Steve Parrish
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| Nationality |  British |
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| Born | 24 February 1954 Isle of Man |
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Steve Parrish (born 24 February 1954 in Isle of Man) is a former motorcycle and truck racer, who now commentates for various British television channels on motorsport.
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[edit] 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 Sheene on a Suzuki in the 1976 500cc world championship.[1] Parrish finished fifth in the 1977 500cc world championship,[2] 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.
[edit] Team management
After retiring from motorcycle racing in 1986, Parrish led a dual career both managing a successful Yamaha factory team to three British Superbike championship titles;[3] 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.[4][5] 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.[6]
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
[edit] Commentary career
In 1985, Parrish started commentating for the BBC 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.[3] 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.[7] A qualified pilot, Parrish is also a commentator for the Red Bull Air Race series for Channel 4.
[edit] 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 record for the “Fastest Speed Achieved in Reverse” (85 mph) using a Caterham car.[8]
[edit] Personality
An infamous practical joker, Parrish is banned from Macau after blowing up a brothel, and burnt down a toilet block in Poland.[9] He also posed as a medical doctor to allow John Hopkins to fly from Japan to the Australian GP.[10] He also upset his fellow village residents by registering PEN 1 S as his car number plate.
[edit] Personal life
Divorced from wife Ruth, the couple have two children.
[edit] References
- ^ Auto Racing Daily : Steve Parrish: “Obviously I Am Very, Very Excited About Riding The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR”
- ^ Steve Parrish career statistics at MotoGP.com
- ^ a b BBC SPORT | MOTORBIKES | Steve Parrish
- ^ Castrol Motor Oil and Lubricants - The history of Castrol in truck racing
- ^ Anna Sharp - Truck Racing
- ^ Terry Rymer Motorsport - News
- ^ Charlie Cox and Steve Parrish - An Appreciation
- ^ BBC - Press Office - Steve Parrish
- ^ Varsity / Sport / Bombing brothels in Macau
- ^ Sporting Life - Geoff McClure - www.theage.com.au
