British Superbike Champion

Name: John Reynolds. Age: 36. Salary: Around £60,000 per year plus win bonuses and sponsorship deals. Hours: 40-plus a week. Special Requirements: talent in abundance, patience and sheer grit. Work Bike: Works Ducati. Bike Extras: Factory engine, chassis and suspension, slick tyres, carbon bodywork… everything really.

At the age of 7 John Reynolds discovered an old petrol tank behind his dad’s garage and his dad built him a Honda 50 – 29 years on and he’s British Superbike champion for the second time. But it hasn’t been easy.

” I packed up for a couple of years. I wasn’t going anywhere, it was just too much money. I always wanted to do road racing and I got this Valacette 250. It was basically a frame and engine. I persuaded my dad to do it up and raced it for 3 or 4 meetings, but it cost an absolute fortune. My dad saw I had potential and bought me an LC350 and I started racing. ”

Meeting Vic Lamb was John’s next big break. Vic got him a sponsorship deal with Barry Coxhead on 350s and then when a ride became available with Kawasaki in 1988 Vic put John’s name forward. ” I started with Kawasaki in the 600 Supersport and finished in 1992 by winning the British Superbike Championship. ”

But what does it take to make a successful racer?

” You’re got to keep yourself fit, you have to be dedicated and you have to maintain the will to win. ”

Reynolds reckons there’s no feeling quite like winning. ” The whole thing is just fantastic when you’ve ridden your best and won the race. There’s 15 to 20 people working for the team so when things go well it’s the best feeling in the world. ”

And being a racing champion hasn’t tarnished his love for motorcycling off the track.

” I don’t have a road bike because I don’t really have time to get on one, but I’ve got a 250 motocross and I just love it. There’s about 12 of us who go out and we have a right laugh. ”