British Superbike stars reveal how they obtained into bike racing

Motorsport is notoriously arduous to interrupt into, particularly bike racing, however one staff who break down these obstacles for UK service personnel is True Heroes Racing. 

Earlier this month, we caught up with the riders of True Heroes Racing to ask them the questions followers needed to know; together with how they obtained into bike racing.

Q&As to British Superbike riders 

We requested #61, Dave “Salty” Sellers, and #22, Dave Mackay, a few of your most burning questions.

Bikesure: How did you get into bike using?

Dave Sellers: Via my dad. My earliest reminiscence is of my dad on a Triumph Thunderbird with me sitting on his tank sporting a plastic policeman’s helmet. That was earlier than well being and security, in fact! The remainder, as they are saying, is historical past.

Bikesure: How did you discover out about True Heroes Racing? 

Sellers: In 2013, I had simply retired from racing for the primary time and was spannering for a buddy within the Triumph Triple Problem. I got here throughout and met True Heroes Racing within the BSB paddock.

Bikesure: Did you will have any earlier bike racing expertise previous to becoming a member of True Heroes?

Sellers: I began racing in 2003 once I left the Royal Navy. Then I did membership racing for years and located I used to be fairly good at it – once I wasn’t ingesting and having fun with the social facet an excessive amount of. 

So, I assumed I’d step as much as the BSB paddock and have a go on the Triumph Triple Problem. In 2014, I went on to do the Manx GP and basic TT for 2 years, earlier than progressing to the Isle of Man TT in 2016. In 2017, I retired from racing after a crash on the TT that 12 months and shedding pals there. 

I got here out of retirement in 2018 when Phil (True Heroes Founder and Workforce Principal) requested me to race a wildcard within the Ducati TriOptions Cup at Assen for True Heroes Racing.

Bikesure: What recommendation would you give a fellow serviceman who was considering of stepping into racing?

Sellers: Discover somebody you belief, everybody tries to assist and provides recommendation within the paddock however a whole lot of it’s bull. Discover a trusty supply, somebody that’s been there and accomplished it, and follow them. These individuals are usually older and coated in oil!

Significantly although it’s not as arduous as you assume to get into it, however go in along with your eyes open and your pockets fats!

Bikesure: What has been your biggest achievement or greatest second since becoming a member of True Heroes? 

Sellers: It could be simple to say a race outcome, however I’ve to say serving to one of many True Heroes Racing beneficiaries, Nathan, to get again on his ft and begin a brand new life.

Bikesure: How did you discover out about True Heroes Racing? 

Dave Mackay: I noticed them within the membership paddock the 12 months they shaped again in 2012, so I used to be conscious of the staff. I went alongside to assist at just a few conferences a few years later in 2014 after which the next 12 months rode with them within the Ducati Cup.

Bikesure: What recommendation would you give a fellow serviceman who was considering of stepping into racing?

Mackay: Do it, particularly in case you are nonetheless serving. In any other case, you’ll have to get an actual job to pay for it and as everyone knows, it’s not low-cost!

Bikesure: What has been your biggest achievement/greatest second since becoming a member of True Heroes? 

Mackay: Getting the Grassroots programme up and operating. Seeing individuals who thought it was going to be too restrictive to race a motorbike, acquiring a race licence and get on the grid was/is extraordinarily rewarding. Particularly when progress is tangible over the course of a race season.

Q&As to Ducati TriOptions Cup opponents 

We requested Ducati TriOptions Cup opponents #15, Leon Wilton, #44, Charlie White, and #89, Chris Ganley, about their experiences racing.

Bikesure: What recommendation would you give a fellow serviceman who was considering of stepping into racing?

Leon Wilton: To start with, look into how a lot it’s going to price. It has a large impression in your racing and talent to race. I feel it’s a life-style greater than a sport. It’s one thing that you just can not simply dip out and in of.

Bikesure: What has been your biggest achievement/greatest second since becoming a member of True Heroes?

Wilton: My greatest moments to this point with True Heroes Racing have been: getting factors within the first race weekend at Silverstone, and racing within the World Superbikes, searching for my greatest outcome by battling with 12^th, however sadly crashed out. However nonetheless a fantastic achievement.

Bikesure: Did you will have any earlier bike racing expertise previous to becoming a member of True Heroes?

Wilton: I had two years value of endurance race expertise for Workforce Military, earlier than transferring to Dash racing within the Interservice Championship, the place I gained the championship in 2020 upon becoming a member of True Heroes.

Bikesure: How did you discover out about True Heroes Racing? 

Charlie White: As a motorcycle race fan, I at all times saved a detailed eye on outcomes and noticed the True Heroes Racing staff by way of that. It was solely on the finish of final 12 months although once I was launched to the staff and noticed first-hand what it was all actually about.

Bikesure: Did you will have any earlier bike racing expertise previous to becoming a member of True Heroes?

White: As I’m a serving Royal Marine Commando, I began my racing profession by way of the Royal Navy Royal Marine Street Race staff after becoming a member of them in 2016 to race within the Interservices Championship. I began racing on a Triumph Daytona 675 after which after a 12 months or so I moved onto racing a Honda CB500 till the top of the 2021 season.

Bikesure: What has been your biggest achievement/greatest second since becoming a member of True Heroes? 

White: Getting two eleventh place finishes at Cadwell Park and getting factors for the staff. Getting factors this 12 months was my primary aim after transferring to the BSB paddock and using a very completely different bike. 

Since I began, the considered racing at British Supersport had at all times been a dream. This 12 months the staff gave me that chance at my native observe Thruxton, which was so surreal.

Bikesure: What has been your biggest achievement/greatest second since becoming a member of True Heroes? 

Chris Ganley: Qualifying at Donnington Park for the WSBK help spherical, it was my first time qualifying to race at such a tremendous observe, and so far as I’m conscious the primary one armed rider ever to qualify at a nationwide degree of racing.

Bikesure: What recommendation would you give a fellow serviceman who was considering of stepping into racing?

Ganley: What a fantastic bunch of men and women, all with related ardour and camaraderie, everybody has all related backgrounds and all so welcoming. If in case you have a draw to the racing, what a good way to observe and get entangled.

Bikesure: How did you get into bike using?

Ganley: After I was youthful I at all times needed to experience, my uncle took me on the again of his Fireblade once I was about ten and at all times had the bug for it, however I didn’t begin using until my second tour. After I got here again for my two weeks’ go away, I booked in for a CBT to see what it was all about and beloved each second of it. As soon as I got here again, I booked in to get my full licence.

Bikesure: Did you will have any earlier bike racing expertise previous to becoming a member of True Heroes?

Ganley: After I used to be discharged from the Military I began racing a Yamaha YZF-R1 in 2017 in a membership known as Thundersport, which I came upon over the previous few weeks is closing down which is a big disgrace. I raced the R1 for 3 years till I used to be compelled to alter to a Yamaha R6, which I raced final 12 months in the identical membership.

Q&As to Grassroots riders

We ask grassroots riders Chris Duggan (#3), Chris Jacketts (#10), and affiliate rider James Cleary (#87) about their experiences with True Heroes Racing.

Bikesure: How did you discover out about True Heroes Racing? 

Chris Duggan: I used to be a affected person on the Army Rehabilitation hospital and was requested if I needed to go to Manufacturers Hatch BSB and meet True Heroes Racing. I used to be advised by the workers what the staff was about, and was instantly very concerned with assembly them. I couldn’t have met a nicer bunch of individuals.

Bikesure: What recommendation would you give a fellow serviceman who was considering of stepping into racing?

Duggan: Come alongside, meet the staff and see what it’s all about. See the way it helps individuals who have their ups and downs from each psychological and bodily accidents. Racing and dealing on the bikes is a good type of treatment and provides you that break from all worries you will have even when it’s only for a short while.

Bikesure: What recommendation would you give a fellow serviceman who was considering of stepping into racing?

Chris Jacketts: Encourage them to get on observe as quickly as attainable even only a observe day, if the curiosity and need is there then go for it. It’s so simple to maintain placing it off and doubt our personal capability, simply go for it and the neighborhood is so useful!

Bikesure: What has been your biggest achievement or greatest second since becoming a member of True Heroes? 

Jacketts: Tough one as I’ve had so many good occasions with the staff, even simply watching others obtain what they thought they couldn’t. 

Mine although is constructing and serving to to develop the Ducati V2s this season and my involvement in serving to Dan Cleary get again on a motorbike and again on observe after his decrease limb amputation. 

Additionally chasing Chris Duggan round Cadwell Park in the course of the IMS 600 Race with NG Street Racing, by no means laughed a lot while making an attempt to experience a motorbike.

Bikesure: How did you discover out about True Heroes Racing? 

James Cleary: Now we have watched BSB for years as a household and my dad noticed the staff on TV. He contacted them to see if he might assist out in any approach. As a consequence of my dad being injured in service, it was a approach of him and I being surrounded by like minded folks throughout a troublesome time.

Bikesure: What has been your biggest achievement or greatest second since becoming a member of True Heroes?  

Cleary: Profitable the Newcomer 500 Championship while with the ability to help and promote True Heroes Racing was a fantastic achievement for me, however with the ability to watch my dad go his ACU after his amputation with their help was the very best second.

Fancy the fun of the observe?

Now you realize in regards to the wonderful riders of True Heroes Racing, maybe this has whet your urge for food on spending a day at a observe your self?  
With that in thoughts, it’s reassuring to know that in addition to sensible bespoke bike insurance coverage, Bikesure can organise particular cowl for trackdays and different bike occasions from as little as £67.20, and should you’re a member of Motorsport UK it’ll be even cheaper with our unique low cost scheme.

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