By blue2bikes
November 3 2005

After a season of racing in this year’s British Superbike Championship, it came as no surprise that Gregorio Lavilla, the very likeable Spanish rider, took the honours for the “Riders’ Rider Trophy” during the awards ceremony yesterday at the NEC Motorcycle Exhibition.

The Inaugural Trophy is awarded on votes given by other riders in the championship - not surprisingly, every rider in the series voted for Gregorio.

An award that was fitting for a rider who was initially a stand by rider at the beginning of the season, and had never seen or ridden on most of the British circuits before.

James Buckingham, the British Superbike Cup rider who incidentally is without a ride at the present for 2006, was awarded the Steve Hislop Memorial Trophy as the “Young Rider of the Year”. The former holder Tommy Hill presented the young James with his trophy.

Not surprisingly, it was the MotorSport Vision circuits, presently owned by former racing driver Jonathan Palmer, that took most of the awards for the best circuits for viewing, action and atmosphere - voted for by the fans.

MSV are the leaders in this country for not only providing a clean and well prepared circuit, but for making the circuits more rider friendly with regards to safety and amenities.

Jonathan is continuing with plans for Snetterton in the future, and I am sure he will continue to be the world leader in track safety, and showing the public where he is spending money not only for the benefit of the riders, but for the benefit of all who visit his four circuits - Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Cadwell Park and Oulton Park.

Voted as the fans’ favourite “Rider of the Year”, Michael Rutter was in good spirits at the awards, and is looking forward to competing soon at the Macau Grand Prix - a circuit he told me, “I just love the place” - and I wish him well on hopefully another win at the event.

Michael is still without a ride as yet for the 2006 season, but I feel sure that a top team will encourage him to join them, and he will next year wear the number 1 plate he has fought so hard to get.

Awards announced were as follows -

Favourite British Superbike Championship team:
1 Rizla Suzuki
2 Airwaves Ducati
3 HM Plant Honda

BSB fans’ ‘Rider of the Year’:
1 Michael Rutter, HM Plant Honda
2 John Reynolds, Rizla Suzuki
3 Leon Haslam, Airwaves Ducati

BSB ‘Most Improved Rider’:
1 Leon Haslam, Airwaves Ducati
2 Ryuichi Kiyonari, HM Plant Honda
3 Gregorio Lavilla, Airwaves Ducati

Favourite rider to go out for a ride with:
John Reynolds

Favourite rider to ride pillion with:
John Reynolds

Favourite rider to invite round to dinner:
John Reynolds

Best track for viewing:
1 Silverstone
2 Brands Hatch / Cadwell Park
3 Mallory Park

Best track for action:
1 Silverstone
2 Brands Hatch
3 Oulton Park

Best track for atmosphere:
1 Silverstone
2 Brands Hatch
3 Cadwell Park

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To buy the photograph shown above, visit Raceline Photography