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Torrens Trophy
Torrens Trophy | |
---|---|
Awarded for | "Outstanding Contribution to the Cause or Technical Excellence of Safe and Skilful Motorcycling in the UK"[1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Presented by | Royal Automobile Club |
First awarded | 1979 |
Currently held by | Tai Woffinden (2018)[2] |
The Torrens Trophy is awarded to an individual or organisation for demonstrating "Outstanding Contribution to the Cause or Technical Excellence of Safe and Skilful Motorcycling in the UK".[1] It is named in honour of The Motor Cycle editor and Royal Automobile Club (RAC) vice-president Arthur Bourne, who wrote a column under the pen name Torrens.[2][3] The RAC established the trophy to recognise "outstanding contributions to motor cycle safety" before extending its purpose to include individuals considered to be "the finest motor cyclists".[3] The trophy, an eight-pint silver tankard,[4] has been awarded infrequently since 1979 by the Torrens Trophy Nominations Committee, which is composed of a panel of experts;[1][5] it is only presented if, in the opinion of the RAC, the achievement can be justified to deserve the award.[2][5] The winner is honoured at a ceremony at the RAC's Pall Mall clubhouse and headquarters in London.[5][6]
The inaugural recipient was Frederick Lovegrove in 1979.[7] It has been awarded to two organisations in its history,[7] the Transport and Road Laboratory in 1980 for promoting safer motorcycle braking systems,[8] and the German automotive marque BMW nine years later for the development of its anti-lock braking system. Since its establishment, the award has not been presented during four periods in history: from 1982 to 1988, between 1990 to 1997, from 1999 to 2007 and between 2009 and 2012.[7] As of 2019, the accolade has been won fourteen times: Superbike riders have won it four times, with road motorbike racers, Grand Prix motorcycle riders and motorcycle speedway competitors honoured once.[7] The 2019 winner was Tai Woffinden, the three-time Speedway world champion.[2]
Recipients[]
Year | Image | Recipient | Nationality | Citation[7] | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1979 | Frederick Lovegrove | ![]() |
N/A | [7] | |
1980 | Transport and Road Laboratory | ![]() |
"for its work in promoting safer braking systems for motorcycles"[8] | [8] | |
1981 | ![]() |
"for his vast contribution to motorcycle road safety" | [7] | ||
1982–1988 | Not awarded
|
[7] | |||
1989 | BMW | ![]() |
"for their contribution to motor cycle safety through their development of their anti-lock braking system" | [9] | |
1990–1997 | Not awarded
|
[7] | |||
1998 | ![]() |
"for 20-years of tireless work in promoting safe and responsible motorcycling" | [9] | ||
1999–2007 | Not awarded
|
[7] | |||
2008 | ![]() |
James Toseland | ![]() |
"for his immense contribution to raising the profile of motor cycle racing in this country" | [10] |
2009–2012 | Not awarded
|
[7] | |||
2013 | ![]() |
Tom Sykes | ![]() |
"for being crowned the 15th World Superbike Champion, the fourth from Great Britain and only the second rider to win for Kawasaki in the series for 20 years" | [11] |
2014 | Shane Byrne[a] | ![]() |
"for becoming the first man in history to be crowned MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship on four occasions (, 2008, 2012 and 2014)" | [13] | |
2015 | Ian Hutchinson[b] | ![]() |
"for his outstanding determination, courage and overcoming adversity to win multiple TTs" | [15] | |
2016 | ![]() |
Cal Crutchlow[c] | ![]() |
"for being the first British rider to win a premier class World Championship Motorcycle Grand Prix in 35 years" | [6] |
2017 | ![]() |
Jonathan Rea[d] | ![]() |
"for being the first rider to win three consecutive World Superbike Championships" | [17] |
2018 | ![]() |
Tai Woffinden[e] | ![]() |
"for being the most successful British speedway rider in history" | [2] |
Notes[]
- ^ MotoGP rider Scott Redding, 2014 TT season champion Michael Dunlop and multiple TT winner John McGuiness received nominations for the award in 2014.[12]
- ^ 2015 Moto3 champion Danny Kent, World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea and Tai Woffinden, the two-time Speedway World Champion, were nominated for the trophy in 2015.[14]
- ^ Dunlop and Rea earned nominations for the accolade in 2016.[16]
- ^ Dakar Rally motorcycle winner Sam Sunderland and motorcycle rider Leon Haslam received nominations for the trophy in 2017.[5]
- ^ Sidecar world champions Ben and Tom Birchall, Haslam and 2018 Isle of Man TT senior victor Peter Hickman were nominated for the award in 2018.[18]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Torrens Trophy". Royal Automobile Club. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e O'Grady, Sean (14 March 2019). "Tai Woffinden: 'King of speedway' wins historic Torrens Trophy". The Independent. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bourne, Arthur (2016). Behind the Scenes in the Vintage Years: Memoir of "Torrens", Arthur Bourne. Kibworth, England: Troubador Publishing. pp. ix–xv. ISBN 978-1-78589-852-5. Retrieved 20 November 2019 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Motor Cycling Trophy". RAC World (71): 4. Summer 1978. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Devereux, Nigel (11 November 2017). "2017 Torrens Trophy nominees announced". Old Bike Mart. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hope-Frost, Henry (25 January 2017). "MotoGP ace Cal Crutchlow wins prestigious RAC Torrens Trophy". Goodwood Road & Racing. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l "Past Winners". Royal Automobile Club. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Lab award". Reading Evening Post. 24 September 1980. p. 12.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Motor Industry Management: Journal of the Institute of the Motor Industry. Burke House Periodicals. 1998. p. 29. Retrieved 20 November 2019 – via Google Books.
- ^ Birt, Matthew (16 June 2008). "James Toseland collects prestigious award". Motorcycle News. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Sykes awarded Royal Automobile Club Torrens Trophy". Kawasaki. 29 January 2014. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Oxley, Mat (January 2015). "Frantic antics in the junior ranks". Motor Sport. 91 (1): 59. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ McLaren, Peter (27 January 2015). "BSB champion Byrne wins Torrens Trophy". Crash. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Hutchy nominated for Torrens Trophy". Manx Radio. 29 November 2015. Archived from the original on 12 December 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ White, Kyle (12 January 2016). "Ian Hutchinson honoured with coveted Torrens Trophy". The News Letter. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Watterson, John (26 January 2017). "MotoGP: Cal Crutchlow awarded Torrens Trophy". Isle of Man Newspapers. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Jonathan Rea wins Torrens Trophy". Eurosport. 30 March 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Rushby, Oli (20 November 2018). "2018 Torrens Trophy nominees announced". Motorcycle News. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- Auto racing trophies and awards
- Awards established in 1979