The stars of AMA Racing gathered at the stunning Barber Vintage
Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 22, to
celebrate the successful seasons of some of the country's best
motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle racers.
Champions in disciplines ranging from land-speed racing to
motocross to trials and everything in between were honored at the
end-of-year banquet. In addition, a number of special awards were
presented to those who went above and beyond this season to
elevate 2008 to one of the most memorable in recent history.
The AMA Racing Athlete of the Year award was awarded to Ricky
Dietrich, top American at the 2008 International Six Days Enduro
in Serres, Greece, as well as the champion of the 2008 AMA Maxxis
EnduroCross Championship Series. Dietrich, who wrapped up the
EnduroCross title the same night of the banquet, led the Team USA
Trophy Team to its best finish in years at the ISDE after an
injury took overall leader and Team USA Captain Kurt Caselli out
of the race.
Harold Goodman was honored with the ATVA (All-Terrain Vehicle
Association) Athlete of the Year award. Goodman, who was competing
in the Baja 1000 the night of the banquet, won four of the seven
rounds of the Duro Extreme Dirt Track ATV National Championship
Series en route to the title.
Destry Abbott was honored with the AMA Racing Sportsman of the
Year award. Abbott demonstrated utmost sportsmanship when one of
his competitive rivals, Josh Morros, was seriously injured and
knocked unconscious in the next-to-last round of the AMA FMF
Racing National Hare & Hound Championship Series. Abbott, who
was racing for the title at the time, remained with Morros to aid
the injured rider as best he could until medics arrived. Abbott
ultimately continued and finished fourth in that round to clinch
his fifth AMA Hare & Hound National Championship, tying the
record held by Danny Hammel and Dan Smith.
"This is definitely a highlight for me. It's something
I've never gotten before," Abbott said. "I've always
tried to represent the sport well, and it's neat to be recognized
for that. The important thing, though, is that Josh is doing a lot
better. He has a tough road ahead, but he wants to be back on a
bike. I told him he's welcome to come to Phoenix and train with me
as soon as he's able."
The AMA Racing Female Rider of the Year was Leslie Porterfield.
Porterfield became the official fastest female motorcyclist in
America this summer at the International Speed Trials by BUB with
a top speed of 232.523 mph.
"It was something that took a lot of determination and
hard work," said Porterfield. "I had a really great crew
and friends and family behind me. It's an honor to get this
award."
Heather Byrd was honored as the ATVA Female Athlete of the
Year. Byrd was the champion in the Pro-Am Women class in the ITP
Moose Racing ATV National Motocross Series. She claimed the title
in impressive fashion, winning all 10 rounds of the series.
"Racing just gets in your blood, and it becomes something
that you just do," Byrd said. "People who leave the
sport for whatever reason, always come back. I'm just proud to be
part of the sport. You meet so many great people in AMA Racing and
the ATVA. It's just great to be a part of it."
The AMA and ATVA Youth riders of the Year were Anson Maloney
and Jesse Skvarek. Maloney, who moved up from the mini-bike ranks
and topped the field in the 200 B class in the AMA Western Hare
Scrambles Championship Series, scoring four wins in the five
rounds he contested. Skvarek received the ATVA award for a
performance that landed him the 90 CVT class in the ITP
Tires/Moose Racing AMA/ATVA National Championship.
Other special awards were presented to Jeff Fredette, AMA
Racing Vet/Senior Rider of the Year; Ken Marcou, ATVA Vet/Senior
Rider of the Year; and Thomas Brown, ATVA Amateur Rider of the
Year.
In addition to top competitors, the AMA Racing end-of-year
banquet honors those whose contributions to the sport are made off
the racetrack. Winners of these awards were National Enduro
Promotions Group, AMA Racing Off-Road Organizer of the Year;
Belleville Enduro Team Inc., Track Racing Organizer of the Year;
MX Sports LLC, Motocross Organizer of the Year; Red Bud Recreation
Inc., ATVA Organizer of the Year; and Mark Kariya, AMA Racing
Journalist of the Year.