Steve Parrish
Encyclopedia
Steve Parrish is a former motorcycle
and truck
racer, who now commentates for various British
television channels on motorsport.
on a Suzuki
in the 1976
500cc world championship
. Parrish finished fifth in the 1977
500cc world championship, but returned to British based riding to become the 1978 500cc British Champion. He also won the Shell 500 title in both 1979 and 1980, and a Superbike title in 1981.
factory team to three British Superbike championship titles; and starting a successful truck racing
career, winning the 1987 British Open Truck Racing Championship. Parrish took both the European and British Truck Racing championship titles in 1990, then held the British title for four years and retained the European title for three years driving for the BP
-Mercedes Benz team. Parrish regained the prestigious European crown again in 1996 in Jarama
. The most successful truck racer ever, he retired in 2002 at the age of 47 to hand over to Terry Rymer
.
Career Highlights
1976: Winner Grovewood Award, Best Young Rider, Motorcycles
1977: 5th, 500cc World Motorcycle Championship
1978: Winner, 500cc British Motorcycle Championship
1979: Winner, 500cc Shellsport Motorcycle Championship
1981: Winner, British Superbike Championship
1987: Winner, British Open Truck Racing Championship
1989: 2nd, British Open Truck Racing Championship
1990: Winner, European and British Truck Racing Championship
1991: Winner, British Open Truck Racing Championship
1992: Winner, European and British Truck Racing Championship
1993: Winner, European and British Truck Racing Championship
1994: Winner, European Truck Racing Championship
1995: 2nd, European Truck Racing Championship
1996: Winner, European Truck Racing Championship
1997: 8th, European Truck Racing Championship
1998: 5th, European Truck Racing Championship
1999: 4th, European Truck Racing Championship
2000: 5th, European Truck Racing Championship
2001: 6th, European Truck Racing Championship
radio, and then transferring to television with Sky
with Barry Nutley. From 1990 he commentated on the British 125 championship for the BBC, before transferring to their Moto GP coverage, currently undertaken with Charlie Cox
. The pair have a rapport and have commentated on a number of series for the BBC from the late 1990s, including British Touring Cars, British and WorldSuperbikes and now MotoGP. A qualified pilot, Parrish is also a commentator for the Red Bull Air Race series for Channel 4
.
for the “Fastest Speed Achieved in Reverse” (85 mph) using a Caterham car
.
r, Parrish is banned from Macau
after blowing up a brothel
, and burnt down a toilet block in Poland
. He also posed as a medical doctor to allow John Hopkins
to fly from Japan to the Australian GP. He also upset his fellow village residents by registering PEN 1 S as his car number plate.
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...
and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
racer, who now commentates for various British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television channels on motorsport.
Racing career
Parrish turned professional at the age of 22 in 1976, winning the ACU Solo title in the British Motor Cycle Championship, as well as being team mate to Barry SheeneBarry Sheene
Barry Stephen Frank Sheene MBE was a British World Champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.-Early life:...
on a 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...
in the 1976
1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 28th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1976 marked the beginning of the era of Suzuki domination with the Japanese firm taking 11 of the first 12 places in the premier class. Angel Nieto would take his fifth world title...
500cc world championship
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
. Parrish finished fifth in the 1977
1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 29th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Suzuki saw off a strong challenge from Yamaha to take their second consecutive 500cc crown. Angel Nieto made it three 50cc titles in a row on a Bultaco while Morbidelli would win...
500cc world championship, but returned to British based riding to become the 1978 500cc British Champion. He also won the Shell 500 title in both 1979 and 1980, and a Superbike title in 1981.
Team management
After retiring from motorcycle racing in 1986, Parrish led a dual career both managing a successful YamahaYamaha 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...
factory team to three British Superbike championship titles; and starting a successful truck racing
Truck Racing
Truck racing is a form of motor racing which involves modified versions of heavy tractor units on racing circuits.The sport started in England in 1984 with the first race held at Donington Park and enjoyed great success, but declined in the 1990s. However, in the last few years the profile of...
career, winning the 1987 British Open Truck Racing Championship. Parrish took both the European and British Truck Racing championship titles in 1990, then held the British title for four years and retained the European title for three years driving for the BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
-Mercedes Benz team. Parrish regained the prestigious European crown again in 1996 in Jarama
Jarama
Jarama is a river in central Spain. It flows north to south, and passes east of Madrid when El Atazar Dam is built on a tributary, the Lozoya River. It flows into the river Tagus in Aranjuez...
. The most successful truck racer ever, he retired in 2002 at the age of 47 to hand over to Terry Rymer
Terry Rymer
Originally born Terance William Rymer Jr, Terry Rymer is a retired motorcycle road racer turned car and truck racer....
.
Career Highlights
1976: Winner Grovewood Award, Best Young Rider, Motorcycles
1977: 5th, 500cc World Motorcycle Championship
1978: Winner, 500cc British Motorcycle Championship
1979: Winner, 500cc Shellsport Motorcycle Championship
1981: Winner, British Superbike Championship
1987: Winner, British Open Truck Racing Championship
1989: 2nd, British Open Truck Racing Championship
1990: Winner, European and British Truck Racing Championship
1991: Winner, British Open Truck Racing Championship
1992: Winner, European and British Truck Racing Championship
1993: Winner, European and British Truck Racing Championship
1994: Winner, European Truck Racing Championship
1995: 2nd, European Truck Racing Championship
1996: Winner, European Truck Racing Championship
1997: 8th, European Truck Racing Championship
1998: 5th, European Truck Racing Championship
1999: 4th, European Truck Racing Championship
2000: 5th, European Truck Racing Championship
2001: 6th, European Truck Racing Championship
Commentary career
In 1985, Parrish started commentating for the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio, and then transferring to television with Sky
Sky Television plc
Sky Television plc was a public limited company which operated its four-channel satellite television service, launched by Rupert Murdoch's News International on 5 February 1989...
with Barry Nutley. From 1990 he commentated on the British 125 championship for the BBC, before transferring to their Moto GP coverage, currently undertaken with Charlie Cox
Charlie Cox (racing)
Charlie Cox , a motorcycling commentator, was brought up in the Sydney suburb of Gymea.-Racing career:His background is based on 4 wheels rather than 2. He raced in the National Saloon Car Cup in Britain using a Ford Escort RS Cosworth in 1993 and 1994, winning several races. He also won the...
. The pair have a rapport and have commentated on a number of series for the BBC from the late 1990s, including British Touring Cars, British and WorldSuperbikes and now MotoGP. A qualified pilot, Parrish is also a commentator for the Red Bull Air Race series for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
Other work and achievements
Away from television, he regularly tests various vehicles and racing machines, and is an expert witness for motor racing incidents. Parrish holds the Guinness Book of Records world recordWorld record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for the “Fastest Speed Achieved in Reverse” (85 mph) using a Caterham car
Caterham Cars
Caterham Cars is a manufacturer of specialist lightweight sports cars based in Caterham, Surrey, England and part of the British motor industry. Their only current model, the Caterham 7 , is a direct evolution of the Series 3 Lotus Seven designed by Colin Chapman and originally launched in 1968. A...
.
Personality
An infamous practical jokePractical joke
A practical joke is a mischievous trick played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or...
r, Parrish is banned from Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
after blowing up a brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
, and burnt down a toilet block in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. He also posed as a medical doctor to allow John Hopkins
John Hopkins (motorcycle racer)
John "Hopper" Hopkins is an American motorcycle racer currently racing in the British Superbike Championship . Hopkins has raced previously in MotoGP, AMA Superbike Championship, and Superbike World Championship. He first raced in MotoGP in 2002 for the Red Bull Yamaha WCM team on a two-stroke...
to fly from Japan to the Australian GP. He also upset his fellow village residents by registering PEN 1 S as his car number plate.