This award is in memory of Fred Pinhard, who founded the Club in 1924 and remained as Club Secretary from 1924 until his death in 1948. The trophy itself was originally "The Motorcycle" Trophy won outright by the Sunbeam MCC in the 1947 MCC Inter Club Team Trial and is substantial in size being over a foot high. The Pinhard Prize was first presented in 1950, and 1999 was the 50th year. The list of previous winners includes many of the best riders since 1950 including J Surtees and several of the Lampkins.

This is awarded annually to the young motorcyclist (under 21 years) from an ACU affiliated club, who is adjudged to have made the most meritorious achievement in motorcycle sport in the preceding year. This can be from any discipline and can include organisational prowess. The winner is selected following consideration of applications by five independent judges.

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 Britian’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 26^th 2008 .

Above report by kind permission of TMXnews.