Motorcyclist magazine's European Correspondent Alan Cathcart has been acclaimed as Journalist of the Year by the world's most prestigious association of press and media correspondents covering the automotive, motorcycle and commercial vehicle sectors, the Guild of Motoring Writers.
Founded 64 years ago, the UK-based Guild is represented in 32 countries around the world, from Europe to Japan, and the USA to Australia. Its membership comprises key figures in the newspaper and magazine publishing industries, as well as in electronic media and the TV/film/radio arenas.
At an Awards Ceremony on December 12th at the Royal Automobile Club in London's Pall Mall, Alan Cathcart received the Journalist of the Year Award for 2008. Sponsored by French car manufacturer Renault since 1977, this consists of the Pierre Dreyfus Trophy and a cheque for 2,500, awarded to "the Guild member adjudged to have made the most outstanding journalistic achievement in any medium - newspaper, magazine, book, radio, television or film. Particular emphasis is placed on initiative and endeavour."
In receiving the Award from Renault UK Director Tim Jackson, Alan Cathcart was cited for his 2007 achievement in becoming the first and, so far, only journalist ever to have tested every single factory MotoGP and World Superbike motorcycle - 10 bikes in all - during a single season, for a series of comparative and standalone articles published during 2008. "Alan's extensive experience in riding these fast and fearsome devices allowed him to deliver an authoritative and perceptive assessment of their performance and makeup to his readers," said Guild presenter Clive Jacobs. "It's a unique achievement well deserving of this prize."
"I'm extremely honoured to be recognized in this way by my journalist colleagues on both two and four wheels," said Alan Cathcart. "I'm also very thankful to the race teams and factories concerned for having entrusted me with their exotic, ultra-expensive machines on an ongoing basis for so many years, and hope this will continue into the future. I'm also appreciative of the support of the magazines around the world which publish my articles, and their readers who read them and make it all possible."
