MA Board of Directors member Robert Pearce (left) presents the 2018 AMA Bessie Stringfield Award to Stefan Pierer.

Pierer is CEO of KTM AG. Since founding KTM Industries Group in 1987, Pierer has led the company to become the biggest European motorcycle manufacturer and the fastest growing brand in the U.S. market.

For 2017, KTM reported 239,000 motorcycles sold, a 17 percent increase over 2016 during a period of industry stagnation in new motorcycle sales.

In addition to serving on the AMA Board, Pearce is vice president of operations for KTM North America Inc.

Created in 2000, the AMA Bessie Stringfield Award is named in memory of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame member Bessie Stringfield. It is presented annually to an individual who has been instrumental in bringing emerging markets into the world of motorcycling.