Spies nominated for Athlete of the Year

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announce that three-time AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies has been nominated for the 2008 AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award for his dominating title-winning performance in AMA Superbike.

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

The nominees so far announced for the 2008 award include AMA Flat Track Champion Kenny Coolbeth and Spies. In all, five of this year's top riders will be nominated for 2008 AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year.

In 2008, Spies won his third consecutive Superbike championship -- and his fifth AMA title since turning Pro in 2000 -- with a series of performances that saw him finish outside the top two only once. He notched a commanding 10 wins and eight second-place finishes, ending the season with a 95-point lead on his closest competition, teammate Mat Mladin.

"It's pretty cool that the AMA has taken it to the next level of involvement," Spies said. "That they watch the various athletes that they have on board and commend them for their efforts is good stuff."

Dating back to 1976, the AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award is the highest honour bestowed to 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.

This is the third time Spies has been nominated for the AMA SPEED Athlete of the Year award.