I did my 5year Motorcycle Mechanic apprenticeship (trade qualifications) in New Zealand and raced Motocross, then later production street bike racing. I won NZ titles on 250, 600 then later Superbikes. Mostly preparing my own bikes.
My intro to international motorcycle racing was in 1989 when I mechanic'd for Legendary Graham Crozby for a SBK race in Kuala Lumpar... in many ways....that was a real blast!
I raced Yamaha Superbikes in Japan, New Zealand, Australia & Malaysia before coming to the UK where in 1992 I rode for Neil Tuxwhorth at Honda UK. I finished 4th in the British MCN championship.
I rode World championship for the next 8 years starting out on Private Machines & ending up in factory teams & machines.
I got 10 podiums (a friend just looked it up on the internet for me) in the Superbike Worldchampionship.
2nd in the 1996 Suzuka 8 hrs in Japan on a factory Kawasaki partering Anthony Gobert (1997 with Kawasaki partnering Akira Yanagawa & 1998 with Yamaha partnering Nori Haga).
My best results are 3x 500GP Podiums in 1998: 3rd Assen (Doohan, Biaggi, Me), 1st Donington (Me, Doohan, Abe), 2nd Philip Island (Doohan, Me, Crevielle).
I trained and worked as an official Ohlins suspention technition for 2001, built, dyno'd supplied & supported all the suspention for 2x Factory 250GP Aprilia riders & 2x Factory Yamaha 500GP riders during all tests & races on the 2001 GP calenendar. As much as I liked the job & all the great guys at Ohlins Sweden, 60% or more of the year, is to much time away from my wife & kids.
Most recent result: Winner of 2007 Red Bull Romaniacs Hard Enduro Expert class.
I said yes to this job thinking that getting paid to ride again & explain what I spent 12years doing as a proffession will be great. The unexpected bonus was the pleasure i got when the riders I helped go faster, safer, come in off the track with big smiles on there faces. What a job!
Simon