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About Max

About

About Max

Biography

My motorcycling career, like many others started in a wet car park on a Saturday morning learning to ride a fairly second hand Polini Mini-moto when I was just six years old. I was hooked from day one! A few days of practice and I was ready to race.

My first race was held at Whilton Mills karting circuit in November 2001 in which I finished 3rd. After this I went on through multiple mini-moto championships such as the British Mini-moto championship and the Phoenix racing Mini-moto championship picking up numerous wins along the way. Then in 2003 I finished 2nd overall in the North of England and Easter Counties championship (Due to a points dispute in the last race which cost me the title). 

After this I went on to be placed 2nd behind Danny Kent in 2004 in the British Mini-moto championship, I was the first privateer rider ever to challenge the factory supported teams to the championship win. In 2005 I raced in the British Mini-GP50cc championship with Fab-Racing and fought my way through the season and factory supported teams to become the first privateer to win the championship while also continually breaking lap records from the year before along the way.

Then in 2006 I was invited to compete in the 50cc championship in Europe. I was also competing in the Mini-GP 70cc championship back in the UK. I had to withdraw from the European championship due to lack of funds and decided I would focus my efforts on the Mini-GP 70cc British championship. I then went on to claim my second British title while breaking even more lap records throughout the year. Following on from this championship win I was invited on numerous occasions to the Festival of Speed and eventually taking a win at the event along with Scott Redding. In 2007 I went to race in Spain due to licensing restrictions in the UK and not being able to compete in the two Mini-GP championships, as I had already claimed both titles from them. I then joined the 125cc PRE-GP championship. 

In the first year despite the language barrier between me and my new Spanish mechanics I still managed to finish as the top privateer for the year. I was also invited to test for RedBull and the Dorna Academy. I was approved for both series but was refused entry as I was too young, missing out on it as I was a year too young.

In 2008 I continued to ride in the 125 PRE-GP championship as a privateer running as a satellite rider with the LR racing team now I had a French mechanic. I went on to set two lap records, one at Ledenon Circuit and another at Albacete Circuit in Spain and finishing once again as the top privateer and 5th overall in the championship with Maverick Vinales who was placed 1st along with Alex Rins 2nd and Miguel Oliveira 3rd.

In 2009 I went on to sign for Molenaar Racing for the Spanish CEV Buckler championship. This was a 3 year contract with senior riders in the team being Danny Webb and Randy Krummenacher. 

Whilst riding in the CEV championship I suffered many problems with the engine and suspension due to lack of funds as the recession had stuck Europe badly, then the teams major sponsor Degraaf withdrew funding from the team mid-season. My best results in the championship were 16th at Albacete in Spain. Soon after I suffered a severe injury at Jerez in Spain which resulted in a badly broken ankle. 

2010 saw many offers on the table for me for the European 600 Superstock championship but I had to turn the offers down as I was still under contractual obligations to Molenaar Racing. In between 2010/2011. I whilst unable to compete for contractual reasons, was tutored by Adrian Morillas and Christian Sarron at several tracks in France.

In 2011 I negotiated a ride with Team-ASPI in the European 600 Superstock championship but a quarter way through the season I suffered badly from a trapped nerve in my forearm resulting in severe arm pump. This would mean I would have to hang up my helmet once again for the rest of the season.  After this I underwent surgery to release the trapped nerve and decided to spend the rest of the year recovering and gaining strength back in my forearm.

After my poor 2011 season, I decided it would be best to put a hold on racing, until I returned in 2014 with SJS Racing. The first two seasons were difficult as each time we got to a circuit I had to learn them, as I’d not rode on any British circuits other than Silverstone in 2011. 

After the first couple of seasons we switched to our own bike under the Specialised Group / Coatings team banner and rode on our own as a family team. We managed to take several shots at the Elite 600 title, but lost out after having bad luck with mechanical issues and after crashing out of some races.

During COVID we only completed some rounds during 2020, then after just losing out on the 2021 Elite 600 title, the team decided we would take the next step and participate in British Superbikes Supersport 600 class for 2022, under the new banner consisting of Specialised Group/Team Valley Racing.

2002 - 2022

Career History

2022: British Supersport (BSB) - Current season

2021: Thundersport 600 Elite - 2nd

2020: Thundersport 600 Elite - Partial season

2019: Thundersport 600 Elite - 3rd

2018: Thundersport 600 Elite - 2nd

2017: Thundersport 600 Elite - 3rd

2016: Thundersport 600 Elite - Partial Season

2015: Thundersport 600 Elite - Partial season

2011: WSBK - Superstock 600 - P20 Best Result

2009: Buckler CEV 125GP - P16 Best Result

2008: Catalan Pre125GP - 5th

2007: Catalan Pre125GP - Best result top 5

2006: Fab Racing MiniGP70 - 1st

2006: Metrakit World Festival - 1st

2005: Fab Racing MiniGP50 - 1st

2004: British Minimoto Junior Lights - 2nd

2003: SEMRC & NEEC - 2nd

2001/2002: Mini-motos