Coolbeth nominated for Athlete of the Year

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that newly crowned 2008 AMA Grand National Twins Champion Kenny Coolbeth is one of five nominees for the 2008 AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award.

The winner will be announced Nov. 23 at the 2008 AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Leeds, AL.

Dating back to 1976, the AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award is the highest honour bestowed on a professional motorcycle racer competing in AMA events. Past recipients of the award include such legendary names as Bob Hannah, Scott Parker, Kenny Roberts and Ricky Carmichael.

Coolbeth, from Morris, CT, earned his nomination by successfully defending his No. 1 plate in the AMA Flat Track Championship, where he claimed the GNC Twins title for the third year in a row. Coolbeth clinched the title at the Monticello, NY half-mile with two more events remaining on the calendar. Coolbeth won six races on the year and had four more podium finishes.

"It's an honour to have your name put out there," Coolbeth said. "There are a lot of great athletes who race motorcycles, and I feel honoured to stand up there with them. It would be really cool to win the award, and, if not, it's still a big accomplishment for me just to get nominated."

This is the second time Coolbeth has been nominated for the AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award. In addition to the 2006 and 2007 AMA GNC Twins titles, he also won the 2007 AMA GNC Singles title. Coolbeth turned Pro in 1993.