Welcome to the second annual Moto Awards, the online source of recognising great achievements and accolades in motorcycling each and every year before we turn the page into the new year.

Split up into road and dirt categories, MotoOnline.com.au awards the over- and under-achievers in our Moto Awards feature to cap off our Features section in an entertaining year of two-wheel action.

Enjoy!

DIRT AWARDS:

INTERNATIONAL RIDER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Dungey
With the AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships to his credit as a rookie, you simply can’t look past the Rockstar Makita Suzuki young gun. Next year will be more difficult, however the Dunge has what it takes to repeat all over again!

NATIONAL RIDER OF THE YEAR
Jay Marmont
For the second year running, Jay Marmont takes the cake for being the National Rider Of The Year. After clinching a memorable third MX Nationals title in a row, the CDR Rockstar Yamaha rider went on to finish second in Super X as top Aussie.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ryan Dungey
Yep, he’s already won the International Rider Of The Year award, but to cap it off, he was a rookie…

RACE SERIES OF THE YEAR
Rockstar Energy MX Nationals
This year’s Rockstar Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, had to be one of the best on record. With names such as Marmont, Mackenzie, Ferris, Waters, Simmonds and co. leading the charge, our national series was first class.

MOTORCYCLE OF THE YEAR
2011 KTM 350 SX-F
Yep, once again we’re going to hand the 2010 Motorcycle Of The Year award to a 2011 model in the KTM 350 SX-F. It was launched in June and received rave reviews, as you can see here. It also won the MX1 Motocross World Championship in the hands of Antonio Cairoli. We love it, so go and try it for yourself!

TOP TEAM
JDR Motorex KTM
When it comes to Aussie Motocross and Supercross, the JDR Motorsports operation is the absolute standout on the presentation front. In its first year as KTM’s factory effort, PJ Larsen won the Lites title in the MX Nationals and has provisionally been crowned Super X Lites Champion too. To cap it off, the team’s going global for 2011 with a full-on American outfit as well.

BEST EVENT
Coolum MX Nationals
With the title on the line, the MX Nationals season wrapped up in style with an epic two-day finale. We saw champions crowned across all classes, with a host of mixed formats offering excitement plus to round out the series. Bring on next year!

BIGGEST CRASH
Reed and Stewart clash in Phoenix
It may not have been the biggest crash of the year, however the end result was certainly a huge deal for Aussie fans. Chad Reed and James Stewart came together in the Phoenix main event, the clash forcing Reed out with a broken hand before it was later discovered that Stewart broke the scaphoid bone in his wrist. Stewart’s earlier crash with Kyle Partidge was also a big one, and we can’t forget Ryan Villopoto’s season-ending crash at St. Louis!

GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Andrew McFarlane’s death
The news that Andrew McFarlane rocked the world of Motocross after an accident at the Broadford round of the MX Nationals, marking one of the biggest devastations in racing history. A rider admired by all and a family man loved by so many who were close to him, it’s safe to say that Sharky’s memory will forever be strong in Australian and international Motocross racing.

MOST SURPRISING
Reed launches TwoTwo Motorsports
At the start of this year, who would have ever thought that Chad Reed would be launching his own team for 2011? After a nightmare season with Monster Energy Kawasaki, Reed has launched TwoTwo Motorsports for next year aboard Honda machinery. Judging by his Newcastle form, Reed may be a huge surprise come A1!

SPECIAL MENTION!
Josh Hansen
He came, he saw and he conquered. American Josh Hansen was a huge hit in Super X 2010 as he raced to the Open class championship for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki. While he may be controversial at times, Hanny is the real deal when it comes to winning fans with his laid back demeanour.

ROAD AWARDS:

INTERNATIONAL RIDER OF THE YEAR
Jorge Lorenzo
With nine wins in 18 attempts – missing the podium just twice – there’s not much you can fault about Jorge Lorenzo’s 2010 MotoGP World Championship season. The Spaniard was simply sensational in overcoming the likes of Rossi and co, eventually winning the championship by a massive 138 points.

NATIONAL RIDER OF THE YEAR
Bryan Staring
After late switch to Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing, the fact that Bryan Staring was able to be competitive from the outset in his return to the ASBK is a testament to his ability. A few months later and he surprised all by claiming the Australian Superbike Championship as the underdog. Next year will see Staring contest the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with Pedercini Kawasaki in Europe.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Ben Spies
There was once upon a time when Moto2 (formerly 250GP) riders were considered the rising stars primed for MotoGP, however in 2010 it was World Superbike Champion Ben Spies who stood tall above the rest. Spies claimed sixth in the title with a pole and two wins to his credit. His reward? A factory Yamaha seat for 2011.

RACE SERIES OF THE YEAR
Moto2 World Championship
It’s safe to say that the introduction of the Moto2 World Championship offered the most exciting racing of the season with a host of winners able to step up to the plate. Bring on more spec-style racing in the years to come, because Moto2 is as close as it gets!

MOTORCYCLE OF THE YEAR
2010 BMW S 1000 RR
You could have guessed this one, right? BMW’s first foray into superbike production machinery has been massive, winning shootouts and prizes worldwide for its cutting edge technology and whopping horsepower. It raised the benchmark, and now it’s up to every other manufacturer to respond…

TOP TEAM
Fiat Yamaha
The factory Yamaha team takes out the Top Team gong for the second year in a row here at MotoOnline. Despite nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi missing four rounds of the season through injury, the Fiat Yamaha team of he and Lorenzo were simply unstoppable when it came to the overall tally. The team won the riders, teams and manufacturers title for Yamaha in 2010.

BEST EVENT
Magny-Cours WSBK round
This one may be a surprise to most, however since MotoOnline was at the Magny-Cours World Superbike season finale in France, it gets our vote as the best road race of 2010. While the on-track action was entertaining as always, simply being at a European WSBK event shows just how big the sport is on a global scale. If you haven’t done it yet, be sure to get overseas and check one out ASAP!

BIGGEST CRASH
Misano Moto2 race
Moto2 was a great series this year, however the devastating loss of Japanese rising star Shoya Tomizawa at Misano was certainly a low, low point for the entire sport. The crash that involved Shoya, Scott Redding and Alex de Angelis was hard to watch, and even harder to take when the news of Shoya’s death was announced. He’ll always be remembered as the first ever Moto2 race winner after his incredible feat at Qatar.

GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Rossi’s injury
With the MotoGP World Championship fight between Lorenzo and Rossi about to reach full steam, the Italian’s crunching crash at Mugello during practice was the low point of the season. Not only did fans miss out on an epic title fight, but MotoGP was severely lacking too. Welcome back, Vale!

MOST SURPRISING
MotoGP silly season
Valentino Rossi to Ducati? Casey Stoner to Honda? What a surprise it was to see Valentino Rossi Ducati-bound in 2011, while Aussie Casey Stoner has switched to Honda for the new year. As Lorenzo raced off in the distance to his first premier class crown, all focus was on this year’s silliest season of all.