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series
- Kacy Martinez, WXC Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
- Gracie Van Horn, Women (14+) Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
AMA Veteran/Senior Racer of the Year
- Gary Bourque, East Region Senior Expert Sportsman Champion, AMA/NATC MotoTrials National Championship Series
- Todd Cipala, Senior Champion, AMA Hillclimb Grand Championship
- Brian Kcraget, Expert AMA SuperSport Lightweight Twins Champion and AMA Vet/Senior Road Racer of the Year, AMA Road Race Grand Championship
- Earl May, Masters 50+ Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
- Matt Stavish, 45+ A Champion, AMA National Enduro Championship Series
AMA Youth Racer of the Year
- Jackson Blackmon, Expert AMA Moto 3 Champion and AMA Youth Road Racer of the Year, AMA Road Race Grand Championship
- Jazzmyn Canfield, Girls Junior (9-13) Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
- Colton Hicks, 250cc Champion, AMA Youth National Speedway Championship
- Jett Reynolds, 85cc (9-11) and 85cc (9-11) Limited Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
- Ronnie Rusch, ATV Super Mini (12-15) Champion, AMA Grand National Cross Country Series
2015 AMA Organizer of the Year Nominees
AMA Motocross Organizer of the Year
- Feld Entertainment; Palmetto, Fla.
- Freestone MX; Wortham, Texas
- MX Sports; Morgantown, W.Va.
AMA Off-Road Organizer of the Year
- EnduroCross; Carlsbad, Calif.
- Muddobbers Motorcycle Club; Matthews, Ind.
- Rhode Island Trials Club; Greenwich, R.I.
AMA Track Racing Organizer of the Year
- American Sportbike Racing Association; Fort Worth, Texas
- California Flat Track Association; San Francisco, Calif.
- USA Pro Supermoto; Winchester, Calif.
AMA ATV Organizer of the Year
- AMA National Hare and Hound Championship Series; Oxnard, Calif.
- ATV Promoters Group; Morgantown, W.Va.
- Racer Productions; Morgantown, W.Va.
AMA Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year
- Johnstown Visitor’s Bureau / Thunder in the Valley Motorcycle Rally; Johnstown, Pa.
- Orange County Dualies; Long Beach, Calif.
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation National Ride For Kids; Ashville, N.C.
AMA Recreational Off-Road Riding Organizer of the Year
- District 37 Dual Sport; Canyon Lake, Calif.
- Ramapo Motorcycle Club; Nanuet, N.Y.
- Tumbleweed Motorcycle Club; Bridgewater, Mass.
AMA Club of the Year
- Enduro Riders Association; McArthur, Ohio
- Orange County Dualies; Long Beach, Calif.
- Trials Inc.; Louisville, Ky.
AMA Media Award
- Ken Hill; Hedgesville, W.Va.
- Thunder Roads Ohio; Burton, Ohio
- Trials & Enduro News; Sapulpa, Okla.
The Hyatt Regency is a full-service hotel and conference center in the Greater Columbus Convention Center at 350 North High St. in downtown Columbus, Ohio. It is less than 25 minutes from AMA headquarters and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in nearby Pickerington, Ohio. To register to attend, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com/racing/racingbanquet.aspx.