Observed Trials Champ Patrick Smage takes top honors at AMA Sports Banquet

Patrick Smage, the first-year pro who nailed six wins and four second-place finishes in 10 rounds of the series--never finishing worse than second all year--won the AMA Sports Athlete of the Year Award at the gala event. In addition to his dominating performance in the U.S. series, he was a key part of Team USA's impressive sixth place finish--its best in years--at the international Trials des Nations, held this year on the Isle of Man.

"I can't believe it,'' Smage said after collecting his trophy. "I saw the list of names of people who had won this award before, and it was people I had been reading about in magazines for years. I thought I had no chance. I had actually sat down because I thought I wouldn't have a chance."

Smage bested a tight group of finalists for the top AMA Sports award, which included:

• AMA Motocross Horizon Award winner Trey Canard of Elk City, Oklahoma.
• AMA Road Rading Horizon Award winner Zac Chapman of Weatherford, Texas.
• AMA National Enduro Champion Mike Lafferty.
• AMA National Hare & Hound Champion David Pearson.

Smage, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, arrived as a pro in the AMA/NATC Observed Trials Championship after the retirement of Geoff Aaron, who dominated the series for nearly a decade. His mastery of the challenging world of trials was evident in his finishes, with only two other riders--Cody Webb and Chris Florin, both with more pro-level experience--being able to beat Smage.

In addition, he was impressive in international competition at the Trial des Nations, riding a 125cc machine against others on 250cc bikes, because he was not yet 18. Others on the Team USA incuded: Florin, Webb and Will Ibsen.

Taking top honors as the AMA Sportsman of the Year was Kurt Caselli, captain of the 2007 International Six Days World Junior Team, which won their division at the prestigous international enduro competiton. He wasn't in Vegas to accept his award, as he was in Chile, competing in this year's ISDE, so fellow 2007 ISDE team member and Hare & Hound Champion David Pearson accepted for him.

"Kurt really deserves this award," Pearson said. "He'd been over to the six days six times, and he didn't give up. He had a dream of putting together a team to win, and he pretty much did just that. All the team members from last year won their championships this year, so he must have picked a good team."

The best on four wheels for the evening was eight-time AMA Grand National Cross Country ATV racer Bill Ballance who was named ATVA Athlete of the Year.

"I'm living the dream right now, and it's pretty cool,'' he said. "Thanks to everyone. I hope to keep this ball rolling."

There were plenty of other big winners during the formal dinner ceremony at the Rio All Suites Resort and Casino, including:

• Casey McKibbon, of Orrville, Ohio, ATVA Amateur Rider of the Year.
• Wormen's National MX Champion Tarah Gieger, AMA Sports Women Rider of the Year
• ATVA MX Champ Angela Butler, ATVA Women Rider of the Year.
• 40-plus class and Open A ATVA Champ Tommy Tantillo, ATVA Vet/Senior Rider of the Year.
• All-time winngest AMA Air Nautiques Amateur Motocross National Champ Kevin Walker, AMA Sports Senior/Vet Rider of the Year.
• Dual ATV and motorcycle amateur MX Champion Walker Fowler, AMA Sports Youth Rider of the Year.
• ATVA 90 Modified 8-15 Champ Jeff Rastrelli, ATVA Youth Rider of the Year.
• John Dains' website, mxtransponder.com, AMA Sports Website of the Year
• MX promoter 4-P Promotions of Walnut, Illinois, AMA Sports Motocross Organizer of the Year
• Racer Productions, ATVA Organizer of the Year.
• Adam Campbell, AMA Sports Photojournalist of the Year.
• AMA Grand National Cross Country Championship promotor Racer Productions, Off-road Organizer of the Year.
• Chet Burks Productions, AMA Sports Broadcast Journalist of the Year
• Speedway racing journalist Ryan Evans, Print Media Journalist of the Year.
• International Motorcycle Land Speed Racing promoters BUB Enterprises, AMA Sports Track Racing Organizer of the Year.