The generation game

With nearly 60 racing seasons between them, Bill (1954-67), Mick (1966-98) and Mick Boddice Junior (1989-2000) are up there with the Jeffries, Hanks and Rutters in terms of most successful racing dynasties. Bill had ACU ‘Stars’ in 1960 and 1962 and Mick National and TT wins. But it came to a close at the turn of the new century when Mick Jnr finally decided to hang up his leathers. Mick Jnr: “2000 was my last season. A move to an 1100cc LCR Suzuki saw me get a fourth place in the British championship, and a wild card in the British GP.THE GP weekend was done on a shoestring – one set of tyres for all three days! – but I still managed to bring it home in ninth. I decided at the end of that season to retire, the budget wasn’t there to improve the bike as I needed. Prize money was little to non-existent and the British championship was being run alongside club meetings. “I’d started at Keevil in 1989, finishing second in my first race, sharing dad’s bike and I did a few more club races, taking a bagful of wins, on both the 700 Ireson and 600 Ireson F2. But 1993 was the start proper. I finished tenth in the Supercup, at BSB, on a 600 Ireson Honda and 1994 was my first trip to thett, finishing 17th and 13th and winning the Newcomers Award as a result. I took ninth in the Supercup that year too. A move to the 500 Ireson Krauser for 1995 was a difficult season, plagued by gearbox issues, but it all came good at Donington Park for the European Cup race, where I led from start to finish. 1996 was back to the F2, now on a Windle Honda and I ended the season fourth in the British championship, but was forced to miss thett as the new bike hadn’t been built! 1997 was a bit of a disaster, apart from fifth at the Ulster GP, and again a best newcomer award, oh, and beating dad! But then 1998, was a great year. Sixth at thett and eighth in the British championship, and in 1999 I got another sixth at thett and I improved to sixth in the British championship. But then 2000, that was it.” Well, were it not for the fact that he qualified for theteam GB, Masters Cycling World Championships in 2018! The wheels are still turning in the Boddice household, but that would be a whole other story…