AMA Superbike and Superstock Champion Ben Spies has been nominated for the prestigious AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year award. The Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider, who retained his SBK title this year after a season-long battle with team-mate Mat Mladin, is amongst five hopefuls in line for the award, which will be presented this Sunday at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.
The 33rd Annual AMA Pro Racing Championship Awards Banquet will be held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino on Sunday evening, Nov. 18. The celebration held each year wraps up AMA Racing’s professional championship season honoring the top riders in American motorcycle racing. Stars from AMA Motocross, Superbike, Flat Track, Supercross, Supermoto and Hillclimb will be honored. New for 2007, the evening will also see the recognition of the top riders from AMA Pro ATV Racing. As has become tradition, the evening will conclude with the presentation of the AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year Award. Last year Motocross/Supercross star Ricky Carmichael became the first rider in AMA history to win the award for the fifth time.