Speed Captured in Glass. Monster Energy Grand Prix of Czechia Unveils New Trophies

CREDITAS Autodrom Brno has commissioned a set of original glass trophies for the top riders and teams at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Czechia. The trophies were created at the AJETO glassworks in Lindava, part of the Lasvit Group, and designed by Elizabeth Zaltsman, who drew inspiration from the speed, strength and aesthetics of motorcycle racing.

The substantial glass trophies will be awarded to the top three riders and the winning teams in the MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 categories. Their design combines traditional Czech glassmaking craftsmanship, contemporary design and the expertise of the AJETO glassworks.

“At the beginning, I identified several key concepts that would guide the shape of the trophy,” Zaltsman explains. “The most important were speed and strength,” she says, adding that she watched a large number of motorcycle races as part of her research.

“I noticed that trophies often replicate the shape of the circuit itself, and I wanted to move away from that approach. Although the track profile is incorporated into the trophy because it is an essential element, I wanted the trophy’s form to speak for itself,” she adds.

The result is a cylindrical trophy with an angled top, inspired by the shape of a motorcycle exhaust tip. Producing the trophies was exceptionally demanding, not only from a design perspective but also in terms of craftsmanship. Working with such a large volume of glass required the glassmakers to combine strength, precision and experience.

“The production process involved three different techniques. First came the blowing and shaping of the glass into a cylinder using a special metal glassblowing pipe. This stage required gathering a particularly large amount of molten glass,” says AJETO Managing Director David Ševčík.

Once the desired shape had been achieved, the cylinder was inserted into a specially made beechwood mould to ensure precise dimensions. The wooden mould containing the molten glass had to be continuously cooled with running water.

“Because the trophies are made of solid glass and considerable internal tension develops during production, they were left to cool for a full week. Only then could the top section be cut to its precise angle, followed by grinding and polishing. The next stage involved silvering the hollow interior of the trophy, while the final step was sandblasting, which was used to engrave the text and the circuit profile onto the angled front face,” Ševčík explains.

“The Monster Energy Grand Prix of Czechia deserves trophies that are as distinctive as the race itself. We wanted them to reflect the shared heritage of Czech craftsmanship, the racing circuit and motorcycle racing, and I believe we have achieved exactly that. I am confident they will serve as a memorable reminder of success in Brno for the riders who receive them,” concludes Miroslav Bartoš, Director of CREDITAS Autodrom Brno.