It was in the ‘80s that David Thorpe wrote his name in the book of motorcycling racing legends: he was crowned 500cc Motocross World Champion not just once but three times in 1985, 1986 and 1989 competing against the likes of Eric Geboers and André Malherbe, the legend talks about this time…
Words | Honda Media
“I can always remember going to the races with my dad as he rode locally and my little bike would be on the back of the trailer. I’d watch him race and then after I’d get to ride a little bit and that was really my treat.”
Growing up, two wheels wasn’t the only thing in Dave Thorpe’s life, for an eventual three-time 500cc motocross world champion, it was football. An opportunity with Queen’s Park Rangers nearly lead him down a path away from motorsport.
“When you ride your bike it’s you and the bike and I always felt sometimes that I’d get man of the match at football, but we’d lose and it never really sat right with me. Whereas on my bikes, when I sat behind the gate, I was in charge of everything. I guess if I asked myself then and now what did I enjoy most, it would always be riding my bike.”
