Classic Racer

Classic Racer takes you so close you can actually smell the Castrol R. With the world's finest archive, and an editorial team who live and breathe the sport, the only way you'll get closer will be to put on your leathers.

Classic Racer

Mike ‘The Bike’

Spencer at the double!

Like father…

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Paddock Gossip

Cool classic 2026 events! • We thought we’d bring together a few of the biggest calendars in 2026, including the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club’s calendar, our own events and the 30th anniversary British Superbike Championship. If you’re in a club and have stuff going on, send it to: bertie.simmonds@kelsey.co.uk

Whatever happened to? HARRY PEARCE • Not many racers and/or engineers can straddle the different worlds of two- and four-wheeled racing, but one that did with equal skill and affection was Harry Pearce.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD! • He’s often cited as the best rider ‘never’ to win the 500cc world championship, but that does him (and the series) a disservice. Think of that very special 500 era from the late 1970s to the early 1990s without him there. Doesn’t bear thinking about, does it? In part one of our two-parter, we find out why Randy – for many of us – is a real champion….

FORZA FILA! • It was all change for 2003 when the factory Ducati squad got Fila backing and a brand-new V-twin to go racing on. Alan Cathcart rides Neil Hodgson’s championship-winning Ducati 999 F03.

HONDA VFR750R RC30 • Freddie Spencer, two-time 500cc world champion, did the 500cc/250cc double in 1985. In 1991 he rode this gorgeous Two Brothers Racing Honda RC30 in the AMA series. He took a win at the final race of the year at Miami on his way to eighth in the championship.

DANCING DOWN THE PIT LANE • On the eve of the launch of his autobiography, some-time racer, suspension expert, team manager and Mallory Park circuit boss Stuart Hicken gives us a potted history of his time on two wheels. Here is part 2!

1979 SUZUKI RG700 XR23B • By the end of the 1970s the RG500 was well established in Grand Prix racing, having won the 500cc title in 1976 and 1977 with Barry Sheene. Towards the end of the 1970s big money 1000cc International racing series were becoming very popular. By now the 1000cc four-strokes were making over 130bhp as were the Yamaha TZ750 four-cylinder two-strokes and it was obvious to Suzuki a larger-capacity machine was needed. The TR750 was obsolete, so something based on the 500cc square four was chosen instead. It would become the RG700…

WORLD-BEATING BRITS! • It was ironic that a project which seemed to be a real-life version of the bike racing movie Silver Dream Racer partly came about when the silver dream turned into a nightmare. Stuart Barker begins the first part of a remarkable British racing story of Armstrong, Barry Hart and the Silver Dream Racer…

WORLD CHAMP! • In the final instalment of our three-part series, Neil Hodgson talks us through his triumphant return to the World Superbike Championship, his time racing in America and the dirt bike injury that ended his career.

SEASON’S END! • Classic Racer friends Tony and Claire Greenslade run Gibson/Allspeed exhausts in Essex – they also run a successful team in the CRMC championship. This time the team reach the end of the championship.

Fred Clarke • In his regular column for Classic Racer, Fred Clarke – for more than 50 years the voice of British motorcycle racing – takes us back in time for some (often fun) recollections.

WACKY RACERS! • Some bikes are race-bred and born to the race-track: be they prototypes or production...