Thornton wins AMA Horizon Award

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- Miles Thornton, a 15-year-old motorcycle road racer from West Point, GA, says that lining up against the best amateur riders in the country is inspiring. Enough so that it pushed him to win the prestigious American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Road Race Horizon Award for 2009 at the AMA Racing Road Race Grand Championships held Sept. 10-13 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH.

Thornton's performance was impressive all weekend. He won the Middleweight Superbike class, finished second in Middleweight Supersport, and took first in the 250GP class that ran as part of the U.S. Grand Prix Riders Union (USGPRU) program. By winning the 2009 AMA Road Race Horizon Award -- which honours each year the amateur road racer poised to make an impact in the pro ranks -- Thornton demonstrated that has what it takes to excel at the professional level.

"It's crazy," said Thornton, who was thrilled to win the same award previously won by the likes of former AMA Superbike Champion and current World Superbike racer Ben Spies. "I can't even believe it. I never thought I'd go this far racing as a little kid. I'm so happy, and I hope to follow in (Spies') footsteps."

The field that Thornton raced against didn't include solely amateurs. Some pros competed as well. While their results weren't included in the amateur national championship tallies, the No. 1 plates that go with them, or the AMA Horizon Award, the pro-licensed riders were welcomed at this year's AMA Racing Road Race Grand Championships because the event also served as a regional round of the Championship Cup Series (CCS).

One of those pros was Brian Stokes, the 2003 AMA Road Race Horizon Award winner and grand marshal of the 2009 event. Stokes won several classes at the event, doing battle with Thornton in both Middleweight Superbike and Middleweight Supersport.

Other special awards presented at the event included the Vet/Senior Award, the Youth Award and the Top Novice Award.

Sam Gaige from Rochester, NY, won the Vet/Senior Award. Gaige won Unlimited Grand Prix, Middleweight Supersport and Unlimited Superbike. He finished second in Unlimited Supersport, Middleweight Supersport and Middleweight Grand Prix.

Jake Lewis was the top youth rider. The 13-year-old from Princeton, KY won the Expert 125 GP class, finished third in Lightweight GP and finished second in the 125 GP class in the USGPRU program.

Scott Stall from Huxley, IA won the Top Novice Award. Stall had a stellar weekend at the AMA Racing Road Race Grand Championships, bringing home first-place trophies in the novice divisions for Heavyweight Supersport, Middleweight Supersport and Middleweight GP. Stall also finished second in Middleweight Supersport and Unlimited Grand Prix and third in Unlimited Supersport.