Spring doesn't just mean the arrival of the new riding season-it also marks the coming of awards season. Whether it's the Academy Awards, Grammys or Xtremey extreme sports video awards, spring is the season when celebrities hand out props like phone numbers at a divorcee support group. We here at Super Streetbike never miss an opportunity to give props (or our phone numbers, but that's another story), so with that in mind we did a quick poll of the SSB staff to come up with some nominees who deserve special recognition within the extreme streetbike world. Prepare your acceptance speeches ("I'd like to thank God, my parents, and especially my traffic lawyer") because without further ado here are our picks for the best developments in the sportbike world over the past year.
Most Overdue Trend: StreetfightersEuropeans have been hip to these stripped-down, hotted-up sportbikes for more than a decade. Now, thanks to folks such as New York's XPO Street-Fighters and Wild Hair Accessories in Glendale, Arizona, not to mention the hundreds of stunters (and stunter wannabes) rocking the no-plastic-and-riser-bar streetfighter look, expect bug-eyed, bare-naked streetfighters to become more popular than ever in America this season. This trend will no doubt save custom sportbike enthusiasts thousands of dollars in smashed bodywork bills.
Honorable mention: Mainstream motorcycle companies such as Buell, Continental Tires, Ducati, HyperPro, KBC Helmets, Set Up, Sidi and others finally acknowledging street freestyle. Top stunters are more professional (and responsible) than ever, and it's great to see these efforts recognized with sponsorship support. Do your part to support these companies.
Played-Out Trend: Fake-Ass GangstasEnough already with suburban white boys who magically morph into mush-mouthed, ghetto-fab fakes whenever a video camera starts rolling. No more claiming to represent the 'hood when your videos are filmed almost exclusively among rural cornfields! Keeping it real means embracing where you're from, kids.
Honorable mention: Hayabusas. Don't get us wrong-we love the 'Busa and we understand it's the biggest, baddest bike on the planet, but all these chromed Suzukis are starting to look the same. If you're plotting a badass street custom, be bold and look beyond the 'Busa!
Biggest Balls:Anthony D'OrsiWho else was brave enough to lay everything on the line and test his skills (not to mention the elasticity of his checkbook) against the world's best stunt riders at the World Stunt Riding Championship in England this past year? Tony D might not have won the crown, but he palled around with stunt legend AC Farias, learned a brace of new tricks and proved a homeboy from Jersey could more than hang with the best.
Honorable mention: AMA/Prostar Streetbike Shootout Champion Barry Henson. Henson dominated two nationals this season racing with broken bones, and won a hotly contested championship despite missing two races after a horrific midseason street crash. 'Nuff said.
Best Bone-Stock Hooligan Bike: Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RMadder than a backpack full of rattlesnakes-and probably more dangerous-the alpha Ninja still slays us every time we climb on board. You might as well cut your driver's license in half before you even leave the driveway.
Honorable mention: Buell CityX. Not the fastest or fiercest, but this factory fighter looks badass, is tons of fun to throw into corners thanks to a high, dirtbike bar and has see-through bodywork that kills 'em at bike nights.
Where You At, Boo?:Jermaine "JT" Holt We would gladly present Holt with this award if only we could find him. A founding member of Florida's Team Chaindrive, Holt is a professional stunt rider who dazzled us with the "switchback insane"-the headstand-on-the-tank maneuver he pioneered. Holt re-emerged briefly in 2003 with the West Coast's World Battle Bike Federation stunt competitions, only to disappear shortly after. Holla if you're out there!