Villopoto is the AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year

Monster Energy Kawasaki's Villopoto passed the biggest test of his young career this season after a season-long one-on-one battle with Ben Townley in AMA Toyota Motocross Lites, an earlier AMA Supercross Lites West title, and a stunning performance at the Motocross of Nations, held in Budds Creek, Maryland, against the best riders in the world. In that contest, he won both both his motos en route to leading Team USA to victory, besting a field on a 250 in his final moto that included riders on larger 450s.

"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.''

Of all his accomplishments this year, Villopoto can easily pick the standout.

"It's gotta be the whole outdoor season, because of racing with Ben," he said. "It was something I'd never experienced before. It was something that was pretty gnarly, and you knew every weekend it was going to be me and him."

Winning the AMA Pro Racing Sportsman of the Year award was three-time AMA Motocross Champion and AMA Supermoto standout Doug Henry, whose constant work for motorcycling has made him an ambassador for the sport. After being injured in a pre-season Supermoto race in Daytona Beach this year that put him out of the season, Henry has continued to come to races, meeting with fans and bringing a positive force to the sport.

Accepting the award for Henry, who was unable to attend, was Yamaha Race Manager Keith McCarty.

"I think Doug has inspired everyone he's come in contact with, from his teammates at Yamaha to everyone who's who's ever met him at the track," McCarty said. "I know he'd be thankful and happy to get this award. It would mean a lot to him."

Taking home the AMA Pro Racing Award of Mechanical Excellence was MX/SX tuning ace Mitch Payton, team owner of Monster EnergyPro Circuit Kawasaki team. A legend of the sport who has been behind some of the winningest riders in the history of the sport, Payton has provided the motive force for the likes of Jeremy McGrath, Nathan Ramsay, Grant Langston and Ryan Villopoto.

Also honored at the gala banquet was MX legend Ricky Carmichael, the winningest rider in the history of the sport, with more than 150 wins and 17 championships, who retires after winning his final race at this year's Motocross of Nations.

"I've been blessed," Carmichael said. "I'll never forget where I've come from, the peole who made me and the sport who made me. This has been something I really enjoyed doing, and I really enjoy it now, racing this past year part time. Those were some of the best races I've ever had, and I'm really fortunate to have raced with some great racers.