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Prize-giving ceremony wraps up 2012 season

Tuesday, 9 October 2012 16:57 GMT
Prize-giving ceremony wraps up 2012 season
Just a few hours after the riders had stepped off their bikes, the 2012 season was brought to an end with the traditional awards ceremony, which this year was held in the Auditorium of the Magny-Cours circuit in France.


Following introductory speeches from Paolo Flammini (Infront Motor Sports CEO) and Stephane Desprez (FIM CEO), the top 3 riders in the five racing categories - Superbike, Supersport, Superstock 1000 and 600, European Junior Cup - were called onto the stage to receive their gold, silver and bronze medals, FIM diplomas, Pirelli and Tissot awards and end-of-season trophies. The awards were handed out by Rezsö Bulcsu (FIM Road-Racing Commission Director), Paolo Flammini, Stephane Desprez, Paolo Ciabatti (SBK Director), Jean-Marc Desnues (UEM Vice-President), Igor Eskinja (Jury President) and Claudio Calabresi (eni Wholesale Executive Vice-President).


Max Biaggi, Tom Sykes and Bernhard Gobmeier (representing Marco Melandri) from Superbike, Kenan Sofuoglu, Jules Cluzel and Sam Lowes from Supersport, Sylvain Barrier, Eddi La Marra and Jeremy Guarnoni from Superstock 1000 and Michael van der Mark, Riccardo Russo and Gauthier Duwelz from Superstock 600, as well as Lukas Wimmer, Gaston Garcia and Javier Orellana from EJC stepped up on stage for their awards, while the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock 1000 Manufacturers' prizes went to Luigi Dall'Igna (Sports & Technical Director Aprilia Racing), Carlo Fiorani (Honda Motor Europe Racing Operations Manager) and Fabien Raulo (Kawasaki Race Coordinator), with Dall'Igna also receiving the eni trophy for Winning Superbike Manufacturer from Claudio Calabresi.


Carlos Checa and Cluzel received the Pirelli ‘Best Lap Award' from Giorgio Barbier (Racing Director) and Ilaria Casarini (Marketing Manager) for the Superbike and Supersport riders who totaled the most fastest laps throughout the season, while the Tissot Superbike and Supersport Superpole Awards were presented by Matt George to Sykes and Cluzel.


Tissot also gave two special Media Awards, which were handed over by Paolo Ciabatti to journalist Paolo Gozzi from Italy and photographer Kel Edge from Britain in recognition of their sterling work over the last 25 years, during which they have been present at virtually every World Superbike race.