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AMA: Bryan Bigelow is Grand National Rookie of the Year

1 November 1998

WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Bryan Bigelow is the 1998 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Grand National Dirt Track Rookie of the Year. Bigelow had an impressive debut in his first full season of Grand National competition, and ended up achieving -- and surpassing the goals he had set at the start of the season.

On Bigelow's 1998 AMA Pro Racing license application -- completed in December of last year -- he spelled out his vision for the upcoming season: "My goals in 1998 are to win the Rookie of the Year Award and finish in the top-20 in Grand National points." At the end of the season, the 18 year-old Bigelow was ranked ninth in the Grand National point standings, and had captured the Rookie of the Year title.

"Honestly, I didn't really think it would come this fast, to finish ninth in the standings," said Bigelow. "I pretty much owe the whole thing to (USC Team Manager) Johnny Goad. He motivated me, and he has so much knowledge about the sport. Having him in my corner, well, you just can't go out and buy that."

Over the course of the 19-race 1998 season, Bigelow took eight top-10 finishes aboard the USC Racing Harley-Davidson. His best result was a fifth-place finish at the July 18, Oklahoma City Half-mile race. A resident of Au Gres, Mich., Bigelow began competing in AMA amateur dirt-track competitions in 1987. Between 1993 and 1997, he took Amateur National wins in the 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and 600cc Modified classes.