Yorkshire motor cycle dealer Colin Appleyard has been been rewarded for his services to motorcycle sport in the New Year's Honours List announced today (Saturday). He has been appointed MBE.

"It is a great honour not only for me but for motor cycle sport and I would like to thank all those who must have had something to do with it," he told bikesportnews.com.

Gary Thompson, Chief Executive of the ACU, said: "Colin has put so much into motor cycle sport over many years as a team entrant, sponsor and with the ACU it is really well deserved. Congratulations to him."

The Appleyard group of companies was started when Colin left the employment of Allan Jefferies to set up on his own. It is now one of the biggest bike and car dealerships in Yorkshire and is also a major force in road racing led by Robin Appleyard, a successful racer himself, and the rest of the Appleyard family.