ALAN’S LIFE IN BIKES

Yamaha TY80

Alan starts as gofer in his dad’s race team, Pharaoh, supporting riders such as Ron Haslam. The 15-year-old has a TY80 as a pit bike. “I ripped around on it for hours at race meets.”

Yamaha RD350LC

He does well enough in the 350LC Pro-Am to secure a GP ride. “Dad bought me a practice LC in black. I used to wheelie it down the road trying to impress the local girls.”

Mitsui Yamaha TZ250

Supported by Mitsui Yamaha (which later became Yamaha UK), Alan enters the 1983 250GP world championship. He finishes 14th overall but wins the French GP at Le Mans after starting from the back of the grid.

Marlboro Yamaha TZ250

Alan’s signed up by Kenny Roberts to ride in his new 250GP team, His teammate on the Marlboro TZ250 is GP debutant Wayne Rainey. Alan finishes the season in ninth overall, just one place and four points behind Rainey.

Honda RS250

Exiting GPs in 1987, he goes to the US AMA 250 series, qualifies pole in his first race and starts a fierce threeyear rivalry with John Kocinski.

Ducati 916

Alan takes a one-off WSB ride at Donington Park. He finishes fourth and sixth on the Ducati 916, even beating Foggy in race one.