Trey Canard earns prestigious AMA Horizon Award

Hard-charging Trey Canard put his head down and won the final moto in the MX Lites A class, earning the national No. 1 plate and the prestigious AMA Horizon Award Saturday at the AMA Air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

The AMA Horizon Award is given to the amateur racer who shows the most promise for a successful professional career.  The 16-year-old from Elk City, Oklahoma, already has a signed contract and begins his pro career next week.

More than 30 national championship titles were awarded in ceremonies following the end of racing in the week-long Loretta Lynn's event.

In addition, Kevin Walker of Gray, Tennessee, earned the AMA  2007 Vet/Senior Motocrosser of the Year Award. Gray made Loretta Lynn's history on Friday by winning his 12th national title, in the Vet 35 Plus class, surpassing the 11 titles won by James Stewart and Mike Alessi. He notched his 13th national No. 1 plate Saturday in the Junior 25 Plus class.

The AMA named Jason Anderson of Edgewood, New Mexico, the 2007 Youth Motocrosser of the Year. Anderson won all three motos in the 85 (12-13) Stock class.

In accepting the Horizon Award, Canard was both gracious and humble.

"I want to thank everyone for cheering around the track," Canard said. "I don't know how much I deserve this. There were four guys out there (who may be just as deserving). I'm thankful."

Canard, who was signing autographs and giving away his goggles to fans after his final amateur race, said he tried to limit his mistakes during that race.

And he offered some advice for younger motocrossers: "Have fun with what you're doing," he said. "Give it 200 percent, everything you've got, and you'll be up there. "