Kit Palmer | December 2, 2015
The American Motorcyclist Association has announced 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.
All AMA members are invited to help select the winners of the competition categories, including the prestigious AMA Athlete of the Year honors. AMA members can vote at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Racing/RacerVote.aspx through Sunday, Dec. 13 at midnight. All AMA members who vote will be entered in a drawing for AMA-branded gear.
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.
2015 AMA Racer of the Year Nominees
AMA Athlete of the Year: National Championship Series
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.
