Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1330864
IN THE WIND P42 AMA Announce Awards T he AMA announced the winners of the 2020 AMA Racing and Organizer Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations that exceled in AMA-sanctioned competition and recreational activity during the calendar year. AMA members helped select the winners of certain racing categories, including the AMA Athlete of the Year and the AMA Racer of the Year awards. Multi-time AMA GNCC Champi- on Kailub Russell captured more than 31 percent of the vote to win AMA Athlete of the Year, National Championship Series. Russell is the all-time leader in two-wheel GNCC victories. Stilez Robertson, the 2020 Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award winner, picked up AMA Athlete of the Year, Grand Championships. Ryder DiFran- cesco is the AMA Youth Racer of the Year. All three riders collected nearly half of the votes in their cat- egory. Katie Benson, also representing the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, edged out fel- low motocrosser Jordan Jarvis and AMA GNCC Champion Becca Sheets for AMA Female Racer of the Year. GNCC racer Robby Norwood narrowly beat MXer Nicholas Hayes for AMA Veteran/Senior Racer of The Year. "We are proud to recognize the winners of the 2020 AMA Racing and Organizer Awards," AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier said. "The past year was a trying time for all, and these winners overcame unprecedent- ed challenges and managed to excel." Recreational riding organizers were recognized in road-riding and off-road categories, as were volunteers in three categories— rights, riding and racing." The racing and volunteer awards are usually announced during the AMA Championship Banquet. The 2020 AMA Cham- pionship Banquet and AMA Mo- torcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony—which together are the AMA Championship Week- end event—were canceled due to restrictions related to the corona- virus pandemic. CN 2020 AMA ORGANIZER AWARD WINNERS Motocross Organizer of the Year MX Sports Inc., Morgantown, WV Off-Road Racing Organizer of the Year National Enduro Promotions Group, Eaton Rapids, MI Track Racing Organizer of the Year Pioneer Motorcycle Club, Waterford, OH AMA Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year Tour of Honor, Auburn, CA AMA Recreational Off-Road Organizer of the Year Twin Cities Trail Riders, Jordan, MN AMA Club of the Year Metropolitan Sports Committee, East Durham, NY AMA Media Award MPG Creative Group — Motoplayground AMA Volunteer of the Year — Rights Tod Peterson, Stanwood, WA AMA Volunteer of the Year — Riding Don Gomo, Rockville Centre, NY AMA Volunteer of the Year — Racing Gary Spencer, Albany, OH Kailub Russell won the 2020 AMA Athlete of the Year.