Hamilton wins Young Rider of the Year award

It was the 18-year-old’s second award after his championship winning season of 2009 as he took the Enkalon young rider of the year award at the end of last year.

Last year he won the Metzeler Junior British Super stock championship for Gearlink Kawasaki – the first title Kawasaki had won since John Renolds won the BSB back in 1992.

Jamie has not yet signed a contract for the forthcoming 2010 season but is hopeful that it will all fall into place soon. “I really want to race in the supersport class this year but as yet I haven’t signed for a team,” he told Times Sport.

Commenting on his award, the delighted local rider said: “I always sat at the back of these awards nights and thought maybe it will be my turn next year.

“It is a good feeling now to win the Red Bull award and it makes me want to work even harder to maybe be in the frame for a few more awards at the end of 2010.”

On the same night east Antrim’s Jonathan Rea won the Irish Racer.com fan’s race of the year award for his debut world superbike win at Misano in June when he beat the all powerful Ducati pairing of Nori Haga and Michael Fabrizio at their home track.

Now the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda man will be focusing on the season ahead when he hopes to finish in the top three of the title race after securing fifth in his first full season.

Eugene Laverty scooped the main award of the night when he was named Adelaide Racer Irish Motorcyclist of the Year. It was well deserved after the 23-year-old came so close to lifting the world supersport championship at his first attempt.

This time around he must start favourite after the reigning champion Cal Crutchlow, who won the fonacab International Rider award, has moved up to world superbike.