| 2007
5th Annual AMA Sports &
AMA Pro Racing Banquets
Las Vegas, NV
Rio Suites & Casino
November 16-18, 2007
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2007
AMA / ATVA Las Vegas, NV Weekend Invasion
Maxxis Endurocross / AMA
Pro Racing Banquet Report |
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| The
Orleans Arena was packed with a sold out
crowd to witness the final round of the
Maxxis Endurocross |
After a late night at the awards banquet, it was
off to the Maxxis Endurocross on Saturday that was
held at the Orleans Arena. KTM’s David Knight
had won both previous Endurocross races in Colorado
and Oklahoma and was in the running for a $50,000
payday offered up by the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute
if he were to sweep the series. A sweep seemed like
an easy challenge for Knight considering his past
two wins and especially because last year’s
champion, John Dowd did not even qualify for the
main event, but that was not the case. Knight’s
hopes were crushed by his teammate, the young Polish
rider Taddy Blazusiak. Taddy went for the pass in
the final laps when Knight decided to take an outside
line going into a corner. Blazusiak blew by, much
to Knight’s surprise. Knight, who apparently
was expecting things to go a bit differently, showed
his displeasure by ghost riding his bike over a
10-foot high wall of tractor tires at the end of
the race. Even though there was a lot on the line
for Knight, and emotions have a tendency to be overwhelming
when things don’t go as planned, Knight’s
little display is one those things that perhaps
should have stayed in Vegas.
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2007 Maxxis
Endurocross Podium (left to right)
Mike Ahola, David Knight, Taddy Blazusiak
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| AMA
Pro ATV Racing's
Joe Byrd, Jeremy Lawson, Pat Brown |
On Sunday evening it was time for the AMA Pro
Awards Banquet. This was the first time in the
history of the AMA Awards Banquet that the Pro
ATV MX class awards were to be combined with the
two-wheeled community’s awards ceremony
which only goes to show just how much the sport
of ATV racing has grown in the last year. When
it was time for the AMA ITP/Moose Racing Pro ATV
MX Championships, the riders were called to the
stage. Yamaha’s Pat Brown took third place.
“My season went really great. Being out
here with all the AMA guys was really fun. The
racing was pretty intense, the three of us battled
pretty much every weekend.” Stated Brown
in regards to his competitors, Jeremy Lawson and
Joe Byrd. Lawson, who claimed second for the season
was pleased with his ranking. “I’m
happy, my family is happy and Honda is happy.”
He stated.
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NPG's
John Ayers & Carrie Coombs presented
the Motocross Champions Grant Langston,
Ryan Villopoto, and Joe Byrd gold rings
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Joe Byrd, who was awarded a gold ring with two
diamonds representing his 2nd consecutive National
Championship, was very pleased as well. “It’s
an honor to be up here.” Stated Byrd. “These
guys (Jeremy and Pat) were really going strong
all season so I’m just glad I came out on
top.” Byrd also got the opportunity to plug
his riding school while on stage. “As a
matter of fact, Jeremy (Lawson) was a student
of mine a while back…I think I may have
taught him too well!” Joe said jokingly.
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| Dasa
Racing's Dan Lamey along with WebCam, Inc's
Laurie Dunlap were in attenance to show
support for Joe Byrd |
Yamaha's
Pat Brown claimed the third spot in 2007
and he aarrived with Ashley Carden |
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| Ricky
Carmichael was presented a special #1 Plate
for his incredible career |
On a side note, Lites class sensation Ryan Villopoto
was named SPEED Athlete of the Year. The Kawasaki
backed racer has had a phenomenal season taking
the Lites class championship, and being the only
racer to ever win two motos in coveted Motocross
of Nations on a Lites bike. "Last year I watched
Ricky get the award, and it's just awesome to be
one of those guys.'' Villopoto said. "Obviously
all those guys had good seasons, too, and I'm just
honored to be chosen.''
With the 2007 season finally at a close, most
racers will be taking some well-deserved time
off. Once they are rested, it will be back to
the rigors of training and preparing for their
goals of success in the fast approaching 2008
season.
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