Dave Thorpe - My Ride, My Life

Well done.

Simply Brilliant! Thanks for posting, AK!

Champion.

One of the all time Grates 👍 I feel sorry for the younger guys that did not get to see 500cc GPs (and Mx nationals)  They missed out on something truly Amazing! Very few men could ride a 500 to its potential. DaveThorpe was one who could! 🍻

I think 500s are often romanticised, however that mid 80s to early 90s period when they started to get the suspension and brakes they needed, was nothing short of awesome.
Watching riders like Thorpe, Carla, Malherbe, Jobe, Geboers, Nicholl and Leisk, as well as Bailey, Johnson and Wardy ride a big bore was something that will never be repeated.
Edit: forgot JMB!

As someone once said he was never naturally gifted but was a product of training. I was at the British GP at Farleigh Castle when he got taken out in the first turn by Mervyn Anstie and came through the pack. Never seen anyone ride so fast before or since. He was literally sideways for most of the race.

Greats....one of the all time Greats.

Those 500 grand prix with a full gate was another level. 

Those names you mention...that was the golden era of 500 racing.

Who made this film out of interest? 

Honda racing global

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I always thought Thorpe doesn't get the credit he deserves. I was fortunate to be overseas in 85/86 and saw first hand how good he was.

Dave at Namur in 85

Dave at Namur in 86. Bes tibie and gear ever.

Dave at Namur in 85.

Dave getting the Championship for the second time at Luxembourg in 86.

Best bike of all time in my opinion.

Dave at Namur in 85. Not a great shot but I always loved the bale on the tree, the green grass and the one line trail in the this shot.

Dave at Luxembourg in 86. Loved the countryside in this shot.

Thorpe and Glover are 2 rides that don’t get the credit they deserve. I don’t understand why, They are both multi-time champions 🤷‍♂️

Too many sheople and not enough free thinkers. Thorpe was great... I think it was those wankers at MXA BITD that once called Dave the world's fastest novice or some shit like that. 

Pretty ironic from MXA who still couldn't use a Torx or Robertson wrench in 2021... You can next day any tool you want in this day and age rather than fuck things up with a flat-head 😂 Or put a simple blob of loctite on their sprocket bolts... After they've put a tooth on every bike known to man since 1998.

Back to the positives, Thorpey was an original beast-mode advocate haha, shame all the grainy VHS footage can't let you feel the ground rumble or smell the castor...

I never really understood MXA's 'world's fasted amateur' comment as Thorpe was a total pro.

Although the UK media got their own back at the '94 MXdN when Team GB won (managed by Thorpe) and described the Team USA manager (Bevo Forti) as an 'overweight goggle salesman'.   

MXA wasn't referring to his speed when they said that . They meant his stiff upright style . Was it uncalled for ? Sure but they weren't saying he was slow .

In 1983-1984 when I was stationed in England in the USAF, there was only 4 channels on the only TV in the barracks.

One of the channels had championship snooker, F1, golf and MXGP.

I remember David Thorpe. He was a smooth rider. He knew how to handle the 500. Made it look easy.

Legend!! True champion!!

I never got to see Dave race in his prime although I did watch him at Mallory Park in 2008 as part of the Vets World Championship.

Through my work, I met Dave at an event and he bought me a pint. He had no idea who I was, I guess he's just a genuinely nice guy. How he is in the video is exactly what he's like in person.

Up until early 2020 (when I stopped racing) I used to race in the same enduros as him through the winter. He'd turn up on his own, ride, sort himself out on fuel stops etc and then leave after. A bloke that just loves to ride I guess with none of the fanfare.

A very well done feature on an awesome champion.

Thanks for posting.