Jeff Guciardo
RECOGNIZING THE BEST OF 2013
AMA Championship Banquet Awards 2013 AMA No. 1 Plates The country’s best amateur motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle racers were honored at the AMA Championship Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Aladdin Event & Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio. The event recognized the top racers from 2013 national championship series and AMA Grand Championship events. AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman congratulated the attendees and thanked them for their contributions to the sport of motorcycling. “Each of you is here tonight because you love competition,” said Dingman, addressing a crowd of more than 700 competitors, family and fans. “You, and the hundreds of thousands of AMA racers who came before you, make this sport what it is today. Since 1924, racers of all skill levels have competed in AMAsanctioned events and have contributed to the collective wisdom, passion and talent that has shaped our sport.”
Laurette Nicoll and Greg White emceed the banquet, which awarded national championship trophies, placement medals and AMA No. 1 plates. Special awards included AMA Athlete of the Year honors. The AMA’s highest competitive honors, the AMA Athlete of the Year Awards, recognize a rider from each of the two categories of national championship competition: AMA National Championship Series and AMA Grand Championships. The late Kurt Caselli, the overall champion of the 2013 AMA FMF/GPR Hare & Hound National Championship Series, won the AMA National Championship Series Athlete of the Year Award. The 2013 title was Caselli’s third overall AMA Hare & Hound National Championship. Caselli, who was poised to transition to world motorcycle rally racing in 2014, passed away while competing in the Baja 1000 in November 2013. “On behalf of myself and the family, we
AMA Championship Banquet Awards
In addition to the AMA Athlete of the Year honors, other special awards included: AMA Media Award: Mark Kariya ~ A JC Motors Company ~
Motocross Organizer of the Year: Feld Motor Sports
Off-Road Organizer of the Year: East Coast Enduro Association Track Racing Organizer of the Year: American Sportbike Racing Association
AMA WELCOMES TEXAS GNC MOTOCROSS IN 2014
Texas Series Includes Premier Events
For more than 40 years, Texas racers have been competing in GNC motocross. In 2014 these events, held at Oak Hill Raceway in Decatur, Texas, will be AMA sanctioned. “These are some of the best-run motocross events in the country, and with years of experience behind them, the team at Oak Hill Raceway just keeps
ATV Organizer of the Year: Michael Coburn Racing Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year: Laconia Motorcycle Week
Recreational Off-Road Organizer of the Year: Tri County MC AMA Club of the Year: Polka Dots Michigan
getting better,” says AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. “Many racers who have honed their skills at this venue have gone on to successful pro careers, and we are excited to see these events join the AMA sanctioning calendar for 2014.” After kicking off with the GNC Warm Up Race on Feb. 9-10, the season hits full stride with the 38th Annual FMF GNC Motocross Final, presented by Dunlop, March 12-16. “Joining forces with the AMA will make racing stronger and provide for a more