|
|
| |
|
October 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
|
Graves
Motorsports' Tommy Aquino is
2008 AMA Road Race Rookie of
the Year
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida--AMA Pro
Racing is proud to announce that
Graves Motorsports Yamaha rider
Tommy Aquino is the 2008 AMA
Road Race Rookie of the Year. In
his first full professional
season, Aquino finished 14th
overall in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship
presented by Shoei.
AMA Road Race Rookie of the Year
honors are awarded to the
eligible rookie rider with the
most points accumulated in one
of the eligible AMA professional
road-race classes, Superbike,
Supersport, Formula Xtreme or
Superstock.
"Tommy had an exceptional year
in the AMA Pro Honda Oils
Supersport Championship, and
we're happy to recognize those
efforts with the AMA Road Race
Rookie of the Year Award," said
AMA Pro Racing Special Projects
Manager Bill Syfan.
"This young
man put in a number of solid
rides against some of America's
best road racers, and
established himself as a
possible front-runner for 2009.
We would like to congratulate
Tommy, the Aquino family and
Graves Motorsports on a
successful season."
Aquino's closest competitor for
the honor was Seth Starnes, who
was competing in the AMA
Superstock Series presented by
Dynojet. Going into the last
round at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca in Monterey, California,
Starnes has accumulated 121
class points to Aquino's 111.
Aquino, however, wrapped up his
year with a 7th in the
Supersport race, while Starnes
carded a 19th in Superstock. The
additional points gave Aquino
the edge he needed to claim the
award by 2 points, 135 to
Starnes' 133.
"It's exciting to win this
award," said Aquino, who's from
Woodland Hills, California. "I
only completed seven races
(because he turned 16 in May)
and got top 10 in most of them.
I knew everybody would be a lot
better than me at first, but it
worked out and was fun."
Aquino added that a big
difference between the amateur
and pro ranks was the intensity.
"I learned that in the pros,
everybody up front is really
aggressive, and I had to be
aggressive to do well," he said.
"You also have more confidence,
though, because you know you're
racing around people who know
what they're doing, so close
riding and aggressive riding
isn't as dangerous."
Aquino had a successful amateur
career before he made the leap
to the pro ranks this year.
Aquino was the 2007 WERA
National Champion in the 600
Supersport class and finished
second in 600 Superbike Expert
last year.
Aquino began riding dirt bikes
at age 4 and has been road
racing since he started on a
YSR50 at age 9. Although he
still rides motocross and
occasionally races supermoto,
Aquino says he's focused on road
racing and being competitive
racing 600cc motorcycles next
year.
|
|
About AMA Pro Racing
AMA Racing is the leading sanctioning body
for motorcycle sport in the United States.
AMA Pro Racing series include the AMA Toyota
Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the
AMA Superbike Championship presented by
Parts Unlimited, the AMA Flat Track
Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship
and the AMA Pro ATV Championship.
|
|
|
| |
|
