Australian world 65cc motocross champion, Caleb Grothues has been awarded at the third annual FIM Gala, where all the FIM World Champions awards along with a the world top riders including Antonio Carioli and Jorge Lorenzo for their achievements during the season.
After two consecutive years celebrating the Gala at the Casino of Estoril in Portugal, the FIM changed the location and all the 2012 FIM World Champions were awarded at prestigious ‰Û÷Salle des Etoiles‰Ûª room of the Sporting Monte-Carlo.
Before all the World Champions walked along the red carpet, they took part in a press conferences headed by FIM President Mr. Vito Ippolito at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel.
The six-times FIM Motocross World Champion Antonio Cairoli was one of the few athletes who has been to the three editions of the FIM Gala and one more time he was nominated as personality of the year.
However, it was Jorge Lorenzo, 2012 FIM MotoGP Champion, who received the award.
FIM MX2 World Champion Jeffrey Herlings, FIM MX3 World Champion Matthias Walkner, FIM Women Motocross World Champion Chiara Fontanesi, FIM 125cc Junior Motocross World Champion Tim Gajser, FIM 85cc Junior World Champion Brian Hsu, FIM 65cc Junior Motocross World Champion Caleb Grothues, were presented with their 2012 championship winning awards.
FIM SuperMoto S1 World Champion Thomas Chareyre and FIM Snowcross World Champion Tucker Hibbert were also present at the FIM Gala and they were all very pleased to be surrounded by the thirty three World Champions.
2012 FIM 125cc Junior Motocross World Champion Tim Gajser and 2012 FIM 65cc Junior Motocross World Champion Brian Hsu were among the nominated riders for the Rookie of the year award, and it was actually the Slovenian champion who won the award after having received most of the votes by the fans, media, riders, teams and manufacturers.
The Charismatic rider Brian Hsu was one of the big surprise of the night when he delighted the more than 500 hundred guests at the FIM Gala making a solo with his violin just before receiving the gold medal by motocross legend Torsten Hallman.
Chiara Fontanesi was nominated for the women of the year award, but it was Laia Sanz, FIM Trial and Enduro World Champion, who received most of the votes.
Top Image: Caleb Grothues accepts his award in front of some of Motorcyclings biggest superstars at the FIM World Champions awards in Monaco
Credit: FIM
