Back in the day the AMA honored its riders who moved on to world championship competition during the association’s annual awards banquet. Here’s a photo from the 1984 AMA Racing Awards Banquet with Eddie Lawson showing off his first 500cc Grand Prix World Championship plate. That’s Dave Despain with the mic serving as emcee and the late great Bill Boyce, former AMA competition director also on the stage.

Eddie Lawson holds up a championship plate at the 1984 AMA Awards Banquet after he won his first of four 500cc Grand Prix World Championships. Emcee Dave Despain and former AMA Competiton Director Bill Boyce are also on the stage.