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In his first
five years of racing as a privateer and on a low
budget, Mike gained 14 1st place positions, 12
2nd place positions, 6 3rd place positions and
broke numerous lap records and was rated as the
top Short Circuit competitor.
With the pull of racing in Europe, Mike decided
to return to the United Kingdom in 1988. His aim
was to race in Europe; his dream was to move
into the specialised Superbike class. To save
money for the move, he became a Development
Rider for Slim Cameron testing a prototype
motorcycle intended for use in Formula One and
Endurance racing.
He returned to the UK in 1988 and in 1989
competed in the British Supersport 400
Championship and was snapped up by HMSO Books
(Her Majesty’s Stationery Office) in their
first-ever sport sponsorship deal.
At the peak of his career, the recession saw
HMSO Books unable to continue his sponsorship
for the 1991 season and at the same time, Mike
was made redundant, causing his racing career to
be put on indefinite hold.
Mike was devastated. To try and earn money to
begin racing again, he started his own business
but it would be 10 long years before he raced
again and nearly 14 years before he raced as a
solo again.
In August of 2000, Mike was given the
opportunity to race as a sub-rider for Coyote
Racing at the Snetterton 8-hour KRC Endurance
race. Although it had been 10 years since he
raced, he rode as if he had never been off the
track. Mike became Coyote's top rider and raced
with them in the KRC Endurance Championships up
until 2004.
In 2002, Mike decided to try his hand at
Supermoto and entered the British Supermoto
Winter Championship Series, coming 9th overall
in the 450 Rookie Championship. In 2003, he
competed in the NORA National Supermoto
Championship and brought home 4 trophies during
the year but found that Supermoto, although
inexpensive, was not the same as solo racing.
He decided to return to his first love - solo
racing - in 2004 by entering the BMCRC
Supersport 600 Championship on a Yamaha R6.
During the year, Mike regained his form and
confidence which was categorically shown at
Snetterton on October 1, where he took his first
trophies in 13.5 years. He came home with two
3rds and a 2nd, beating the leading championship
Honda on all 3 occasions and on a 1998 Yamaha.
In 2005, Mike was leading the Supersport 600
championship when
a rider crashed in front of him and he had
nowhere to go. He sustained serious injuries,
which nearly ended his life. Although his season
was put on hold, he raced the last races of the
season, scoring in the top 5, only to be taken
out again in the last race of the season.
Fully recovered, Mike returned to Endurance
Racing in 2006 where he came 2nd in the KRC
600cc Endurance Class - at the age of 48.
In 2007, Mike
was crowned the HMRC National Supersport 600
Endurance Champion, along with Moores Racing
teammates, Tony Jimenez and Jim Agomabar. He
also finished 6th in the Triumph Triple
Challenge.
This year, Mike
will be defending
his Endurance Champion title, again with Moores
Racing.
Mike has proven without a doubt that age is no
barrier to being competitive. Turning 50 years of
age in May, he is an inspiration to his fellow riders
in the paddock.
His long-term goal is to return to the British
Superbike paddock both as a rider and a manager
to mentor a young and aspiring racer.
View Mike's Career
Highlights >> |