American Motorcyclist Association Announces Year-End Award Nominees

The American Motorcyclist Association has announced the nominees for 2012 year-end awards for standout individuals and organizations involved in AMA-sanctioned competition. The awards will be presented at the 2012 AMA Championship Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Aladdin Event & Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio.

"The AMA, our promoting partners and chartered clubs work hard to provide the country’s leading competition and recreational events for motorcyclists and ATV riders," said AMA Vice President of Operations Jeff Massey. "Tens of thousands of dedicated racers and organizers pour their hearts and souls into this sport, so it’s with great significance that we single out those who have excelled to represent their fellow racers, their clubs, their AMA Districts and the Association itself with the utmost skill, sportsmanship and character. All of the riders nominated for these awards have contributed to the AMA’s mission of promoting and protecting the riding lifestyle."

The AMA’s highest competitive honors are the AMA Athlete of the Year awards that recognize two exceptional racers: one from AMA National Championship Series competition and one who has excelled at an AMA Grand Championship event. Both awards are selected by an independent group that includes members of AMA Congress, retired AMA Athletes of the Year from previous years, and previous winners of the AMA Media Award.

"The AMA Athletes of the Year for National Championship Series and AMA Grand Championship competition recognize exceptional levels of performance, dedication and sportsmanship, and it’s important that those riders are selected by an informed and diverse group of racing experts from across disciplines," Massey said. "We’re appreciative of the time and effort our voters invest in this process."

All award winners will be announced and recognized alongside hundreds of their fellow competitors from numerous disciplines at the 2012 banquet. The banquet will honor riders who finished in the top three in AMA National Championship Series and AMA Grand Championship events. All honored riders will be invited to the stage, with class champions receiving their personalized AMA national No. 1 plates.

The AMA Championship Banquet will include a reception, bike show, dinner, an awards banquet and a full slate of activities for riders and fans of all ages. In addition to awards and No. 1 plates, attendees will have a chance to win a number of door prizes, including a Kawasaki KLX110 minibike. On Friday evening, Jan. 18, all riders are invited to an open house at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in nearby Pickerington, Ohio.

AMA Rider Award Nominees

AMA Athlete of the Year: National Championship Series

Steward Baylor, Belton, S.C.: Champion, AMA National Enduro Championship Series Second
Taddy Blazusiak, Murrieta, Calif.: Champion, AMA EnduroCross National Championship Series
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky.: Champion, AMA Arenacross National Championship Series
Kurt Caselli, Palmdale, Calif.: Champion, AMA Hare & Hound National Championship Series
Cory Graffunder, Palm Desert, Calif.: Champion, AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series
Jeffery Lowery, St. Louisville, Ohio: 450cc Mod, 250cc Mod, 251-500cc DTX Champion, AMA Indoor Dirt Track National Championship Series
Pat Smage, Elkhorn, Wis.: Champion, AMA/NATC MotoTrials National Championship Series
Jedediah Haines, Fairfield, Pa.: AMA East Hare Scrambles Championship Series
AMA Athlete of the Year: Amateur Grand Championships
Zach Bell, Cairo, Ga.: AMA Motocross Horizon Award Winner, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s
JR Addison, Bucyrus, Ohio: AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award Winner, AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships
Andre Ochs, Fallbrook, Calif.: AMA Roadrace Horizon Award Winner, AMA Roadrace Grand Championships
Logan Cipala, Ellsworth, Wis.: AMA Hillclimber of the Year, AMA Hillclimb Grand Championships
Kyle Johnson, Twin Lake, Mich.: AMA Ice Racer of the Year, AMA Ice Race Grand Championships
ATV Athlete of the Year
Cody Gibson, Englewood, Tenn.: Pro-Am Production, Pro-Am Unlimited Champion, AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series
Nicholas Gennusa, Wall Township, N.J.: 450 A, 4-Stroke A, Production A Champion, AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series
Harold Goodman, Brownstown, Mich.: Pro, Pro-Am Champion, AMA ATV Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series
Scott Samuel, Westborough, Mass., Champion, AMA ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series
AMA Veteran/Senior Rider of the Year
Michael Grizzle, Dahlonega, Ga.: 45+ A Champion, AMA Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series
Kurt Nicoll, Temecula, Calif.: Vet 35+ Champion, AMA Endurocross Grand Championships
Gary Semics, Masters 50+ Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s
AMA Female Rider of the Year
Maria Forsberg, Lynnwood, Wash.: Women’s Champion, AMA Endurocross Championship Series
Mandi Mastin, Whitehouse, Ohio: Bronze Medal, FIM International Six Days Enduro
Molly Terry, Creve Coeur, Ill.: 450 Modified Mile Champion, Women’s Grand Champion, AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships
AMA Youth Rider of the Year
Adam Cianciarulo, Port Orange, Fla.: Super Mini 1 (12-15), Super Mini 2 (13-16) Champion, AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s
Sophia Olivera, Hollister, Calif.: Girls Champion, AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series
Tyler Scott, Emmaus, Pa.: 50cc DTX PW Shaft, 50cc DTX Champion, AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships
AMA Media Award
Dick Lague
Next Moto Champion
Moto Playground/The Pickle