PHILIP NEILL
The Northern Irish team boss who has tasted success on the roads and short circuits
TAS Racing – who celebrate 25 years in the business this season – have worked with some of the biggest names in the sport and it was all started by father and son pairing Hector and Philip Neill, with the latter managing the team.
Philip, a talented motocross racer himself, was naturally drawn into the racing world and followed in his father’s footsteps.
“My father did motocross, trials, enduro,” he recalls. “From a young age all I saw around the house was motorbikes. I got my first bike, an Italjet B50 automatic, when I was five and I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times, but the minute you ride a motorbike, you know if it’s for you or not, and I never stopped!”
Due to its accessibility and his father’s passion for off-road, Philip went down the motocross route and despite a slow start with injuries, he worked hard to improve.
Philip finished third in the ACU British Championship in 1985 before moving into the adult 125 class the following year. He’d go on to win six titles across the Irish and Ulster Championships, including the Irish 125 and Open Class double in 1990.
“I made it to world championship level, but I never did a full season, which is my biggest regret.
Philip retired aged 28, and dipped into motocross management with Adam Lyons before creating
TAS Racing with dad Hector. The team built a Yamaha R7 for the 2000 road racing season with Ian Lougher, before entering into what would become a 14-year partnership with Suzuki in 2001.
The TT and NW200 were cancelled due to Foot & Mouth disease that year, but Lougher dominated the Ulster Grand Prix, with the GSX-R1000 catching the eye of man of the moment David Jefferies – who joked about the Suzuki almost ripping the stickers off his Yamaha, such was its speed.
“He was super impressed and keen to ride the bike, and I was just as keen to sign him, but we didn’t have the budget back then. I never thought we’d be able to put a deal together, but we managed it, and he was an absolute gentleman to deal with. I’ve never dealt with anybody better to this day.”
Jefferies duly won at the NW200 before scooping up the opening Formula One race at the 2002 TT, as well as the Production 1000 and Senior TT. Lougher won the Production 600 race.
“The North West was a big event for me because I used to motocross there every Friday night and then it was a party weekend for me and my friends. So, to win it at the first proper attempt was fantastic. I don’t think there’s been another win that has meant as much to me.
“As for the TT, I didn’t think it was going to mean as much to me as it did. That was more of my father’s playground, but by the time we left I was enjoying that square piece of ground at the bottom of pitlane. I just couldn’t believe the excitement and prestige of being in there. The whole team barged through the gate, I’d never felt anything like it.”
TAS have since won on the island with Adrian Archibald, Bruce Anstey, Cameron Donald, Ian
Hutchinson and Michael Dunlop.
TAS’ short circuit debut came in the British Supersport Championship in 2003, fielding Tom Sykes and Adrian Coates. Sykes finished second overall in 2006, before Michael Laverty secured the team’s first title in 2007 after a battle with teammate Ian Lowry.
“It was nice to see Michael lift that title because that’s what he was signed to do, and what he knew he had to do. I’ve said this to many riders, but sometimes it’s not all that bad to take a step back or sideways because if you have a better situation which allows you to achieve your potential, it gives you a chance of taking two steps forward, rather than being stagnant.”
Laverty clinched the team’s first Superbike win in 2010, which Neill names as his proudest short circuit moment. Alastair Seeley then added a Superstock and Supersport title to the team’s CV, but TAS are yet to reach the top of the mountain in British Superbikes.
“That’s my remaining dream. I’m determined because I’m getting to the point where I’m asking myself if I’m going to break my promise. I promised myself and all the people around me that I wouldn’t leave BSB without winning it. We’ve won everything else, so I hope I don’t have to break that pledge.”
‘I just couldn’t believe the excitement’