Both the 2006 Reece Bancell Scholarship and the 2006 Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award winners were announced at the Australian Superbike Championship Presentations on Sunday night.

Chris Cassella, who finished sixth in the Australian Supersport Championship, was presented the Reece Bancell Scholarship while this year's Australian Superstock Champion, Ian Andrews, took home the Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award.

Andrews began the season on a 2004-model bike which he upgraded to a 2006-model mid-season, and by winning the award will be able to begin 2007 on the latest version of his Suzuki.

The Award was established by the family of the late Kirk McCarthy, and is designed to assist young riders in their efforts to compete at the top-level, with the recipient being assessed based on several areas, including the applicant's ability, presentation, dedication, commitment and general attitude.

"It's hard to put it into words Ð I am still waiting for it all to sink in. It is an honour to be able to receive the award and honestly, next year wouldn't be able to happen without it, so I'm just so stoked," Andrews admitted.

"We put in for it but I never really expected that I'd get it. The help that we have had this year has been pretty good, but the budget required for next year is definitely a lot bigger, so it is going to help us out an unbelievable amount."

The Reece Bancell Memorial Association presented Cassella with a cheque, trophy and scholarship that will see the talented rider provided with a 12-month support package to help him with competing in 2007.

The family of Reece Bancell created the scholarship to encourage and assist a rider in their self development and motorcycling racing, and is also assessed based on the same criteria used for the Kirk McCarthy Award.

Having had a few days to reflect on being presented with the award, Cassella said he was humbled to be bestowed with the honour, and will use it to prove that he can mix it with the country's best riders.

"I can't believe it Ð it is such a great award and I am really proud to be a part of it," he said.

"It concretes me racing next year which is the first thing, but it also gives me a far more level playing field to race against the big boys next year, so just being prepared for a lot more things is definitely going to help."