AMA Press Releases Racing Rights

AMA Announces Nominees For 2023 AMA Racing Awards

Voting is now open for AMA Athlete of the Year categories

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Jan. 23, 2024) — After a year packed with high-octane racing at all levels, the American Motorcyclist Association unveiled the nominees for the 2023 AMA Racing Awards. These awards recognize the remarkable achievements of riders who showcased unparalleled excellence in both AMA-sanction competition and recreational activity throughout the preceding year.

“Reflecting on the extraordinary racing over the past year, we cannot wait to celebrate the racers and organizers who elevated the competitive landscape in 2023,” said AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier. “We congratulate the 2023 national and regional champions and look forward to honoring the efforts of those who contributed to furthering the mission of the AMA this past year.”

AMA members may now vote to help select the winners in competition categories, including the AMA Athlete of the Year awards. To vote, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AMARacerOfTheYear. Voting closes on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at midnight, so be sure to cast your ballots before then.

Award winners will be announced shortly after voting closes.

2023 AMA Racing Award Nominees

AMA Athlete of the Year: National Championship

  • Trystan Hart – TKO Pro Champion.
  • Dante Oliveira – NGPC Pro Champion; member of ISDE Trophy Team.
  • Max Ruml – Speedway National Champion.
  • Dalton Shirey – Hare and Hound Pro Champion (five wins).
  • Patrick Smage – MotoTrials Pro Champion (won six of eight rounds).
  • Nicky Reimer – Supermoto Open Pro Champion (won seven of 10 rounds).
  • Grant Baylor – Pro1 National Enduro Champion.

AMA Athlete of the Year: Grand Championship

  • Evan Renshaw – 2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner; national champion in 250cc Open Singles (12+), Open Heavyweight and 450 Production classes; swept all four of his half-mile events during the final day of amateur competition.
  • Daxton Bennick – 2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award winner; national champion in the Open Pro Sport class and finished on the podium for the 250 Pro Sport class; finished second in SX Futures series.
  • Trenton Keesee – 2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Road Race Horizon Award, national champion in the 400 GP Expert and ASRA 400 Expert classes and earned podium finishes in the 400 GT Expert, AMA 400 Expert, 400 Supersport Expert and 400 Superbike Expert classes.

ATV Athlete of the Year

  • Charles Runyon – ATV Hillclimb Racer of the Year; champion in ATV Open and ATV 450 classes.
  • Mason Jackson – ATV Motocross Pro-Am and Pro Sport Champion.

AMA Veteran/Senior Racer of the Year

  • Jeff Emig – AMA Motocross Vet/Senior Rider of the Year; national champion in the Senior (40+) and Masters (50+) classes.
  • Antal Halasz – AMA Vet/Senior Road Racer of the Year; national champion in the AMA 1000 Supersport V40 Expert class.
  • Andrew Puckett – AMA Hare and Hound Pro Vet (35+) national champion (won six of six rounds).
  • David Tyo – AMA Flat Track Vet/Senior Racer of the Year; national champion in the Senior (40+) and Super Senior (50+) classes.
  • Jeff Robbins – Motocross ATV national champion in the Vet (30+) and Senior (40+) classes.

AMA Youth Racer of the Year

  • Klark Robbins – AMA Motocross Youth Rider of the Year; national champion in the 125 Jr. (12-17) and Schoolboy 1 classes.
  • Ethan Cornell – Champion in the 90 Auto (8-13), 70 Open (6-11), 70 Auto (6-11) and 70 Shifter classes in ATV Motocross.
  • Gage Dunham – AMA Arenacross champion in 85cc (9-12) and Mini Sr. (12-15) classes, adding a second-place finish in the Supermini (12-16) class.
  • Avery Dreher – MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion (won six of 10 rounds).
  • Jack Brucks – AMA Flat Track Youth Racer of the Year; national champion in the 85cc Production (9-13), 85cc Modified (9-13) and 85cc Modified Supermini (12-15) classes.
  • Owen Parrish – AMA Youth Hillclimb Racer of the Year; national champion in the Mini-Junior class, and second-place finisher in the Open Junior and 65cc classes.

AMA Female Racer of the Year

  • Makenzie Tricker – NEPG Women’s Elite national champion (six race wins).
  • Mikayla Moore – Build, Train, Race with MotoAmerica undefeated champion.
  • Ava Silvestri – NGPC Women’s AA champion in addition to a second-place finish in the Pro Women class.
  • Rachael Archer – AMA Sprint Enduro Women’s Pro champion; competes in World Trials Championship and TDN.
  • Kinsey Osborn – AMA ATVMX Women’s Motocross champion with an undefeated season (nine race wins).
  • Maddie Hoover – MotoTrials Women’s champion (won all eight rounds of the series). Competed in FIM Women’s Trial World Championship, finishing seventh.
  • Kyleigh Stallings – National champion in the Women’s class at the AMA National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s.