Brian Reid (motorcycle racer)
Encyclopedia
Brian Reid was an Irish motorcycle
road racer
.
, and had his first road race the same year at the Dundrod Circuit
in Killinchy 150 riding a TD3 250 Yamaha
. His first road race win came in 1979 at a wet Carrowdore
meeting riding a 125cc Morbidelli
.
He first tackled the Isle of Man circuit
for the Manx Grand Prix
in 1978 riding a Yamaha TZ250 which seized in the newcomers race and threw him off at Cruikshanks corner in Ramsey
, his best result at the Manx coming in 1980 with a second place in the senior race riding an RG500 Suzuki
for Welsh sponsor Raymond Cowles. Reid’s first Isle of Man TT
race came in 1981, without much luck, but he won the first of his national championships the 350cc Ulster Grand Prix
that same year.
In 1982 Reid created history by becoming the first to win 3 Irish road race championships in one year, taking the 250cc, 350cc and 500cc titles. 1983 saw him crowned Irish Motorcyclist of the Year which he also won again in 1989. In 1984 Reid turned his attention to the Formula TT
world championship racing with loyal friend and sponsor Mick Mooney of Irish Racing Motorcycles supplying a privately entered 350cc Yamaha. In that first year Reid collected a bronze medal and, but for a breakdown at the Ulster Grand Prix, could have been gold. Reid made amends in 1985 by taking gold with wins in Portugal, Spain and the Ulster, and repeated the feat in 1986 to be a double world champion; he also had the first of his 5 TT wins in this year.
1989 saw the launch of the hugely popular Regal 600cc championship which Reid took by storm, dominating from the beginning and taking the title on the Budweiser Yamaha, again he retained his title in 1990 and won his second TT taking the Supersport 600cc. Reid went on to take TT wins in 1992, with a double in the Supersport 400cc and Junior 250cc, and in 1993 with a Junior 250cc win.
In 1994 his career was brought to a premature end when he was involved in a serious accident at the Temple 100, his worst ever crash, which ultimately forced him to retire from the sport.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racer
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
.
Biography
Reid started racing in 1976 at St. Angelo airfield, EnniskillenEnniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
, and had his first road race the same year at the Dundrod Circuit
Dundrod Circuit
Dundrod Circuit is a motorsport race track based on public roads used for the RAC Tourist Trophy for sports cars between 1950 and 1955 and for the motorcycle Ulster Grand Prix from 1953 onwards. It is situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
in Killinchy 150 riding a TD3 250 Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
. His first road race win came in 1979 at a wet Carrowdore
Carrowdore
Carrowdore is a small village on the Ards Peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies within the Borough of Ards. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 816.- Education :...
meeting riding a 125cc Morbidelli
Morbidelli
Morbidelli was an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded by Giancarlo Morbidelli in Pesaro, whose 125 cc racing motorcycles were particularly successful from 1975 to 1980. The team was 125 cc world champion in years 1976, 1977 and 1978, and 250 cc champion in 1977...
.
He first tackled the Isle of Man circuit
Snaefell mountain course
Snaefell Mountain Course or Mountain Course is a road-racing circuit used for the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix Races held in the Isle of Man from 1911 and 1923 respectively. The racing is held on public roads closed for racing by an Act of Tynwald...
for the Manx Grand Prix
Manx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
in 1978 riding a Yamaha TZ250 which seized in the newcomers race and threw him off at Cruikshanks corner in Ramsey
Ramsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
, his best result at the Manx coming in 1980 with a second place in the senior race riding an RG500 Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
for Welsh sponsor Raymond Cowles. Reid’s first Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
race came in 1981, without much luck, but he won the first of his national championships the 350cc Ulster Grand Prix
Ulster Grand Prix
The Ulster Grand Prix is a motorcycle road race that takes place on the Dundrod Circuit near Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first races took place in 1922 and in 1935 and 1948 the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme gave it the title Grand Prix d'Europe...
that same year.
In 1982 Reid created history by becoming the first to win 3 Irish road race championships in one year, taking the 250cc, 350cc and 500cc titles. 1983 saw him crowned Irish Motorcyclist of the Year which he also won again in 1989. In 1984 Reid turned his attention to the Formula TT
Formula TT
The Formula TT was a racing class for motorcycles from 1977 to 1989 as the official World Cup under the umbrella of International Motorcycling Federation...
world championship racing with loyal friend and sponsor Mick Mooney of Irish Racing Motorcycles supplying a privately entered 350cc Yamaha. In that first year Reid collected a bronze medal and, but for a breakdown at the Ulster Grand Prix, could have been gold. Reid made amends in 1985 by taking gold with wins in Portugal, Spain and the Ulster, and repeated the feat in 1986 to be a double world champion; he also had the first of his 5 TT wins in this year.
1989 saw the launch of the hugely popular Regal 600cc championship which Reid took by storm, dominating from the beginning and taking the title on the Budweiser Yamaha, again he retained his title in 1990 and won his second TT taking the Supersport 600cc. Reid went on to take TT wins in 1992, with a double in the Supersport 400cc and Junior 250cc, and in 1993 with a Junior 250cc win.
In 1994 his career was brought to a premature end when he was involved in a serious accident at the Temple 100, his worst ever crash, which ultimately forced him to retire from the sport.
Honours
- 1989 Sunday News Sports Personality of the year runner up.
- In 2007 Brian was accepted into the "Irish Racer Magazine Hall of Fame".
Championships
- 1981 – 350cc Ulster Champion
- 1982 – 250cc, 350cc & 500cc Champion
- 1982 – 250cc & 350cc Ulster Champion
- 1983 – 350cc & 500cc Irish Champion
- 1983 – 350cc & 500cc Ulster Champion
- 1984 – 250cc & 350cc Irish Champion
- 1984 – 250cc, 350cc & 500cc Ulster Champion
- 1984 – F11 World Championship – 3rd
- 1985 – F11 World Champion
- 1986 – F11 World Champion
- 1989 – Regal 600cc Champion
- 1990 – Regal 600cc Champion
- 1990 – 600cc Irish Champion
TT Wins
- 1986 – F11 World Championship
- 1990 – 600cc Supersport
- 1992 – 400cc Supersport
- 1992 – 250cc Junior
- 1993 – 250cc Junior