Vote for your MCN Man of the year

2012 was the year home-grown talent put the Great back into Britain with Cal Crutchlow, Tom Sykes, Danny Kent and Scott Redding enjoying major success on the world stage, and all four are leading candidates in MCN’s coveted Man of the Year competition.

Coventry rider Crutchlow delivered a series of stunning performances in his second season in MotoGP, with the 27-year-old becoming the first British rider in 12 years to claim a premier class podium when he took third in Brno.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider also secured a sensational podium in Phillip Island as his all-action and aggressive riding style became a regular feature at the sharp end in MotoGP.

There was plenty for British fans to cheer in the smaller Grand Prix classes, with Gloucestershire teenager Scott Redding enjoying his breakthrough campaign in the ultra-competitive Moto2 class.

Redding scored four podium finishes in 2012 and is already being touted as a serious title contender in 2013.

Danny Kent became the latest young British sensation to taste GP glory in barn-storming finish to the inaugural Moto3 class, which saw new 250cc single-cylinder four-strokes replace the old 125GP two-strokes.

He won two out of the final four races in stunning fashion, with last lap attacks in Japan and Valencia adding his name to a star-studded list of British GP winners that includes John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Geoff Duke, Phil Read and Barry Sheene.

British fans came tantalisingly close to celebrating a first World Superbike title since James Toseland triumphed in 2007.

Yorkshire’s Tom Sykes lost out to Italian veteran Max Biaggi by just 0.5s at the end of a dramatic season.

Sykes was the surprise package of the 2012 World Superbike series, taking four wins and nine other podiums on a rejuvenated Kawasaki ZX-10R project.

Biaggi though prevailed after a nerve-jangling final round in Magny Cours to take his second title in three years for Aprilia before he decided to end a controversial and colourful career by announcing his retirement.

On home shores, fans’ favourite Shane Byrne secured his third BSB title after a nail-biting final round triumph over Aussie Josh Brookes.

After flirting with the idea of a move to MotoGP, the 36-year-old will remain on a Paul Bird Kawasaki this year in a bid to become the most successful rider in BSB history.

Michael Rutter took his record-breaking eighth victory at the Macau circuit, as well as recording the first electric 100mph TT lap.

Vote for your man of the year below. Voting closes midday, January 31.