Marshall named AMA Dirt-Track Horizon Award winner

July 5 – It all came down to the Mile.

And when the dust settled on the biggest week in dirt-track at the AMA Progressive Insurance Dirt Track Grand Championships Saturday, Ricky Marshall (left) came out on top in the battle for the event's top honor.

The AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award, given to the rider with the best chance of a pro career on the horizon, went to Marshall, of Solon, Ohio, by virtue of his two overall Grand Champion titles — and a perfect 1-1-1-1 score in one class.

But while Marshall may have won by the end of the day Saturday, the Horizon Award was still up for grabs when another hot day dawned at the Springfield Fairgrounds that morning.

The award typically goes to the top amateur expected to be eligible to turn pro. And this time around at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, a full week of racing on half-mile, short-track, TT and mile tracks came down to a short list of three riders vying for the honor. All three were pretty much on equal footing Saturday morning: Sam Halbert of Graham, Wash., Jesse Janisch of Hartford, Wis., and Marshall.

Coming into the mile, Halbert found himself atop the standings in 450 Modified, third in 250 Modified Premier and lower in the standings in 505 Modified Premier. In the end, his races were good enough for second in 450 Mod, fourth in 250 Mod and 12th in 505 Mod.

Janisch came to the mile leading 250 DTX, with a perfect 1-1-1 win record, needing only finish the race to win the overall. Facing a tougher challenge in 505 Modified Premier, he'd need to make up 16 points from third place over leader John Lewis. And in 250 Modified Premier, his second place was 9 points down on Lewis. On the track, a second-place finish in 250 DTX clinched that title, while a fourth-place finish in 505 put Janisch third and a third in 250 Mod had him second.

And then there was Marshall — holding a perfect win record in 600 Modified, and a second place in 505 Modified Premier, 5 points behind John Lewis. In 250 Modified Premier, he was running lower in the standings.

Looking extremely competent on the mile, Marshal took first by a wide margin in both 505 Modified and 600 Modified (in which he finished with a perfect 1-1-1-1 score), to take Grand Champion titles in both. And a fourth-place finish in 250 mod put him tenth in that class.

As the only rider in the running for the Horizon award to take two titles, Marshall showed the will to win. The fact that he was the only of those riders to post perfect finishes in a class was icing on the cake.

The day also saw other Grand Champions crowned:

• John Lewis in 250 Mod Premier sponsored by Arai Helmets

• Nichole Cheza in 400 Mod

• Carter Myers in 450 Mod Premier sponsored by American Supercamps

• Blake young in 505 Modified Premier sponsored by VP Racing Fuels

• Kevin Snyder in Vet 30 Singles Premier

• Royal Adderson in Senior 40-plus Open

• Jerry Stokes in Super Senior 50-plus Open

• Johnny Cooper in 18-plus Open Twins sponsored by Cometic Gaskets

• Logan Myers in Pro Sport 505 sponsored by AMA Pro Racing

• Royal Adderson in Senior 40-Plus Open

• Additionally, Kevin Snyder of Taylorville, Ill., was named AMA Vet/Senior Dirttracker of the Year

Two riders also stood out this year as amateurs to watch, riders who could very likely be atop the short list for the Horizon Award a year from now: Lewis and King. 

Expect big things from Lewis, who at 14 has another year to hone his skills. But even two years from turning pro, Lewis walked away from the Grand Championships with titles in 250 Mod Premier. And King, who shows all the promise you'd expect from the son of a pro dirt-tracker, looked exceptional as well. Had he competed on the mile, he could very well have gone home with a championship or two.

Look for some stellar battles next year if both riders return to the Grand Championships.

© 2003, American Motorcyclist Association