Draft:Keppel Racing

Keppel Racing was formed in 1984 after company directors Harry Dobson, Alan Parry and Terry Salvage of Keppel Engineering Ltd based in Fenton, Stoke on Trent decided to help racer Curt Langan with spares after meeting him at the 1984 TT races. Since then Keppel Racing have competed and won races from club, national and international level with racing machines ranging from Aprilia, Decorite, Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha and has been one of the most successful 250cc teams since.

To follow the heroes of Keppel Racing and their highlights:-

1984 Curt Langan TZ250 Yamaha Sulby Hydraulics who were owned by the same directors as Keppel Engineering helped with spares at the Isle of Man TT races and the rest of the season. Curt finished 17th in the Junior TT

1985 Curt Langan 250 Decorite A brand new Decorite (Rotax engine Harris frame) was purchased by Keppel Engineering so Keppel Racing was formed! Curt won 5 club meetings and he raced at the national meetings with his best result being 12th. Curt also broke the lap record at Cadwell Park and finished 22nd in the 250cc European championship races at Donnington Park even though one of the exhaust silencers was loose.

Half way through the season Curt had crashed a few times braking his collarbone and pelvis. He decided to retire.

Kevin Mitchell rode for the works Decorite UK bike and they used Keppel’s Engine as it was more powerful. Kevin was 5th in the British Championship with a best of 2nd at Oulton Park, he was winning at Scarbourgh but ran out of fuel on the last lap still finishing 5th.

1986 Peter Hubbard 250 Decorite Peter rode a couple of the first Grand Prix’s but didn’t qualify Monza Italy 44th and Germany Nurburgring 54th the bike was lacking top end speed. Peter did qualify for the British Grand Prix in 38th but retired after 5 laps. He finished 8th in the International Motoprix Championship and 12th in the British Championship.

Nigel Bosworth TZ250 Yamaha Keppel Engineering helped Nigel to purchase a new TZ Yamaha after seeing him win his first National meeting on an old outdated machine after crashing and ending up in the medical centre. The race was stopped and the results were from the last full lap where Nigel was leading.

Nigel had a great season finishing 2nd in the ACU Star Championship,5th British Championship, 9th in the International Motoprix championship with a total of 7 National wins. He qualified 34th for the British Grand Prix but retired after 14 laps.

Kevin Mitchell Kevin rode in his own team but Keppel Racing helped with a few spares and Tyres, Kevin had Keppel Engineering on his bike he failed to qualify for the British Grand prix in 42nd.

The only year Keppel had 3 bikes entered for the British Grand Prix.

1987 Keppel sold the Decorite and bought a new TZ 250 Yamaha for Nigel and Peter used Nigel’s 1 year old TZ 250 Yamaha

Nigel Bosworth Nigel concentrated on the European Championship finishing 8th overall wining the round at Donnington Park and finishing 5th at Assen. Nigel failed to qualify for the Dutch Grand Prix by 1 thousand of a second in 37th place. At the British Grand Prix he qualified in 35th but retired with one lap to go. he was 3rd in the ACU Star Championship winning 2 rounds and 9th in International Motoprix Championship.

Peter Hubbard Peter won 2 nationals at Scarbourgh 3 lap records and finished 5th in the British Championship 7th in the ACU Star Championship and 5th in the International Motoprix.

1988 Keppel bought a new Aprilia for Nigel the first 250cc racing Aprilia to be imported in to the UK. Keppel bought Peter a new TZ Yamaha. Both concentrating on the British Championship.

Nigel Bosworth Nigel had a another great season finishing 2nd in the British Championship with 3 wins 3rd in the European Championship race at Assen and 24th in the British Grand Prix after qualifing 34th

Peter Hubbard was lying 2nd in the British Championship till the last round at Brands Hatch where Peter crashed in practice braking his leg badly he missed the race and finished 4th in the Championship. Peter retired from racing. 1989 Nigel Bosworth 250Aprilia Nigel finished 2nd again in the British Championship and 5th in the Supercup national championship with 5 wins he didn’t qualify for the British Grand Prix in 38th place.

Mark Barker Mark rode Peters bike with Peter as the mechanic he finished 2nd at Cadwell with his best result and 5th at Brands Hatch at the final round.

Carl Salvage Carl was a novice rider on a TZR 125 Yamaha he got quicker all season and was rewarded with a 4th place in the British Ministock championship race at Donnington Park. Carl also rode a RS 125 Honda at Donnington and finished 22nd in his first national meeting.

1990 Nigel Bosworth Nigel had a new Aprilia bought by Keppel and SS Engineering ltd from near Cannock Staffordshire. He finished 7th in the European Championship race at Assen 9th in Germany Hockenheim and 12th at Hungaring in Hungry. His best British Championship was 7th at Pembrey.

Towards the end of the season Nigel was struggling with motivation so it was decided that Keppel Racing and Nigel to go their separate ways.

Mark Barker Mark had a new TZA 250 Yamaha, Mark finished 2nd in the National Championship tied with Rob Orme on points but as Rob had won more races Rob was crowned champion. 1 National win 3 lap records and finished 9th British Championship with a 6th place at Donington and 6th at Knockhill.

Carl Salvage Carl won a KR1S Kawasaki with finishing 4th in th Ministock championship the year previous he finished 5th in his first meeting on the bike never riding anything bigger than a 125 before and 3rd in the British Clubmans Championship race at Lydden and 3rd at Pembrey club race. Carl also had an 1987 RS 125 Honda but only rode a few selected meetings as he struggled to get his right leg onto the footpeg after a racing accident. Best result 2nd at Brands Hatch club race.

1991 Mark Barker had a new TZ250B Yamaha The season started well with a 5th place in the European championship race at Donington Park but his results weren’t consistent finishing in 13th in the British Championship with his best result at Cadwell 6th.. Carl Salvage Carl rode Marks last year bike but switched to a new machine mid season. Carl finished 3rd in the British Clubmans Championship 2 lap records at Aintree and Donington Park short circuit with 4 club wins and 10th in the King of Donington National race.

1992 Mark Barker and Carl had new TZD250 Yamaha’s Mark finished 7th in the British Championship with a 5th place at Oulton Park as his best.

Carl Salvage Carl won 2 club meetings and finished 8th at Knockhill and 15th at Donington Park National cup meetings.

1993 Mark and Carl both had new TZ250E Yamaha’s for this year. Mark set the first 3 pole positions in the British Championship finishing 4th in the final table even though he didn’t ride in the last 2 rounds as he had decided to retire and gone to live in the Isle of Man. Best result 6th at Snetterton.

Carl Salvage Carl had a few early crashes which knocked his confidence he finished 13th National Cup at Snetterton and 3rd in a club race at Snetterton and a 3rd at Darley Moor.

Max Vincent Max took over Marks ride finishing 10th at Mallory Park Heat Supercup but broke his foot at Donington in timed practice, he still qualified 2nd !

1994 Paul Brown Paul was the British 250cc Champion from 1993 he ran in Keppel colours with help from Dennis Trollope and Mitsui Yamaha he won his first race for the team at Oulton Park ( The only meeting where 3 Keppel riders finished in the top 10 of a national). He left mid season to ride for Medd Superbike team but still finished 6th in the British Championship. With a win at Mallory and a 2nd at Donington

Max Vincent Max Rode Marks last year bike finishing 11th in the British Championship with best results 4th places at Donington and Oulton Park.

Carl Salvage Carl rode a 1992 TZD as the bike he rode in 1993 was sold as Carl was unsure of his racing future. He finished 9th in the first National at Oulton Park and was leading the British Clubmans Championship till he crashed out of the lead at Snetterton ruining his chances. He didn’t go to the last rounds and finished the season with a win at Darley Moor.

1995 Keppel racing ran in Dennis Trollope racing colours on 250 Spondon framed Yamaha’s, which both bikes never really handled.

Max Vincent Max injured his knee on a moto cross bike in pre season testing and struggled all season he finished 11th in the National Cup and 22nd in the British Championship.

Carl Salvage Carl had a right knee ligament reconstruction over the winter and was about 50% fit for the start, he rode with blocks under the seat to lift him up but this resulted in the bike not handling very well, he finished 10th National Cup at Snetterton 35th in the Championship.

1996 Max Vincent Graham Harris bought Max a 2 year old RS 250 Honda but he ran under the Keppel Racing Banner he finished 8th in the British Championship with a 2nd and 4th at Mallory Park 2nd and 3rd at Donnington.

Carl Salvage Carl had a new 250 RS Honda he made his road racing debut at the North West 200 in Northern Ireland finishing 36th with a slipping clutch. He finished 38th in the British Championship with two 15th places at Brands Hatch. But his priority was the Ace of Aintree Championships where he was crowned 250cc CHAMPION. He finished 3rd in the 350cc championship but would have won both championships if not for a crash 2 laps from home while leading,

1997 Max Vincent He had a new RS Honda from Graham Harris and ran under the Keppel Racing banner again He finished 9th in the Shell advance British Championship with his best being 2nd at Cadwell, 6th at Donington, Brands Hatch and Cadwell race 2

Carl Salvage The same Honda was used no Aintree Championship as the ACU failed to pass the circuit safe because the local golf driving range there had planted some trees on the exit of a corner. Carl finished 41st in the British Championship with a 12th place at Oulton Park he also finished 16th in the Dutch International 250cc Championship only competing in three rounds, 8th Assen 12th Eemshaven (7th in a National meeting) and 11th at Tolbert. Carl competed in the North West 200 again finishing 28th and 30th with a blowing crank seal, this was found when testing the bikes horse power on a dyno machine.

1998 Max rode a super bike for this year leaving Carl as the only Keppel racer since 1986.

A new 250 Honda was bought to compete in the Dutch championship, He went to Albecete in Spain for the first European championship round the next best level to grand prix, he failed to qualify by 1 hundredth of a second. Carl didn’t compete in all rounds of the championship but his best was 7th Dutch Championship at Eemshaven. Carl had 3 club wins at Aintree and won the 350 Ace of Aintree Championship and finished 3rd Ace of Aintree 250cc Championship.

1999 The same bike and colour scheme was used as money to run the team was non existent. He concentrated on Aintree meetings 4 wins ,8 second places resulted with finishing 1st in the Ace of Aintree 250 Championship and 3rd in the 350cc Ace of Aintree Championship.

2000 The same bike and colour scheme was used to concentrate on Aintree and selected club meetings. Carl broke his collarbone at Donington the first meeting of the year which ruined the first part of the year.1 win at Aintree and 5 second places could only end him 3rd in both of the Ace of Aintree Championships.

2001 Carl ran the same 250 RS Honda in different colours, even though the ignition stator failed it was the best season for a while. He won the 1st Ace of Aintree 250 championship 3rd in the Ace of Aintree 350 championship and 3rd in the EMRA 250 championship. 3 wins at Aintree,6 wins at Mallory and a win in the 1300cc class on his 250cc machine beating R1 1000cc Yamahas, the only person to win a 1300cc race on a 250cc machine at Mallory Park all season. Carl also started competing in the MRO British championship with a best of 7th at Oulton Park. But because Carl was training local young rider Matthew Young he couldn’t compete in all of the rounds. He finished 23rd in the championship only competing in 5 rounds.

Matthew Young joined the team on a RS125 Honda as a complete novice he soon adjusted to a race bike, best result 3rd 3 Sisters ( 2nd was Gary Dunlop son of Wee Joey Dunlop ).

He lacked in commitment and the season was cut short with 2 meetings to go. 2002 KEPPEL ENGINEERING and SULBY HYDRAULICS which made up Keppel Racing went into receivership on the 22nd and 23rd May.

Terry Salvage the only remaining director of Keppel Engineering and Sulby Hydraulics started under a new name on the 19th June their new name Streamline Precision Ltd. Carl just competed in a couple of national events and he concentrated on the Ace of Aintree championships on the 1998 RS Honda, he finished 3rd in the 250 Championship and 4th in the 350 Championship.

2003 Streamline Precision closed mid 2003 ending the main base for Keppel Racing since it start in 1984.

With very little sponsorship riding the 98 Rs Honda Carl rode in just the ACE of Aintree 250cc and 350cc Championships and a Rizla International in Holland at Assen. Carl missed the first round of Aintree because of a small operation on his knee. He finished 4th in the 250cc Championship and 3rd in the 350cc Championship.