Torrens Trophy

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]

Torrens Trophy
Awarded for"Outstanding Contribution to the Cause or Technical Excellence of Safe and Skilful Motorcycling in the UK"[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byRoyal Automobile Club
First awarded1979
Currently held byTai Woffinden (2018)[2]

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]

List of recipients
Winners of the Torrens Trophy
Year Image Recipient Nationality Citation[7] Ref(s)
1979 Frederick Lovegrove  GBR N/A [7]
1980 Transport and Road Laboratory  GBR "for its work in promoting safer braking systems for motorcycles"[8] [8]
1981 Dave Taylor  GBR "for his vast contribution to motorcycle road safety" [7]
1982–1988
Not awarded
 [7]
1989 BMW  GER "for their contribution to motor cycle safety through their development of their anti-lock braking system" [9]
1990–1997
Not awarded
 [7]
1998 Ian Kerr  GBR "for 20-years of tireless work in promoting safe and responsible motorcycling" [9]
1999–2007
Not awarded
 [7]
2008 James Toseland  GBR "for his immense contribution to raising the profile of motor cycle racing in this country" [10]
2009–2012
Not awarded
 [7]
2013
Tom Sykes  GBR "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[lower-alpha 1]  GBR "for becoming the first man in history to be crowned MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship on four occasions (2003, 2008, 2012 and 2014)" [13]
2015
Ian Hutchinson[lower-alpha 2]  GBR "for his outstanding determination, courage and overcoming adversity to win multiple TTs" [15]
2016 Cal Crutchlow[lower-alpha 3]  GBR "for being the first British rider to win a premier class World Championship Motorcycle Grand Prix in 35 years" [6]
2017
Jonathan Rea[lower-alpha 4]  GBR "for being the first rider to win three consecutive World Superbike Championships" [17]
2018
Tai Woffinden[lower-alpha 5]  GBR "for being the most successful British speedway rider in history" [2]

Notes
  1. MotoGP rider Scott Redding, 2014 TT season champion Michael Dunlop and multiple TT winner John McGuiness received nominations for the award in 2014.[12]
  2. 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]
  3. Dunlop and Rea earned nominations for the accolade in 2016.[16]
  4. Dakar Rally motorcycle winner Sam Sunderland and motorcycle rider Leon Haslam received nominations for the trophy in 2017.[5]
  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]
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References
  1. "The Torrens Trophy". Royal Automobile Club. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. "Motor Cycling Trophy". RAC World (71): 4. Summer 1978. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. "Past Winners". Royal Automobile Club. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  8. "Lab award". Reading Evening Post. 24 September 1980. p. 12.
  9. Motor Industry Management: Journal of the Institute of the Motor Industry. Burke House Periodicals. 1998. p. 29. Retrieved 20 November 2019 – via Google Books.
  10. Birt, Matthew (16 June 2008). "James Toseland collects prestigious award". Motorcycle News. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  11. "Sykes awarded Royal Automobile Club Torrens Trophy". Kawasaki. 29 January 2014. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  12. 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.
  13. McLaren, Peter (27 January 2015). "BSB champion Byrne wins Torrens Trophy". Crash. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  14. "Hutchy nominated for Torrens Trophy". Manx Radio. 29 November 2015. Archived from the original on 12 December 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. "Jonathan Rea wins Torrens Trophy". Eurosport. 30 March 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  18. Rushby, Oli (20 November 2018). "2018 Torrens Trophy nominees announced". Motorcycle News. Archived from the original on 30 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.

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