It was a big night for Josh Elliott at the annual Cornmarket Bike Awards in Belfast last Friday. Coined the ‘Oscars’ of motorcycling, the glittering event in Belfast’s Ramada Plaza Hotel was hosted by BBC Northern Ireland’s Stephen Watson and Jackie Fullerton.
Nominated in four categories, Josh took home one of the evening’s biggest awards, winning the Belfast Telegraph Best Rider on UK & Ireland Circuits. 
A delighted Josh enthused: 
“It was a great honour to have my British title recognised at the Cornmarket Bike Awards. I am very grateful to the judges and the voting public. I was honoured to win the Belfast Telegraph Best Rider on UK & Ireland Circuits and finish runner up to Jonathan Rea in the main category for Irish Motorcyclist of the Year. Johnny is an inspiration to me as a short circuit racer and one day I would love to see my name on the Joey Dunlop trophy. 
"Now my focus is very much on the 2016 season with my new team Tyco BMW. I will be flying back out to Spain early next week to continue my pre-season training and to begin testing my BMW machine with the team. I can’t wait to get started,” concluded Josh.
It was an esteemed panel of Northern Ireland racing legends, including ex MotoGP rider Jeremy McWilliams and former world champion Brian Reid, who bestowed the honour on the 2015 British Superstock 1000 Champion.
Elliott also received a first time nomination in the main category for Irish Motorcyclist of the Year, making the top seven shortlist alongside Jonathan Rea, Alastair Seeley, Glenn Irwin, Michael Laverty, Eugene Laverty and fellow Fermanagh road racer Lee Johnston.
The online public vote saw World Superbike Champion Rea lift the prestigious Joey Dunlop trophy and be crowned Irish Motorcyclist of the Year with an elated Elliott taking the runner up spot in a most competitive field.