Steve Parrish
| Steve Parrish | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | British | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 February 1953 Cambridge, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stephen James Parrish (born 24 February 1953 in Cambridge, England)[1] also known as "Stavros", is a British former professional motorcycle and truck racer, who is now a motorsport television commentator and speaker/entertainer.[2]
Racing career
Parrish turned professional at the age of 22 in 1976, winning the ACU Solo title in the British Motor Cycle Championship. He was a team mate to Barry Sheene on a Suzuki RG 500 in the 1977 500 cc world championship,[3] finishing fifth overall,[4] but returned to British-based riding to become the 1978 500cc ACU 'Gold Star' Champion. He also won the British Shell 500 title in both 1979 and 1980, and a British Superbike title in 1981.
4 wheel racing
Car racing
After retiring from motorcycle racing in 1986, Parrish briefly tried his luck in car racing, competing in the MG Metro Turbo Challenge and making a guest appearance in the 1988 Season.
He raced in the short-lived Formula Classic series in 1995, peaking with a 2nd place.[5]
Truck Racing
Parrish went on to become a successful truck racer, winning 6 British titles and 5 European titles between 1987 and 1996.[6]
Team management
Parrish also led a dual career both managing a successful Yamaha factory team to three British Superbike championship titles;[7] and starting a successful truck racing career, winning the 1987 British Open Truck Racing Championship. Parrish took both the European and British Truck Racing championship titles in 1990, then held the British title for four years and retained the European title for three years driving for the BP–Mercedes-Benz team.[8][9] Parrish regained the prestigious European crown again in 1996 in Jarama. The most successful truck racer ever, he retired in 2002 at the age of 47 to hand over to Terry Rymer.[10]
Commentary career
Parrish provides commentary and analysis for ITV's week-long coverage of the Isle of Man TT as well continuous commentary on Europsort and TNT Sports for Motorbike racing events including British Superbikes, MotoGP, World Superbikes.[11][12]
In 1985, Parrish started commentating for the BBC radio, and then transferring to television with Sky with Barry Nutley. From 1990, he commentated on the British 125 championship for the BBC.
Parrish was previously co commentator on World Superbikes for the BBC with Leigh Diffey.[13]
Parrish then teamed up with Charlie Cox commentating on MotoGP coverage, until the BBC lost its contract at the end of 2013.[7][14] The pair had a rapport and commentated on a number of series for the BBC from the late 1990s, which were British and World Superbikes and MotoGP.[15] A qualified pilot, Parrish is also a commentator for the Red Bull Air Race series for Channel 4.
Other work and achievements
Away from television, he regularly tests various vehicles and racing machines, and is an expert witness for motor racing incidents. Parrish holds the Guinness Book of Records world record for the "Fastest Speed Achieved in Reverse" (85 mph) using a Caterham car.[16]
With journalist and broadcaster Nick Harris, Parrish co-authored Barry: The Story of Motorcycling Legend Barry Sheene (2008), a biography of his former team mate Barry Sheene.
References
- ^ England and Wales Birth records Retrieved 2014-03-04
- ^ Steve Parrish Official site, Biography Archived 7 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2014-03-04
- ^ Auto Racing Daily : Steve Parrish: "Obviously I Am Very, Very Excited About Riding The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR" Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "motogp.com · Steve Parrish". Motogp.com. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ https://www.unracedf1.com/it-took-seven-holbay-engines-to-ruin-wheatcrofts-formula-classic/
- ^ http://www.steveparrishracing.com/biography/
- ^ a b "Steve Parrish". News.bbc.co.uk. 7 March 2002. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ "BP". bp.com. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ Anna Sharp - Truck Racing Archived 8 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Terry Rymer Motorsport - News Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Isle of Man TT 2014 highlights on ITV4". Sport-onthebox.com. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ "New TV deals for 2014 Isle of Man TT Races - Isle of Man TT Official Website". Iomtt.com. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ "SundayGrandstand". BBC. 9 September 2001. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ BBC Sport May 2013 MotoGP: BT Sport secures TV rights from 2014 in five-year deal. Retrieved 2014-03-04
- ^ "Charlie Cox and Steve Parrish - An Appreciation". Teamdan.com. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ BBC - Press Office - Steve Parrish Archived 13 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine