NEIL TUXWORTH

A racing polymath

FAME BECKONS

By 1973 Neil’s success was starting to attract attention. This was his first appearance in MCN, aged 21, after he’d got on the podium of the 125 TT. The lower picture shows him at his parents’ farm, where he lived at the time.

ROADS SUCCESS

It wasn’t just the TT where Neil was making a name for himself. This is the podium of the 1975 North West 200, with (from left) Bob Heath (second), Charlie Williams (winner) and Neil (third). Neil got the fastest lap on his TZ350 at 116.83mph.

YAMAHA DEVOTION

After racing a Matchless G50 early in his career, Neil got hooked on Yamahas (he’s on a TZ at Silverstone above). At one time he was racing a 125, 250, 350 and 750 Yamaha (plus doing ice speedway and sand racing in winter).

FOREIGN JAUNTS

Neil competed at almost every GP between 1974 and 1979 as a privateer, surviving on start money and winnings. In between races he toured Europe – “it was like a holiday”. He also raced at Macau – the shot above is from 1981.

NEIL THE BOSS

By 1990 Neil was Honda UK’S race team manager, starting just days after retiring from racing. The Vauxhall press shot above is a rare one of him in action, here chatting to Phillip Mccallen (centre) and Carl Fogarty at the 1990 NW200.

WORKING WITH JOEY

Neil worked with Joey Dunlop for 10 years, helping the unassuming genius to 13 TT victories and 23 podiums during that time. The shot above shows Joey on the way to his Formula 1 win in 2000 on the Honda VTR1000 SP-1.

WSB GLORY

The 2002 World Superbike season didn’t start well for Neil or his Castrol Honda rider Colin Edwards (above). Troy Bayliss won the first six races, but they held their nerve and won the championship at the final race of the season.