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rights. riding. racing.

Published October 17th, 2003

AMA Awards Banquet

And a new identity for their 80th birthday

(Photos below)

The American Motorcyclist Association, founded in 1924, is designed to pursue, protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists, while serving the needs of its members. Saturday night at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, their sister organization AMA Pro Racing held their annual awards banquet. They also unveiled a brand new identity.

The night started off with a cocktail reception, and then moved to the Pavilion banquet hall for dinner, complete with stage, lighting, video screens, and music.

Champions from all disciplines of racing were crowned (for a list of award winners, please see below).

The AMA Pro Racing Speed Channel Athlete of the Year Award went to five-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr. Carr is the winningest active rider in the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship with 62-career national victories. “I’m shocked, and I’m thrilled,” Carr said when his name was announced as recipient of the most prestigious award presented. “This is like the Academy Award of motorcycling.”

Longtime AMA Motocross Manager Duke Finch was also given a special award of merit for his years of service with AMA Pro Racing. The Sportsman of the Year Award went to former AMA MX/SX Champion Jeff Ward, who returned to motorcycle racing this year at age 42, and won three races in the inaugural AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship.

Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Branden Jesseman, Grant Langston, and Brian Gray were presented with the primary mx awards.

The AMA unveiled a new ‘brand identity’ as well. AMA President Rober Rasor says “The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to reinforce its commitment to reaching even more motorcyclists and growing its membership and political strength, with the unveiling of a new branding project, a new logo, and the tagline, ‘rights. riding. racing.’”

“Throughout the AMA’s history, change has been necessary to ensure the Association’s future. We believe that the new AMA logo updates the Association’s identity, while respecting the history and traditions that have carried the AMA through its first 80 years.”

“The goal of the new tagline ‘rights. riding. racing.’ is to better convey the mission of the AMA. This message, accompanied by the new logo, will be delivered to the AMA’s traditional audiences, and also to new and young riders, minorities and women. We are one of the oldest motorcycling organizations in the world. But at the same time, we’re updating our identity and making sure we remain firmly in touch with the needs of riders in the 21st century.”

“The AMA is about protecting motorcyclists’ rights. The AMA is about riding and enjoying motorcycling. And the AMA is about good, competitive racing, whether you’re a young person just starting out or a top-level professional.”

2003 AMA Pro Racing Champions

Special Presentations

Chris Carr, AMA Pro Racing Speed Channel Athlete of the Year

Jeff Ward, AMA Pro Racing Sportsman of the Year

Steve McBride, AMA Pro Racing Award of Mechanical Excellence

AMA Supercross/Motocross Championships

Ricky Carmichael, AMA 250 Supercross

Ricky Carmichael, AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. 250 Motocross

Grant Langston, AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. 125 Motocross

Yamaha Motor USA, AMA U.S. MX/SX Championship Manufacturer of the Year

Brian Gray, AMA U.S. Motocross/Supercross Rookie of the Year

Branden Jesseman, AMA 125 East Supercross

James Stewart Jr., AMA 125 West Supercross

Josh Demuth, AMA National Arenacross

Ricky Carmichael & American Honda, AMA Pro Racing Cross Team Cup

Mike Gosselaar, AMA Supercross Series Crew Member of the Year

Mike Gosselaar, AMA Chevy Trucks US 250 MX Championship Crew Member of the Year

Mike Williamson, AMA Chevy Trucks US 125 MX Championship Crew Member of the Year

AMA Superbike Championships

Mat Mladin, AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike

American Suzuki, AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Manufacturer of the Year

Geoff May, AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Rookie of the Year

Jamie Hacking, AMA Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport presented by Shoei

Joshua Kurt Hayes, AMA Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock

Ben Spies, AMA Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme

Rich Oliver, AMA MBNA 250 Grand Prix

Mat Mladin, Yoshimura Suzuki, AMA Pro Racing Superbike Team Cup

Reg O’Rourke, AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship Crew Member of the Year

Henry Yokota, AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship Crew Member of the Year

John Asher, AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship Crew Member of the Year

Peter Doyle, AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship Crew Member of the Year

Jefferson Burks, AMA Pro Honda Oils US Supersport by Shoei Crew Member of the Year

Jeff Myers, AMA Pro Honda Oils US Supersport by Shoei Crew Member of the Year

Tom Houseworth, AMA Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Crew Member of the Year

Mitch Leonard, AMA Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series Crew Member of the Year

Steve Meyer, AMA Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series Crew Member of the Year

John Jackson, AMA Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series Crew Member of the Year

Paul Kahtava, AMA Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Crew Member of the Year

Stephen Rezmer, AMA Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Crew Member of the Year

Robert Ward, AMA MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series Crew Member of the Year

AMA Flat Track Championships

Chris Carr, AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track

Harley-Davidson, AMA Progressive Insurance US FT Manufacturer of the Year

John Raun Wood, Ricky Graham AMA U.S. Flat Track Rookie of the Year

Scott Scherb, AMA Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance

George Roeder II, AMA 750/1000 Hot Shoe

Thomas McGrane Jr., AMA 505 Expert Hot Shoe

Robert Lewis Jr., AMA HDSP 883 Hot Shoe

Logan Myers, AMA 505 Pro Sport Hot Shoe

Chris Carr, Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford Racing, AMA Pro Racing FT Team Cup

Ken Tolbert, AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. FT Crew Member of the Year

Al Simons, AMA Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Crew Member of the Year

AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championships

Ben Bostrom, AMA Supermoto

Red Bull HMC KTM Supermoto Racing Team 1, AMA Pro Racing Supermoto Team

Grant Langston, AMA Supermoto Unlimited

Red Bull HMC KTM Supermoto Racing Team 1, AMA Pro Racing Supermoto Unlimited Team

Mike Alessi, AMA Honda Red Riders Junior Supermoto Challenge

Red Bull HMC KTM Supermoto Racing Team 1, AMA Pro Racing Supermoto Team Cup

Rick Boyles, AMA Supermoto Crew Member of the Year

Mark Braunwalder, AMA Supermoto Crew Member of the Year

Gary Medley, AMA Supermoto Unlimited Crew Member of the Year

AMA U.S. Hillclimb Championships

David Watson, AMA U.S. 540 Hillclimb presented by Pace American Inc.

David Watson, AMA U.S. 800 Hillclimb presented by Pace American Inc.

Dan Watson, AMA US Hillclimb 800 presented by Pace American, Crew Member of the Year

Dan Watson, AMA US Hillclimb 540 presented by Pace American, Crew Member of the Year

AMA Prostar Championships

Chip Hunter, AMA Prostar 600 SuperSport

Chip Ellis, AMA Prostar Formula Superbike

Travis Davis, AMA Prostar Funnybike

Mark Underwood, AMA Prostar Hot Rod Cruiser

Charlie Farrar, AMA Prostar Pro Mod

Keith Dennis, AMA Prostar Pro Stock

Rickey Gadson, AMA Prostar Streetbike Shootout

Larry McBride, AMA Prostar Top Fuel

Thanks to Michele Rossi, AMA Pro Racing, and the AMA

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