Di Mario Stars at Barber
S
everal champions were
crowned at the AMA Road
Race Grand Championship, held
at Barber Motorsports Park in
Birmingham, Alabama.
Chief among them was
Kentucky's Alessandro Di
Mario, who not only rang up
top finishes in the 400 Super-
stock Expert, Lightweight Twins
Superstock Expert and Light-
weight Twins Superbike Expert
classes at Barber, but he also
earned the prestigious 2022
AMA Nicky Hayden Road Race
Horizon Award—an award given
to the rider best suited to excel
at the professional level based
on attitude, enthusiasm and
performance.
"When I got the award, it was
pretty cool because not many
people get it," Di Mario said.
"I've looked up to [former win-
ners] Eric Wood and Anthony
Mazziotto. They're cool people
and fast. I want to be like them."
While Di Mario laid claim to
the expert classes, Landen
Smith made his mark at the
novice level, finishing first in the
400 Superstock Novice class.
The Florida native was presented
with the AMA Amateur Road
Racer of the Year award.
In the veteran landscape, Wil-
liam Posse of Moncure, North
Carolina, was awarded the AMA
Vet/Senior Road Racer of the
Year.
"Every season brings about
great competition and individual
performances," said AMA Road
Racing Manager Ken Saillant.
"Among many great riders this
year, Alessandro, Landen and
William proved to be more than
deserving of their awards."
CN
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER 8, 2022 P29
Alessandro Di Mario earned the
2022 AMA Nicky Hayden Road Race
Horizon Award at the AMA Road Race
Grand Championship, held at Barber
Motorsports Park in Birmingham,
Alabama.
PHOTO: SARA CHAPPELL
