The Sunbeam MCC is delighted to announce that Bradley Smith has been adjudged the winner of The Pinhard Trophy for 2009.

This is one of the UK’s most prestigious awards having been presented since 1950 to the best Under-21 year old sporting motorcyclist competing under ACU or SACU jurisdiction.

On being told of his success, Bradley said "That's awesome news and just looking at the previous winners makes me realise how important the Pinhard Trophy is in the history of British Motor Cycle racing. For my name to go on the trophy alongside some the greats in all forms of racing is a great honour which I really appreciate."

Previous winners are a list of motorcycling greats over the last 60 years who have excelled in all spheres of the sport including John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Jeff Smith, Brian Martin, Roy Peplow, Dan Shorey, Scott Ellis, Alexz Wigg and a host of others who have gone on to be national and international household names.

Bradley is already heavily involved in preparation for next season otherwise the huge 2 gallon cup would have been presented at the ACU Awards ceremony in January. It is now planned to make the presentation at Silverstone during the British round of MotoGP on 6th June 2010.

Bradley faced stiff competition from representatives of all branches of motorcycle sport and we salute their efforts. First Runner-up was Jack Challoner from Trials, 2nd Runner-up was Josh Waterman from MotoCross

Sunbeam MCC awards the trophy in memory of Frederick William Pinhard who died in 1948 whilst serving as Secretary of the Club.

Judges were editors of leading motorcycle periodicals, General Secretary of the ACU and officials from Sunbeam MCC.

The Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club Ltd is pleased to announce that the 2008 winner of this Annual Award for the most Meritorious Performance in Motorcycle Sport by an under 21 year old is Scott Redding.

Scott Redding started racing Mini Motos in 2002, making a name for himself as a focused and very quick young rider. He progressed up to the 80cc Metrakit ‘Calypso Cup’ in 2005, where he won all six rounds of the series.

In 2006 Scott tested for the Red Bull sponsored MotoGP Academy Cup series along with over 270 other British hopefuls. His talent was quickly identified and, along with 4 other Brits he was offered a ride.  However he had a mixed season with only one podium finish at the last round in Jerez.

For 2007 he signed for his current team BLU:sens Aprilia riding in the Spanish CEV 125cc championship finishing second overall to Stefan Bradl with a difference of eight points, taking a second place at round four and winning at the final rounds of five, six and seven.

Redding left the CEV championship for 2008, being entered by team BLU:sens Aprilia in the 125cc Grand Prix World championship. Redding made a sensational start at the opening round of Qatar, by being the youngest ever rider in the 125cc class to qualify on the front row of the grid, in fourth place. He went on to take fifth place in the race setting the lap record for the 125cc class of 2’05.635 in the process. He was also on the front row in Spain.

On 22 June 2008 Redding became the youngest ever Grand Prix winner, aged 15 years and 170 days, when he won the 2008 British 125cc  Grand Prix at Donington Park. Redding took the lead with six laps remaining after pressuring Andrea Lannone into pushing hard and going off at Craner Curves.

Redding held off Frenchman Mike Di Meglio and Spaniard Marc Marquez to win in only his eighth 125cc outing. He became the first British winner of a 125cc race since Chas Mortimer won the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix and the first British winner of a British motorcycle Grand Prix in the 125cc class since 1973, when Tommy Robb won at the 1973  Isle of Man TT, which was then the British round of the world championship.

A £50 cheque accompanies the huge 2 gallon cup together with a retention replica cup.  Sunbeam MCC awards the trophy in memory of Frederick William Pinhard who died in 1948 whilst serving as Secretary of the Club.

Tommy Searle is the winner of this year’s Prize. MX ace Tommy (18) from Goudhurst, Kent, rides the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team and beat off stiff opposition from no fewer than 12 official candidates for the huge Pinhard Trophy, including Bradley Smith, who rode a factory Repsol Honda in the 125 MotoGP category.

Tommy has had a fabulous season, in only his second year on the MXGP World Championship circuit Tommy finished a fine runner-up in MX2 to the experienced Italian ace Tony Cairoli, Tommy also won his first GP moto in Sweden in July, and followed this up with a brilliant first overall MXGP in front of his home fans at Donnington in August. On top of this, he also finished runner-up in the British MX2 Championship to American Mike Brown and was a star member of Britain’s MX des Nations team that finished fifth at Budds Creek in America.

Bradley Smith finished runner-up, but it was a pair of trials riders who finished joint third in Michael Brown and Jack Challoner. Brown won the World Junior Cup while Challoner took the European Championship.

It is hoped that the magnificent Pinhard Trophy will be presented at the ACU awards dinner on Saturday January 26th 2008.