So, here we are in the quietest time of the year, and even more so as so many events have been cancelled due to this virus. So, with a little time on our hands, we thought we would go through our annual MXlarge awards.

It has been both a tough year and an amazing one and how good has it been to have sportsmen around the World entertaining us when we really needed to be entertained. Yes, we went through the lockdowns, then everything sort of back to normal and finally where many of us now are in some type of lockdown, as bars and restaurants close down, and we head into what will be the most boring December 31 most of us have ever had.

Fortunately, though, we all learnt a lot about ourselves, and there are massive amounts of positive opportunities from this last 12 months. Anyway, here are our awards for 2020.

MXlarge Rider of the Year: Tim Gajser stole the show again, just as he did in 2015, 2016 and 2019. Amazing to think he is the most successful motocross rider from the last six years, ahead of a short list of legends, both in USA and Europe. Tiger Tim showed us in Matterley Basin and Valkenswaard that he meant business, beating “The Bullet” in his own backyard and doing it rather easily. Astonishing stuff. He struggled somewhat when we returned in August in Latvia, but slowly started breaking down his biggest rival Antonio Cairoli, and then put the nail in the coffin of all his competition with a dominate performance late in the season. Four World titles, and 29 GP wins and only 24 years of age. Yes, a legend in my books, but how far can he climb the All-Time list of greats?

Team of The Year: I am going with the big unite of Red Bull KTM. Sure, they didn’t have an MXGP title, but they did get an MX2 championship and finished third in MXGP. Their riders Antonio Cairoli, Jorge Prado and Jeffrey Herlings half the GPs and only injury and coronavirus stopped them from probably taking it to Gajser and more than likely beating him. Take nothing away from Gajser though, because he was the clear winning in 2020, and crossing the finish line at the end of the season makes the champion, but damn, this KTM team has to be equal or better than the brilliant HRC teams of the 1980s. Could just as easily finished first second and third this year and no doubt that will be their goal in 2021.

Veteran of the Year: Zach Osborne, what a rider. When you imagine somebody getting more than 100% out of their career, then this is the guy. Can’t believe I am even giving a veteran of the year award and it’s an AMA National champion. Even more amazing is he beat a 10-time World champion and two of the greatest veterans of this current era in Gautier Paulin and Clement Desalle, not to mention another former World champion in Marvin Musquin. It seemed like it was year of the veteran and thus this award for old Zachy boy. I remember his GP victory in Turkey very well as it came just days after the passing of my father, and I flew home for a funeral, then back straight away for the GP in Turkey. You have come a long way Zach Osborne and it couldn’t happen to a more normal, and friendly guy.

Race of The Year: A stand-out race doesn’t always have to be about battles, and for me, that opening moto in Valkenswaard, where Tim Gajser came from gate position 33, and shot into the lead, then pulling away from Jeffrey Herlings, that was something very special. Herlings got the GP win going 2-1 to Gajsers 1-2, but that opening moto win by Gajser shocked the World. I still remember the comments from Herlings on Sunday night. “I didn’t’ expect him to come from gate pick 33 to be there straight away and I look back and my eyes nearly fell out of my head. I was like damn it, where did he come from. Then he passed me straight away and then passed Jorge and I couldn’t get past Jorge. I was still in shock and then he was faster than me and he has stepped it up. Especially in the sand, if you see where he came from in the sand to where he is now. Not just looking at me, but look where the other guys were, we were miles ahead of everyone else.”

Grand Prix of the Year: I missed a lot of GPs in 2020 due to the coronavirus and as I didn’t really need to be at the races and preferred to give my media spot to some people who needed to be there, to do their job, so I can’t really give a good opinion of most of the season, but what I do know is how much more pleasant Matterley Basin and Valkenswaard were compared to Latvia and all those following GPs. Face masks, corona tests and self-isolation in your hotel doesn’t sound like fun and it isn’t. So, I go with the opener with that sunshine and great racing between Herlings and Gajser and a strong performance by fellow Aussie Mitch Evans. We never knew what would follow, but looking back, that round one GP sure was a fresh and enjoyable weekend.

MX2/250 rider of the Year: Have to give this to the older Frenchman of the two champions Dylan Ferrandis. He showed many years ago he was the real deal in his battles with Herlings and it is so nice to see him winning in America and making sure many of the negative fans who seem to like to dislike him just because he is a racer. It happened to J.M. Bayle, and Mickael Pichon, so you are in good company Ferrandis. His race craft, mature attitude and speed will suit him well in the 450 class in 2021. Special mention to the younger Frenchman, Tom Vialle, who showed us the production line at KTM continued to create very good riders.

Promoter of the year: This would normally go to an event promoter, but I hand it to Infront as they oversaw a very tough year, both financially and as an organizer. I cannot say enough about the support this organization has given the riders, teams, media and everyone in the GP paddock. There remain some old school fools who think they do a bad job, but that number is diminishing and I can tell those negative people, without Infront, MXGP would look more like all the national championships throughout Europe that are now nearly gone, or run at an amateur level. Riders are making more than ever, and the calendar is always entertaining and professional.

Most Unfortunate moment of the Year: Where do I start. The crashes that involved Arminas Jasikonis, Jeffrey Herlings and Glenn Coldenhoff remind us how tough the sport can be. On all three occasions I know a lot of us felt sad and sickened. Fortunately, all three will be back in 2021 and lets hope without the COVID 19 season of 2020, that they can be mentally stronger and nobody suffers the same fate as these three.

Journalist of the Year: Have to give this to Lewis Phillips of www.mxvice.com, who has covered more races than any other European media guy in recent years, including his beloved AMA supercross events. Does a great interview, is insightful and is clearly another motocross nerd, with a good knowledge of the current era and a passion that is unquestionable. A little less self-gloating and I would enjoy his work a lot more, but age often makes you more mature and less self-indulgent, so no doubt that will come (You don't need to tell us Lewis, your work stands up on it's own). Overall a very good addition to the press room as the younger era of “journalists” take over from old bastards like me.

Photographer of the Year: Without question Roman Borak. Not only does this amazing friendly guy work for Infront and MXGP, but he is always kind enough to send us his work in the massive galleries you see from each round. I am always amazed how many cool images he gets at each Grand Prix, and that brilliant colour in his images. Always with a big smile and a happy greeting, and one of the good guys inside that at times difficult media room.

Website of the Year: I would give it to us, as I feel we cover the sport better than any other website out there, but I won’t, so I go with www.gatedrop.com, just ahead of www.mxvice.com. Both are good websites, gatedrop seem to get the news up quickly and give more information about the sport than just about any other website, from EMX and grass roots racing to MXGP and AMA action. The site could do with a facelift, but in general the boys from Ireland do a great job with no budget and just on passion alone. Well done Andy and Jonathan. 

Roman Borak image