Australia's Chad Reed was awarded Sportsperson of the Year in the AMA Pro Motocross 'Season Celebrations'.

MX Sports Pro Racing and Alli Sports have recognised Chad Reed with the 2011 Sportsperson of the Year award in the third annual ‘Season Celebration’ at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.

Reed headed into the 2011 season without a ride for the first time in his career, but rather than walk away from the sport, he decided to embark on a new venture and start his own team, TwoTwo Motorsports.

After a stellar AMA Supercross season, Reed took the first half of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship by storm, winning four of the first six rounds.

At Spring Creek, he experienced what may have been the most frightening crash in the sport’s history, but despite a 30-foot fall, he reentered the race and salvaged his points lead.

While his fortunes changed over the second half of the season, Reed never gave up, ultimately transforming from an underdog to a title contender.

He experienced a rejuvenation of his career and also returned to the favour of the fans, ultimately becoming the most popular rider in the sport. As a result of his refusal to quit in the face of adversity, Reed was recognised for his successful venture and on-track success.

The top 10 finishers from each class of competition – the 450 Class, 250 Class and WMX Class – were given well-deserved recognition for their efforts, while SPEED and NBC Sports announcer Jason Weigandt emceed the evening’s festivities, taking a humorous look back at the 2011 season.

While the champions of the sport were deservedly honored with special awards, MX Sports Pro Racing and Alli Sports also recognized the most successful first-year riders of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship.

ARMA Energy/Suzuki City’s Malcolm Stewart was recognized as the Motocross Rookie of the Year, following an 11th-place finish in the 250 Class, while Marissa Markelon concluded her first season in women’s motocross with an impressive sixth-place finish, resulting in WMX Rookie of the Year accolades.

Other awards presented on Sunday evening included:
Moto Moment – Chad Reed’s Millville Crash
Decision of the Year – American Honda for Justin Barcia’s move to the 450 Class
Motocross Team of the Year – Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki
Motocross Manufacturer of the Year – Kawasaki
Transport Driver of the Year – Scott Slocum
Motocross Team Manager of the Year – Christina Denny