2026 Rider Bios

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER...

 

Nick Smith #151
Used to be faster, former F400 champion, bit of a nob. Big nose. Only doing it as he wants to be like his son....

 

Haydn Smith #52

Only doing it as Dougie told him too, and he wants beat his Dad...

 

Derek Cripps #29
Started racing in 2013 and been hooked since, won the classic superstock championship in 2018 and
runner up in a few classes, also raced in the European Classic Endurance. First race with YPM in 2018 on a 350 Powervalve, came nowhere!!! His most notable moment was beating Peter Branton in the wet at Cadwell....

Chris Whitlock #50
First year on two wheels having defected from Sidecars, he took the ClubBike out at Oulton and was hooked! This will be his first season and his excitement is obvious, he has entered the Dunlop Cup and Junior Clubman

 

Mark Haig #110

Started on the ClubBike in '24, already he is up at the sharp end! When asked at the first meet what his '26 goals were, he laughingly said "just to get through this meeting!" after multiple mechanical issues!

 

Mark Bailey #67

Been in the paddock since 2020 and his best moment was finishing 4th. Mark is super helpful and usually has everything so if you are new, he's the guy to go to.

 

Colvin Turner #73

(You have to check out Colvins sleek posterior this year!)

Best momnet ever was recing a medal as a Rookie, and he has ridden in YPM since 2020, he loves the people, the vibe, the help everything, attends alone, but never feels alone.

 

Iain Davies #64

YPMer since 2024 just loves the competitiveness of the bikes and the equal grid and the YPM paddock.

 

Kevin Marshall #46

One of the nicest guys in the paddock and at 73! he's been here since the dawn of time, racing for over 30 years and long may that continue.

 

Calvin Hogan #99

Info provided by Sam and his Mum, who is very proud of him! Sam was pretty vocal in saying Calvin keeps them all busy ha ha! But that he, Calvin and the crew just bloody love YPM :O)

 

Paul Nield #34

Started in '24 with the Club Bike, when asked ho sbest moment is was actually TODAY! the first Brands, when he got 1st Clubman, and 4th overall, he wants to win the clubman Championship this year, but needs sponsors...anyone???

 

Dave Ball #8

Been a YPMer since 2019, hes pretty rapid and can usually be seen up at the front, but also more recently as an instructor as he really enjoys bringing riders on and teaching them all he knows. He loves the close racing of this grid, but even more so the close family within it.

 

Richard Haywood #27

Rides in YPM as he loves 2strokes and cant stand MZs! 

"Its just a great club, everyone looks out for you"

After winning his Rookie year, he now races in YPM and CB500 and, he instructs, as he loves giving back.

 

David Abraham
Semi retired captain of industry at Cambridge motorcycles (40 years ) .

 

Rik Ballerini
Nothing to tell. I'm quiet and unassuming me. 

(But we know him as 'THE' Ballerini, AKA Trackday Hooligan!) Hope to get out atleast once this year! watch out!! But you will hear his dulcet tones on the commentary, so buy him a beer and he'll make you famous!

Nick Shorter #55
Started with YPM in 2004, drifted off to have kids in 2008, now back to smell two stroke again as the kids have grown up! Hes out on the original bike and just loves the YPM family.

 

Tom Ridley #166
Started on the Club bike, then spent my rookie season in YPM competing for the clubman championship, ending the 2025 season
as clubman runner up. Notable moments were getting 2nd overall in the first meeting then setting pole at the second meeting!

 

Michael Frost #199
Back after a few years off the TZR and looking forward to rubbing elbows and drinking a couple of
beers with the fine members that form the YPM club, whom he has raced with since 2020, 1st podium was 2022 (he thinks!) at Pembrey

 

Paul Toland #2

I've had two years off and I am looking ti chase down soem old lap times really, if I get my mojo back that would be ace, and dring less alcohol...(stay away from Fish then Paul!)

 

David Paterson
Well after losing my wife to cancer my middle son got me back into bike’s again to help me through
difficult times and as a result we started racing in 2015 the following year my son James who started
me on this course of racing and enjoying life again was to join me racing bikes himself but sadly he
was killed in a car accident just 2 weeks before his first race since then I have always had a small pot
of his ashes fitted to my bike just ahead of my clocks so in every race he beats me across the line
since those terrible times I have met and married my good lady and team principal/CEO who had
never been to a race meeting so for our 2nd date I invited her to Brands hatch in 2021 and since then
she had been my best friend/teammate and good lady wife that’s why I state as my chief sponsor ,the
love of a good woman and that’s all you need to have in life cheers #62

 

Phil Zanutto #36
I started on the YPM club bike in July 2021. Enjoyed it so much I bought my trz250 and started racing
in October 2021. My nephew Paul Nield #34 also races in the YPM so it is a family sport! Will start this year at Oulton, his best memory so far is keeping it upright through the gravel at Donnington, cue Poo Emoji!

 

Alan Coates
Another comeback..... lean green anti crashing machine (hopefully) He's been out for a while after going down at T1 at Donny in '23, be great to see him back!

 

Damian Lee #26
At the young age of 50 I got my license and won the rookie championship in 2020, Clubman
championship in 2023 and since then trying to push forward with the fast boys and loving every
minute! Most memorable moment is not knowing he had won a trophy at Brands in his Rookie year! Just hopes to have a better year in '26 than last year, loves the commaraderie of the the YPMs and the mile wide smile is all down to the BIKES!

 

Kev Wholey #51

YPMer since 2022. Has won the championship twice, this year he just want to finish every race keeping his current record of mechanical and rider at 100%, consistency is key he says, and it's been that way since Cadwell in '22 and he wants to keep it that way. Finds it lonely out front, so is looking for a front running playmate....anyone??? :O)

 

Pete Fish #7 

First race was at Lydden Hill in '95 on a KR1S, it was just a disaster, from the bike falling off the trailer to doing his ACU 3 laps in the lunch break! Been a YPMer since '98, he is one of our longest still racing riders. Hopes to get out this year at one or two rounds but don't hold him to that!! 

 

Luke McRae #

Being crew chiefed this season by Fish on Fishes bike, he is already punching his way through to the front, and battling with the front runners on round 1, one to watch. Fish has a kind of love hate relationship with him being quicker on his bike but hey, thats racing! 

 

Mark Stubbersfield #333

YPMer since 2022, Focusing on getting better lap times than he did at the first round! wants to keep his pace of five years intact! Everyone is a target!!!

 

Abby Marshall #31

YPMer since 2023, smashed her first year racing in CB500s as well and took Rookie Championship in YPM, the first lady to do so I believe. Her goals this year are to finish top 3 in Clubman and just wants everything to go RIGHT!, Adores YPM because the bikes are just so rewarding and of course, the People xxx

 

Steve Wimble #

 

Pete Branton #19

Pete will be out this year he promises, when he's not sure, but watch out!!!!!

 

Tess Bickerstaff #71

She is running the Club Bike this year but hopes to be out at least once. Best moment was taking four medals at Snet in her Rookie year, which she should have won had she not fallen out of a tree a week before the last meeting and broke her collar bone, don't talk to her about it! :O)

 

Andrew Burscough #
I was Welsh 251 to 1300 cc production race champion on a yamaha ypvs 350 in 1986

 

Yianni Karakousis #
I’m a Greek / Irish / Yorkshireman who now lives in Wales….so some could say confused. I managed
to ditch the Novice bib for the last race of 2025. Somehow I managed to be awarded the Novice
Championship at Tonfanau Road Races for 2025 (perhaps out of pity as I was certainly not fast) while
racing, albeit very steadily, my Triumph Daytona 675. A crash at Aintree and subsequent injury saw my
performance and enjoyment of racing diminish to the point of wanting to give up. Therefore I decided
with the encouragement of a few friends to start racing for the love of riding the bike with zero
pressure, so this seems like the obvious choice. I’m not planning on being anywhere but pottering at
the back. I’m a liability on the spanner’s, so much so I’m always surprised that when I change a
sprocket the bike still starts and a valve hasn’t shot out of the exhaust!! I’m hoping the fact I probably
weigh more than the bike won’t be too much of a disadvantage!!!

 

Becky McKenzie #
I raced late 90's early noughties in EMRA Roadstock series, I rode my bike to the track, with my
rucksack on, taped up the bike, had 3 races, rode home, parents were unaware 😂. Had 2 races on a
Yamaha TRX850, sold it for a 1997 Fireblade, first full season started in biblical rain, tried to hide in
the pits but had wired up side stand 😂, went out, 33 blokes and me, came 2nd! Raced for a few
seasons, then the field got smaller, and they started mixing all the bikes up. Hadn't been on track for
25 years, went to support bro in law at Darley, smelt the racing fumes , and got all sentimental. Right
do one track day, get it out of your system. How did that work out? I now have 3 race/track bikes and
lived at Donington last year. My other passion in clay target shooting of wish I have been British
Champ, World Champ, UK Champ, in various disciplines, so am a little bit competitive! But I don't do
last very well. So spent time last year trying to get up to speed. So 2026, I'm going to try a little racing!
I have a cracking Honda NC35, and a Yamaha YZF750, which are my old bikes, and now this wee
stroker