Award Ceremony at Planet Hollywood Rounds out 2008 Monster Energy® Supercross Championship

From Live Nation

Las Vegas, NV – Sunday at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino’s Theater of Performing Arts the supercross community gathered for the year-end awards ceremony to recognize the championship’s top riders and industry personnel who enjoyed an exceptional 2008 Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, and FIM World Championship, season.

Team San Manuel’s Chad Reed, was crowned the AMA Supercross class championship after battling with Geico Honda’s Kevin Windham. Reed came into Las Vegas with a 10-point lead over Windham for the championship and put an exclamation point on his stellar season with a big win last night at Sam Boyd Stadium. Three new awards were added to this year’s ceremony: Entertainer-of-the-Year Award, Rising Star Award and the Rookie-of-the-Year Award.

Yamaha’s Josh Hill, won the Rookie-of-the-Year Award. Hill won one race and finished fifth overall. Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, winner of the Rising Start Award, finished second in the Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class, but also competed in three AMA Supercross class races, finishing in the top 10 in all three races including a second at Minneapolis’ Metrodome. Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class champion Jason Lawrence, won the Entertainer-of-the-Year Award.

“I’d like to congratulate all of the riders, sponsors and teams for making the 2008 Monster Energy® Supercross season a huge success,” said Dave Prater, director of supercross, Live Nation Motor Sports, Inc. “Chad Reed’s heroic finish to the season says a lot about his character and what this championship means to him and Team San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.”

Award Recipients AMA Recognition: Rob Dingman
FIM Recognition: John Gallagher
Team Manager of the Year: Forest Butler
Transport Driver of the Year: Brian Swead
100% Award: Thomas Hahn
Entertainer of the Year: Jason Lawrence
Team of the Year: Honda
Rising Star: Ryan Dungey
Western Regional AMA Supercross Lites class Champion: Jason Lawrence
Eastern Regional AMA Supercross Lites class Champion: Trey Canard
AMA Supercross Champion class Mechanic of the Year: Oscar Wirdeman
Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Shootout Champion: Ryan Dungey
Rookie of the Year: Josh Hill
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Top Privateer Award: Paul Carpenter
Lifetime Achievement: Selvaraj Narayana