MotoGP ace Cal Crutchlow wins prestigious RAC Torrens Trophy

25th January 2017

Henry Hope-Frost

British MotoGP race winner Cal Crutchlow yesterday became the 10^th recipient of the Royal Automobile Club’s Torrens Trophy in recognition of his historic victories in motorcycling’s premier class during 2016.

The 31-year-old Midlander received the unique trophy, that’s named in memory of respected British journalist Arthur Bourne, who edited The Motor Cycle and wrote under the pseudonym ‘Torrens’, at a ceremony at its Pall Mall headquarters in London.

The trophy has only been awarded nine times in the Club’s history – to individuals or organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to motorcycle safety, technology or racing.

Crutchlow ended a 35-year drought for British success in MotoGP by winning the Czech Grand Prix at Brno in August last year. Not since double World Champion Barry Sheene took his 19th and final 500cc Grand Prix victory – in the Swedish GP at Anderstorp for Yamaha – had a Briton stood atop the podium. Crutchlow then doubled his tally by winning again in Australia later in the season.

Appearing alongside his team boss Lucio Cecchinello and one of his Team LCR Honda bikes, Crutchlow was honoured to have been recognised by the RAC Torrens committee.

“I feel very privileged that the Royal Automobile Club considers me worthy of it,” he said. “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.”

After receiving the trophy from Barrie Baxter, Chairman of the Torrens Trophy Nominations Committee and a regular face on two and four wheels at the Goodwood Revival, Crutchlow looked back on his breakthrough achievement at Brno, his second win – at Phillip Island – that he considered more satisfying due to consistent track conditions, and the pleasure he derived from taking pole position and second place on home soil at Silverstone.

Asked whether he fancied joining 2015 Torrens winner and 14-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson in the road-racing ranks, Crutchlow joked: “Yeah, but no, because it would end in divorce!”

Joining World Superbike Champions James Toseland and Tom Sykes, multiple British Superbike title holder Shane Byrne and Hutchinson as a Torrens Trophy winner, Crutchlow now turns his attentions to the 2017 MotoGP season.

“I can’t wait to get to Malaysia for the pre-season test on the 2017 Honda,” he admitted. “I can’t tell you how it’s going to go, because I don’t really know, but I’d love to have another season like we had in 2016 – perhaps without the first six races [in which he had three retirements and a best finish of 11^th]! I love working with Lucio and the guys – it really is a team effort and it’s great to give the big boys a hard time. We want to do it again.”

The 2017 MotoGP season kicks off in Qatar on March 26.