Just getting everyone to be in the same place at the same time this year proved to be a formidable task - one of the difficulties of a truly international membership. Michael Uhlarik, who organized the voting, has now returned to his Canadian homeland, and MDA President Glynn Kerr is now based in California. But everyone converged in Köln for the Intermot Designers' Night, and the planets were finally aligned for the presentation, albeit as a fairly informal event this year.
 
The Motorcycle Design Trophy, itself recently redesigned and now beautifully CNC-machined from billet aluminium by Duch suspension specialists Hyperpro, is presented to the all-round best new design each year. Ian Alderton from Honda Europe was on hand to accept this year's award, as was Gabriele Scalzi from Rossocromo, whose team produced a terrific show bike based on Honda's production model ahead of the world launch at Milan last year.
 
"The CB1000R is a bold and dramatic design that really pushes the envelope of the modern naked bike", explains Kerr. "The fact that this comes from the world's largest volume motorcycle manufacturer makes it even more remarkable. Rossocromo delivered the double-whammy, by developing a stunning show bike that was released simultaneously with the production model. The MDA congratulates both teams for this outstanding piece of design."
 
Other designs that were highly commended in the review of 2007 models were Rob Brady's Vectrix SBK and Aprilia's impressive FV2 design study, along with the Suzuki Crosscage and the Yamaha BW Concept scooter.

Gabriele Scalzi from Rossocromo and Ian Alderton from Honda Europe accept the Motorcycle Design Trophy from MDA President Glynn Kerr at the Köln Intermot Designers' Night.© MDA

Ian Alderton and Glynn Kerr with the Rossocromo team. © MDA

The Honda CB1000R was the winner of this year's Motorcycle Design Trophy. © Honda

Rossocromo's XESS show bike took the CB1000R to a higher level. © Honda