2006 AMA Sports Banquet 4th Annual - Las Vegas, NV Rio Suites & Casino November 17, 2006

AMA Sports Banquet Photo Galleris Awards Banquet Maxxis Endurocross AMA Pro Banquet

Maxxis sponsored rock crawlers made a single lap around the obstacle course, which proved to be even a challenge for these highly maneuverable and articulating machines.	John Dowd and Nathan Woods put on an incredible show as they bounced off each other several times going for the $10,000 Winners Pro Purse with Dowd holding on to the win followed by Woods.

Sunday Evening, the excitement continued back at Rio for the AMA Pro Racing Banquet, which honored those top Pro AMA Racing Athletes on motorcycles in disciplines ranging from motocross, supermoto, drag racing, hill climbs, and road racing. This year’s banquet was extra special for a few several reasons. For starters, it would be last time Ricky Carmichael would recognized for winning the national championship as he announced his retirement after seven national motocross titles, he was awarded the “Speed AMA Pro Racer of the Year.” Ricky will continue to race motorcycles occasionally while he pursues a career in NASCAR after signing a three year deal, and if this wasn’t a big enough change in his life, he is also preparing to become the father of twins in April, which will change his life forever.

Birch Creek Race Promoter, Carl Reynolds, presented Ricky Carmichael with a Rolex watch for winning "Speed AMA Pro Racer of the Year"	Steve Whitelock, AMA Supercross/Motocross Series Manager, announced the AMA Pro ATV Motocross News at the ATVA Motocross Banquet

Enough talk about motorcycles, the real reason I attended the AMA Pro Banquet was to get a taste of what ATV Pro Motocross will be apart of in 2007. For the first time in over 20 years of ATV racing, the AMA has officially announced ATV Pro Motocross Racing as professional form of racing, and the top three ATV motocross finishers will be recognized at the 2007 AMA Pro Banquet, and one outstanding ATV Pro rider will also be nominated for the top honor of “AMA Rider of the Year.” This is a huge step forward for ATV Racing, and it will surely open up even more opportunities for future involvement from outside sponsors and increased manufacturer support.

The addition of ATV Motocross Racing to AMA Pro Racing is just the first step in bringing ATV racing into the spotlight as there are plans for an indoor ATV Supercross Series in 2008 along with expansion of the Pro Class to include a 450cc and a all new 250cc (Lites Class), which will provide stepping stone for those up and coming riders. Also, it will finally attract the manufacturers to actually produce race ready 250cc ATVs, which are will closer resemble the TRX450R, YFZ450, and LTR450 than the currently available 300EX, Blaster, and LTZ250. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Suzuki be the first manufacturer to release little brother to the LTR450 QuadRacer at its June of 2007 Dealershow.

The future of ATV racing is looking brighter than ever before with both the AMA and WPSA actively promoting ATV racing like we have never seen with primetime television coverage, which has and will continue to bring ATV racing into the homes of millions of people around the world.

Now back to the present with the AMA Sports Award Banquet, which recognizes all forms of nationally sanctioned ATV racing. There were numerous top national ATV riders in attendance with all the class championship in attendance receiving a gold plated coins to commemorate there 2006 racing accomplishments. Immediately following the class champion awards ceremony, the award winners were finally announced after nearly a month of anticipation by those nominated.

All Three ATV Women & Pro ATV Champions were in attendance for the first time ever (left to right) Candance Lee, Traci Cecco, Angela Butler	Walsh Racecraft, Mike & Nate Walsh, made there first ever trip to Las Vegas to show there support for "Vet/Senior ATV Rider of the Year" Tommy Tantillo

With just three to five nominees in each category, it would be extremely difficult to declare just one winner that excelled above the rest, but just as in racing, there is only one winner and here is the list of 2006 award recipients and past years winners.

2006 Champions & Award Winners

ATVA ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Extreme Dirt Track Tim Farr Tim Farr secured his second consecutive Extreme Dirt Track Championship with three wins and six podium finishes. The EDT Championship was Tim’s eleventh ATV National Championship. Tim Farr has been a dominate force in the EDT and GNC Series for nearly two decades, but relentless back pain has forced Tim to discontinue motocross racing and focus on dirt track racing and managing his newly formed motocross racing team consisting of Josh Upperman and Mark Kendall. 2006 Nominees Previous Winners Tim Farr Joe Byrd Bill Ballance Wayne Matlock Frank Wilson 2005 2004 2003 John Natalie Jr Doug Gust Bill Ballance

ATVA AMATEUR RIDER OF THE YEAR

ATVA Motocross Natioals Josh Upperman Josh Upperman wrapped up his second straight Pro-Am Unlimited Championship, and for 2006, he added the Pro Production Championship as well. Between the two classes, Josh took home seventeen wins and only finished off the podium five times. With only three rounds of racing remaining, Josh moved up the Pro Class, and in his pro racing debut, he just missed the podium with a fourth place finish. He finished out the remaining pros races in the top 10, and he plans on focusing on the Pro Class in 2007. 2006 Nominees Previous Winners Josh Upperman Mitch Reynolds Tyler Lenig 2005 2004 2003 Adam McGill Mitch Reynolds Dustin Wimmer

ATVA FEMALE RIDER OF THE YEAR

Grand National Cross Country Traci Cecco Traci Cecco dominated the GNCC morning race program in 2006 by earning eight overall wins and ten podium finishes, which secured her the #1 plate. Traci also wrapped up her fifth Women’s National Championship on the Yamaha YFZ450. Her commitment to fitness and training has allowed her to excel on the track, and she is also a great sport ambassador to those up and coming female riders as well. 2006 Nominees Previous Winners Traci Cecco Angela Butler Candace Lee 2005 2004 2003 Heather Byrd Stephanie Parton Angela Butler

ATVA VET/SENIOR RIDER OF THE YEAR

ATVA Motocross Nationals Tommy Tantillo Tommy Tantillo Started has only been racing in the ATVA Motocross Nationals for the past three years, and he has already earned two national championships in the Senior Class. After winning eight consecutive Senior Class races in 2005 and claiming the championship, Tommy campaigned in both the Senior and Open A, in 2006. He was able to wrap up his second Senior Class Championship, and finished out the year in fourth place in the Open A Class. 2006 Nominees Previous Winners Tommy Tantillo Dave Simmons Ken Marcou 2005 2004 2003 Todd Harrell John Gallagher Scott Morris

ATVA YOUTH RIDER OF THE YEAR

Grand National Cross Country Walker Fowler Walker Fowler not only won his second Youth ATV Championship in 2006 and #1 Plate, he also won his third consecutive Youth Motorcycle Championship, and he was nominated for Youth Rider of the Year in both categories, which is an incredible accomplishment. At the GNCC season finale, Walker took home the overall win in the youth ATV & motorcycle, and he finished third in the newly created Youth Production Class in the morning. 2006 Nominees Previous Winners Walker Fowler Richard Lindsey Jesse Skvarek Kendall Webb 2005 2004 2003 Ricky Stair Ashton Laird Joel Hetrick

Complete List of AMA Sport Award Winners Link

Fighting for your Rights All Terrain Vehicle Association P.O. Box 800 Pickerington, OH 43147-0800