Mike ‘Spike’ Edwards – Curriculum Vitae
Collective Online presence: http://page.ringpin.com/no1bloke
Websites: mike-edwards.net no1bloke.biz http://v121pro.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/no1bloke
– additional Facebook pages for racing and coaching
Career Overview
I have ridden a vast array of motorcycles since I started riding on the road in 1978; my extensive riding knowledge covers a range from the latest ‘no expense spared’ Superbikes to winning races on the most basic 1950s classic bikes with drum brakes and only 50bhp. I first competed in 1982 and have raced every single season since; scoring too many race wins and rostrums throughout my race career to individually detail them all; numerous of them contributed to my six British Championship title wins, with scores of others tallying up to many Championship ‘runner up’ placings over the seasons.
I’ve had some great fun in World Endurance, with many rostrums, leading the World Championship until the final round in 2002 with Phase One, and some great invitational ‘one off’ rides with the works Ducati and Yamaha Austria teams. Much of my career and reputation as a rider has been racing production based bikes, which is why Supermonos hold a special place in my heart. As ‘one off’ engineer designed and often hand built race machines, conforming to a simple formula of ‘four stroke one cylinder within a weight limit’ I’ve enjoyed success on many different Supermonos, each totally unique and inspiring. On track, I’ve helped to refine them, and to realise their race winning potential.
British Championship Titles Won
1988 British Junior Stock Champion
1992 British Supersport 400cc Champion
1995 British Supersport 600cc Champion
2004 British Supermono Champion – water cooled
2014 British Historic GP Champion
2015 British Historic GP Champion
With countless race wins over 40 years across many clubs, on all sorts of bikes all over the World, it’s not practical to try and list them here so, better just to detail…
Further notable race achievements:
2nd at the Bol d’Or 24hour in my World Endurance debut 1994
The last Briton to have won the Imola 200 in 2002 – many other WE rostrums with different teams at Brno, Silverstone and Vallelunga.
Racing on the ‘pure’ roads I’ve won the Macau Grand Prix twice, onboard a factory ROC 500 and the North West 200 Supersport 600cc race in Northern Ireland.
Harley Davidson XR1200 Championship 2010 2nd overall.
Ducati 848 Championship 2nd overall in 2011.
Won the Tom Wheatcroft Trophy, Donington Park 2012.
Ducati 848 Championship 2012 finished 4th overall.
Ducati TriOptions Championship 2013 finished 4th overall.
Won the 2015 Phillip Island Classic as part of Team GB
Won Saturday race Goodwood Revival 2015
Champion 2017 European FIM Classic GP.
Bahrain Superbike Championship 2017 2nd overall.
Won 2017 Goodwood 75Members Meeting
Coaching work – on track
I have been an independent Auto Cycle Union certified commercial road racing coach since 2006. Through my coaching scheme V121PRO I’m a traditional mentor whose history in the sport runs deep. When on track with a coaching client, one of my talents is that I can spot riding issues easily, and then in an easy manner, with down to earth explanations, be able to help my clients work round them, to be a safer and more confident rider.
Coaching work – online
In addition to my on track rider coaching – I now offer online or distance coaching, combining my communication skills and circuit knowledge to offer ‘virtual track walks’ and coaching analysing the client’s own onboard video.
I produce riding technique videos and ‘how I ride’ circuit guides to stream or download, where I break each circuit down in to sections and use my own onboard video to illustrate ‘how I would ride’ a decent lap.
Circuit Knowledge:
I have extensive knowledge of all UK tracks together with circuits in:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, USA.
Bikes ridden on track:
AJS, Aprilia, BMW, Brough Superior, Cagiva, Ducati, Foggy Petronas, GCR, Harley Davidson, Honda, Jawa, Kawasaki, KTM, Matchless, Moto Guzzi, MuZ, Norton, Paton, Spondon, Suzuki, Tigcraft Triumph, Yamaha.
Industry development work:
Moto450 development for Road Racing Performance Ferodo brakes
Metzeler tyres
Pirelli tyres
MuZ – factory machine development, design by Seymour Powell Harley Davidson – Tigcraft chassis machine development
Jawa – Supermono machine development
Royal Enfield – test rider
I communicate well, in depth and am accurate and precise in all my on track endeavours. I work hard to be a valued member of whichever team I’m involved with. I have an incisive, natural understanding of how machinery and specifically a motorcycle works. Being instinctive and perceptive of how a motorcycle should feel and perform, I’m often asked to ride other people’s bikes to assist them in identifying potential issues and offering possible solutions.
Legal work:
I have been an expert witness in motorcycle related legal cases, and asked to offer evidential advice to health and safety regulators.
Printed media work:
Over the years, I have worked for and supplied editorial content to the following magazines: Performance Bikes, Fast Bikes, Motorcycle Racer and Classic Motorcycle Mechanics. I have undertaken confidential photographic assignments for Kawasaki Japan.