Magnum
Motorsport Brief History
Magnum
Motorsport was formed in an 'off the cuff' telephone conversation
between ex-Superbike rider John Pugh and ex motorcycle Trials champion
Dave Worthington. John and Dave both played for the same football
team and knowing that Dave had received sponsorship during his Trials
riding career John asked Dave if he wanted to set up a motorcycle
team with John as the rider.
Magnum Motorsport was formed in June 2000, taking part in a handful
of Superstock races at the tail end of that season. Due to work commitments,
John was forced to step down but Dave had now got the bug. In 2001
Magnum signed Tristan Palmer and bought the ex-2000 championship winning
PAGE 3 Yamaha of Dave Jefferies.
The season started well with Tristan regularly qualifying and finishing
in the Top 10, but a sponsor failing to honour a deal, an engine blow
up and a crash that destroyed the bike meant funds were low. With
no money on the horizon Magnum had to release Tristan and look for
a rider who could bring some funding with him. In stepped Kelvin Reilly.
Kelvin soon became one of the team helping Magnum become established
within the British Superstock paddock. Kelvin stayed with Magnum for
another three seasons.
In 2002 staying with Yamaha, Magnum ran two riders with Rhys Boyd
joining Kelvin.
Switching to Suzuki in 2003 Kelvin was joined by Gary May and in 2004
(Kelvin's best season to date) he was joined by Nathan Flanagan on
Ducati 999 machines. 2005 saw many changes. Kelvin was in demand from
larger teams Kelvin left and Nathan retired from the Sport and return
to Trials and Enduro events.
With some backing but no riders Magnum was approached to run the Buildbase-backed
Luke Quigley/ Andy Tinsley team. It was a difficult season for the
team, Luke started the season in the Supersport championship but was
poached by a Superbike team mid-season and Andy was forced to retire
from racing mid-season. For the latter part of the season Matt Llewellyn
took the Supersport ride and helped the team immensely with his speed
and knowledge (to which the team were extremely grateful). Andy's
seat was filled by Ulsterman John Laverty.
John stayed with the team for 2006 and Tristan Palmer returned from
the Superbike class for an assault on the British Superstock championship.
With the backing of Buildbase the team qualified on the front row
twelve times from thirteen races, but numerous crashes saw the team
miss out on the individual championship but consolation was found
in being the top team in 2006. The team’s success in 2006 had a diverse
effect on Dave at the final round at Brands Hatch. Standing in the Pit-lane
at the end of the race, Dave looked back on the successful season and decided
it was the right time to pull Magnum out of the championship whilst they were
at the top.
2007. Everyone stayed in touch, golf handicaps reduced and all enjoyed having
their weekends back, both John Laverty & Tristan Palmer moved on to other teams.
2008/9. Dave had always followed Coventry Speedway as a kid and following a
chance meeting with a friend from the Superbike paddock Dave was introduced
to World Speedway championship rider Chris Harris. Dave agreed to help Chris
for a season finding & looking after sponsors at national & international meetings,
the highlight being the British Speedway Grand Prix in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
2011 to current. The team have bought a few motocross bikes from Cradley Kawasaki
and are enjoying riding at various tracks around the Midlands with the view to
possibly setting up a motocross team over the coming seasons.
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