MotoGP: Crutchlow wins prestigious Torrens Trophy

Double MotoGP race winner Cal Crutchlow has been awarded the prestigious Torrens Trophy, the Royal Automobile Club’s award for the promotion of motorcycling in the United Kingdom. Awarded only nine times since it’s inauguration in 1978, Crutchlow joins an illustrious shortlist of former winners.

Coming after an incredible second half of the 2016 MotoGP season that saw him take two wins and a series of podium finishes while dicing with the top factory machines on the privateer LCR Honda, the 31-year-old was left gobsmacked by the award during a formal lunch to celebrate his achievements at the RAC’s Pall Mall headquarters on Tuesday.

“I feel very privileged that the Royal Automobile Club considers me worthy of it. It’s taken a long time, and a lot of hard work, and it’s an honour to be recognised by such well-respected industry figures.”

However, Barrie Baxter, Chairman of the Torrens Committee, says it was a great honour to be able to present the award to the Coventry native after his 2016 successes.

“Cal Crutchlow is one of the most fearless riders in MotoGP. Last season, Crutchlow became the first Brit to win a premier-class race since Barry Sheene in 1981 when he triumphed in the Czech Grand Prix at Brno. It gives me great pleasure to present the 2016 Torrens Trophy to Cal in recognition of his outstanding achievement.”

Crutchlow was one of a handful of British talent on the shortlist for the award, joined by double World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea and Isle of Man TT Senior TT winner Michael Dunlop.

The Torrens Trophy was first awarded in 1978 in memory of Arthur Bourne, a motor cycling journalist who wrote a column under the name Torrens. Arthur Bourne was also a vice-chairman of the RAC. The Torrens Trophy celebrates an individual or organisation considered to have made an outstanding contribution to motor cycling in Britain. It has only been awarded nine times in its history and only when the club feels that the achievement justifies it.