IT'S already been a smashing year for a world champion from Presteigne, but 2011 got even better for Chaz Davies this week when he was named BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year.

Davies, 24, was crowned World Supersport Champion earlier this year and in doing so, became the first Welshman to win a world Superbike class title.

Davies won six races in the 2011 Supersport Championship - the competition below the main World Superbikes Championship - at Assen, Monza, Aragon, Silverstone, the Nurburgring and the final race in Portugal.

Davies succeeds Gareth Bale to win the BBC Cymru Wales award.

He beat boxer Nathan Cleverly, hurdler Dai Greene, triathlete Helen Jenkins, and Paralympian Nathan Stephens to win.

Davies became just the second Briton to win the World Supersport title since its inception in 1997, following Cal Crutchlow's win in 2009 as Davies beat Spain's David Salom by a huge 50-point margin.

He has earned himself a promotion to the World Superbikes Championship next season to compete alongside the likes of Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa.

Davies has already tested for Ducati and is now testing with Aprilia ahead of his first season in the top flight of Superbikes.

Davies, who won the BBC Wales Young Sportsman of the Year in 2005, was named as the 58th winner at an awards ceremony at Swansea's Liberty Stadium, which was held on Monday evening, December 12.