About us

In 1979 I was employed in a large engineering firm, W.H. Allens of Bedford where I was taught the basic principles of engineering, including turning, milling, and sheet metal work. I then took the position of storeman in a newly opened Kawasaki dealer, K Motorcycles, as the workshop was so busy, I also helped out, with basic servicing and repair work under the guidance of two great technicians, Richard (Woody) Woodworth now UK Technical Manager at Harley Davidson, and Dave Arch, one of G.P. Rider and commentator, Keith Huewin’s ex-race mechanics. My first real involvement with racing motorcycles came in 1982 when I was part of the pit crew at the Manx GP, working on a TZ350E which showed promise during practice, but unfortunately, during the race, broke its frame in three places.

By 1983, I was employed to manage a Branch of K Motorcycles in Northampton, Kay Parts Ltd, with responsibility for repairing and recommisioning sub-standard part exchanges taken by the rest of the group. This shop eventually developed into a breakers / repair shop, that following the collapse of the K Motorcycles group, I eventually went on to own. Selling it as a going concern in 1991. While I owned the shop, I helped build and maintain several road racing bikes including a brand new Honda RS125 that we bought from Colin Appleyards for local club racer Darren Kilmurray, a YPVS 350 based F2 racers, several TZ350’s including a beautiful Spondon framed TZ350G and an 1989 FZR600 Super Sport 600 bike that Adam Lewis took to 8th place in the National Championship that year, one place above John Reynolds’s team, and a Turbo Nitrous GSX1100 Ultimate Street drag bike sponsored by Federal Express.

I then took a short break from the trade in order to complete a BSc degree from the University of Leicester, upon graduating I moved to North Wales and into the workshop of Wood’s Motorcycles. Where I was responsible for the servicing and maintenance of wide range of modern bikes including Moto Guzzi, Triumph and Ducati. During this time I also maintained and built several engines for the Honda RS125 belonging to British and Welsh 125 Champion Neil (Nelly) Pearson.

My next employment was in a slightly different role, as the North West Area Sales manager for a major UK wholesaler Bickers Plc. At the the time they were the UK importers of GS Batteries, Motorex oils, DID chains, Maxxis tyres and a large range of Vesrah products. while I there I was responsible for approximately 185 dealer accounts, selling and providing technical assistance for all of their products.

After nearly five years on the road I accepted the position of Sales Manager at the local branch of a well known dealership Bill Smith Motors (Gwynedd), where I was responsible for the sales of their portfolio of franchises including, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Vespa, Piaggio and Quadzilla. While working for them I was also involved in the development, maintenance and tuning of the Managing Directors team of classic Honda motorcross bikes.

I hope that this gives some insight into the range of experience and skill I bring to the running of A55 Motorcycles.