Awards Show Snapshots

Okay, so the inaugural TransWorld Motocross Moto Awards Show is now in the history books, and man am I relieved. I’d say that for a first-year event, the show was a huge success: a ton of industry showed up, had a great time and talked about how much bigger and better next year’s show will be. I’m barely recovered from the last two road trips I’ve taken, and it’s magazine deadline time. Before I get to work, though, here’s some of the snapshots from my camera that I CAN share with you…. enjoy!

Only two days after arriving home from Italy, Eileen and I boarded a plane bound for Las Vegas for the awards show. We were both still jet lagged! I was nervous as hell about both the awards show, and the premiere of KICKSTART. It’s been a whirlwind four months of shooting and editing, but the movie if finally done. To be honest, it was more work than I had bargained for when I volunteered to take the project on myself, and I am ready to get back to working full-time on the magazine!

Before the show, we all gathered inside The Joint for a rehearsal of sorts. Logan Darien (far left) said that Nate Adams was probably crapping himself when he walked in and saw how huge the new Joint was. See, Nate was set to open the show with a rhyme on the mic! (From left) Bayo, Lutz, Skinny, and Lyons, like me, were anxious to get the show on the road!

On stage, I found Patchy focusing on his rhymes, going through them in his head with his eyes closed. At the X Games, I found him doing the same thing before his freestyle run: eyes closed, moving his arms as if he were going through all of the tricks he was going to do during his run. I asked if he was shitting himself, and he said that the place was bigger and more legit than he expected, but that he was ready to open the show.

Ronnie Faisst was on hand at rehearsal, as he was presenting one of the FMX awards. Tarah Gieger was also there, as she was presenting female racer of the year. Gieger was coughing her ass off, but she was still her usual goofy self.

This is Holli Koriath, the woman who planned the entire awards show. She wouldn’t smile for my camera, so I had to surprise her with this shot. So that’s what you get, Holli! Anyway, Holli did a great job with the event, planning everything out to the nth degree. Great job, Holli! Later that night, she became a “Tempted Islander.” You’d have to have been at the Circle Bar to understand that one….sorry. That’s Miki Killer in the background. Miki founded the WMA and also presented the Female Rookie of the Year Award. She was nervous because she didn’t have a speech prepared, but she did great.

Grant Langston was the emcee at the awards show (along Cameron Steele) and he did a great job. We’ve always said that Ladies Love Cool Grant,” and I suppose my wife is no exception. Or is it the other way around? Cool G has always snuggled up to Eileen when he gets the chance… haha

Miki Keller and her girls, Sherri Cruse (TP199’s belle and Female Racer of the Year nominee), Jacki Ives (Female Rookie of the Year nominee and super-cool chick) and Penny Cyrus (long-time WMA pro fixture).

IN SPITE of not being decked out in his regular PICK UP KIT (motocross jersey, tucked into jeans), Ryan Dungey was THE MAN at the awards show. Girls flocked to him wherever he went. I even heard rumors about one following him into the men’s room! Anyway, RD and I were talking about how I am going to have to wear HIS JERSEY at Anaheim 1 (golf bet - don’t ask), and these two girls came running up and asked to take a photo with him. Now, here’s PROOF that they weren’t trying to get near RD because he is Ryan Dungey: West Coast SX Lites, 250cc National and Motocross of Nations Champion…just before I snapped this photo I heard one of them ask, “So what’s your name, cutie?” Oh give me a break! Hmmm…maybe Ryan doesn’t need to wear that pick up kit to meet girls anymore, after all… HEY WAIT! I just took a better look at this photo. Ryan, you sly devil…gettin’ some boobie action on the DL, eh?

Did I mention that TWMX hosted an OPEN BAR for over two hours, before the show got underway? I know that I needed a little lubrication to get ready for my speaking parts… haha. Grant Langston, Chad Reed, and Blake “Bilko” Williams were among those who enjoyed the pre-show festivities. Rumor has it that Bilko chipped a tooth while biting Reedy’s diamond dog tag.

This is Stephen Schultz, TransWorld Media’s in-house video editor. He is a bad ass. I spent many long hours in Stephen’s office, working on KICKSTART. When my talent and knowledge ran out, Stephen took over and made KICKSTART into the masterpiece that we all think it is. Schultzy was able to take my raw edits, tweak them here and there, and make them look so much better. I learned a shitload from this guy, and I can’t wait until our MX offices relocate from Tustin, down to Carlsbad, so that I can continue to learn editing techniques from him. This is his girlfriend, Carley. When we were first introduced, I caught her staring at me a couple times. I assumed that she was thinking, “So THIS is the bastard who kept my Stephen at work so late at night?!?!” but Steve told me that she was actually shocked that I was….ASIAN! HAHAHAHAHHA!

So nervous or not, I think that Nate Adams killed it when he opened up the show with his rhymes. Like we were when we first heard MC Patchy on the mic a couple years ago, I think many in the audience were shocked, stunned, and impressed…

I got to present the Reader’s Choice Award, and I was very pumped that Chad Reed was the winner. A few years ago, let’s just say that Reedy wasn’t our favorite rider to deal with, and after a few blow offs, we decided to treat him in the magazine the way he treated us at the races. That’s all in the past now, and Reed has easily become one of the best riders to deal with. He’s also - obviously - had a huge turnaround with the fans, and he was the landslide winner of the award. On the podium, Chad said, “When you don’t do the Nationals, people call you a fat bastard, but when you come back, they love you!”
Congrats, Reedy. And I’ll get those sleeves of yours, eventually.

Even though we were all having a great time, my brother Ross was on many people’s minds at the awards show. Chad was one of the first racers to text me and inquire about Rossi when he heard the news. Ross and Chad worked together when Reed first came to the United States and raced for Yamaha of Troy.

After Reed was presented with the Reader’s Choice Award, we walked off stage and to the service elevator, so he could do his interview with the Fuel TV crew. Along the way, we ran into Mike Lyons, Holli’s boss. Lyons was also largely responsible for the awards show and also is the executive producer of KICKSTART. It looks like he, too, enjoyed the open bar…

I don’t actually remember snapping this photo in the TransWorld suite. I remember Lil’ D telling me that he liked the movie, and I can remember Lou Lopez telling tales of being on Team Mexico in the 2003 MXoN, but that’s all…

Eileen, Chelsea Langston and Robyn Hamblin.

Sean and Robyn Hamblin both had Ross on their minds. Hamy told me that he and Cool G are pretty close to firming up their deal for 2010. I’ve got my fingers crossed, guys!

Apparently, Eileen voted for Chad, too… haha

Art Director Dave strikes a pose. What kind of pose, I’m not sure of, though…

Bayo bought a new shirt at the Hard Rock gift shop, just for the awards show. This was his reaction when I told him that he could not turn it in on his expense report.

After the show, we ran into one of the Baldwin brothers at Mr. Lucky’s cafe. He didn’t talk much because he was upset with his agent for booking him in Poison Ivy 27. Actually, this is Braden Dahl from New Era. New Era made us some bad ass limited edition hats for our award presenters. Thanks, Braden!