Carmichael wins record 'Athlete of Year' award.

Retiring AMA Supercross and Motocross champion Ricky Carmichael has won a record fifth 'Athlete Of The Year Award', at the 32nd Annual AMA Pro Racng Championship Banquet.

Held in Las Vegas and hosted by Jamie Little and Todd Harris, the star-studded evening honoured the leading riders who have competed in AMA Supercross, Motocross, Superbike, Flat Track, Supermoto and Hillclimb.

But the highlight of the banquet was the announcement of the AMA Pro Racing/SPEED Athlete of the Year Award recipient. Last year, Carmichael became the first rider in AMA history to win the Athlete of the Year Award for a fourth time and last night he became the first to win the award for a fifth time.

Carmichael and Team Makita Suzuki took six victories in the 2006 AMA Amp'd Mobile Supercross Series on the way to winning the championship title. During the 2006 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, Carmichael earned nine overall wins and clinched the title with two rounds remaining on the schedule. In 2006 he also set a record of 70 career AMA Motocross wins, and completed yet another record-setting, dual-championship year - the sixth of his career.

2006 marked RC's last season of full time motorcycle racing - the Floridian will still race part time in 2007, but also start a new career in NASCAR racing.

Carmichael was selected from a field of nominees including: Chris Carr, seven-time AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Champion and FIM World motorcycle land speed record holder; Josh Hayes, the 2006 AMA Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Champion; Ben Spies, the 2006 AMA Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited Champion; and Ryan Villopoto, the 2006 AMA Toyota Motocross Lites presented by FMF Champion.

The 2006 AMA Pro Racing Rookies of the Year were also recognised and included Sam Halbert, the AMA Ricky Graham Flat Track Rookie of the Year; Roger Lee Hayden, the AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year; and Ryan Villopoto, the AMA Supercross/Motocross Rookie of the Year.

The 2006 Motocross of Nations Champions - Team AMA USA members James Stewart, Ivan Tedesco, Ryan Villopoto and Carmichael - were also honoured.
Awards were also presented for Sportsman of the Year, Mechanical Excellence, and Advertising.

Infineon Raceway Vice President of Facilities Jere Starks was named the AMA Pro Racing Sportsman of the Year. Starks organised and promoted the 3J's benefit track days at Infineon Raceway, which raised $95,000 for injured racer Vincent Haskovec, who was in attendance.

The Award for Mechanical Excellence was presented to Rick Hobbs. Hobb's has built bikes for six championship riders, including the Erion Honda ridden by 2006 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Josh Hayes.