MINDING MEMORIES
Apprentice, trials rider, mechanic, minder, Enduro rider — you name it in offroad — Jack Lee has got the majority of the t-shirts. Well known by the riders and the factories, in 2007, Jack spent four years working as James Dabill’s minder. After a period of minding for other riders, Adam Raga, riding for
Gas Gas, contacted Jack. They spent a really enjoyable 12 months together before committing his future to John Lee Motorcycles in 2015. We asked Jack for some of his ‘Minding Memories’.
TEAM TRW
TRW had a massive workshop, a massive truck, and the rest was down to us. They wanted to make sure that they got the most out of everything for the team and James. They were very professional. Everything down to the last detail had to be spot-on with the Montesa.
The whole time that we spent in Italy was mega. We had an apartment where we stayed – and where we had some laughs! The first year’s highlight was when ‘Dibs’ won the Italian Championship up in the mountains at a ski resort. The team was celebrating in a bar when the head man asked Dibs to wheelie through the door and put his front wheel directly onto the bar. It was great – it went flying! No worries from the head barman, though – he was wrecked and laughing his head off.
BRITISH CHAMPIONS 2009
We had been out to Spain training with Adam Raga. He helped Dibs understand the characteristics of the Gas Gas after he had been on a four-stroke for two years. We started very well, winning the first two rounds before we had some, shall we say, misfortune. After the fourth round, it could have been the end of the season as we had a massive crash. We had to get the spanners out for a good 40 minutes to sort the ‘Gasser’; third at the end of the day was a good result.
Dibs went over the bars at the fourth round and bent the rear sprocket — Alexz Wigg won. As Michael Brown won a round, he showed us that he was up for a fight. In truth, James was always the better rider. It was a happy day for everyone, including ‘Shirty’ when he won in 2009; the team deserved it.
Shirty was always mega and keen as mustard. When you see an importer running around British Championship rounds and then flying out to all the World rounds to make sure he can make everything that little bit better for his rider, you know he is keen to win.
ADAM RAGA
Working with Adam was more of a privilege than a job. We got on straight away. The language barrier was no problem as Adam’s English is very good. He had very high standards, and so did I; maybe that’s why it worked so well; his work ethic is unreal.
When I was with Adam, the Gas Gas factory was going through a challenging financial period, but he never let it affect him; it was always 100%. When I see Adam as the only rider who still really pushes Toni Bou, I understand why; he is so dedicated to winning!
We became very good friends, which remains to the present day. We run the trials training day through the shop once a year with Adam during the summer when he comes to the UK. The riders love him, he is a bit of a lad who enjoys life, and his time in the world of trials would make a good book. Maybe one day, it will go to print.