The fabulous Fizzy

It was a strange convoy for the residents of Ashby-de-la-zouch to witness. Up ahead was former GP star and triple British Superbike champ Niall Mackenzie on his Yamaha FS1-E, followed by yours truly on a big Kawasaki 1400GTR and snapper Gary Chapman’s battered Peugeot. People were double-taking as the teeny-tiny Fizzy puffed by in a cloud of blue smoke. Many would point, blokes of a certain age would smile and the rider himself was having a ball. I didn’t even get out of first gear on the mighty Kwak, but I had the best seat in the house. Breathing in that Motul two-stroke and giggling into my own helmet, I’d watched Niall paddlestart the bike and try to streamline himself in a bid to top 55mph. I finally had a chance to overtake a 500cc GP podium finisher but I was too lazy to get into second and to be honest it was funny to witness. Of course, Niall was having the best of nostalgic times, as he had one back in the day and still loves the FS1-E. There’s no doubt the Fizzy made a big impact on him. Me? I just missed out on the Fizzy and pedals were things for pushbikes, but I can’t see my Suzuki X1 being recalled with as much fondness as a Fizz. Check out Niall’s (slow) trip down memory lane on page 38. Other than that we have a packed magazine for you this month: from a £25,000 Metisse to our varied projects and the start of a Yamaha DT175 restoration. On top of all that, our own Pip Higham has had a go at hydroforming his own exhaust and Stan Stephens tunes an RD250LC to proddy spec and much, much more. Enjoy!