He’s a three-time British Superbike Champion, he’s a multiple 500cc Grand Prix podium man and has raced iconic 2-stroke Grand Prix 500cc motorcycles from the Honda NSR500 to the Yamaha YZR500 to the Suzuki RGV500 and a couple of 250s thrown in for good measure. Cap it all off with a hattrick of back-to-back titles with the famous Cadbury’s Boost Yamaha team and you have a pretty special career. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Niall Mackenzie!
Photos courtesy of and huge thanks to DOUBLE RED PHOTOGRAPHY
Enjoy!
00:00 Intro
01:59 Keeping busy!
03:40 Taz’s BSB Championship Year
07:14 Career paths…
11:33 Where did it all start?
13:16 That Grand Prix Dream
17:51 Opportunity Knocks
19:51 Passion and determination to succeed
21:09 Rob McElnea
22:13 Making opportunities and knowing people
26:29 Controlling your temperament
27:54 A factory HRC Grand Prix rider
29:44 The magnitude of the situation
31:40 The expectations of a factory rider
35:09 Agostini Yamaha come calling for ’89
39:24 Riding for Ago alongside Freddie Spencer
41:11 There’s an A rider, and there’s a B rider…
43:24 The Golden Age of 500cc Grand Prix
45:19 Comparing the YZR500 to the NSR500
46:32 Lucky Strike Suzuki opportunity
52:23 Out of a job again… What next?
54:19 It was the only option at the time
56:40 Reaching out to Japan
1:00:01 Back again… Never give up!
1:00:31 Would you change anything as you look back?
1:01:58 Self-managed, because that’s how it was
1:05:09 Last Grand Prix Podium – Donington ’93
1:09:04 British Invasion in GPs
1:10:17 250GP (not) with Jamie Robinson…
1:11:22 Back to Blighty!
1:14:24 Confident enough to win?
1:15:51 The planets align in every way
1:18:04 Hardest of the three championships?
1:21:48 Hislop Rivalry
1:24:02 Rob Mac as your team manager
1:26:09 The new Yamaha R7…
1:28:04 2000, the last season
1:29:33 Thinking it was enough to know it was right
1:30:46 Life with clarity
1:32:41 Niall, Whit and the Astra Van
1:36:19 Favourite corner, and why?
1:37:47 Best Hire Car Story
1:41:07 Outro
Facebook: Off Track Podcast www.facebook.com/offtrackthemotorcycleracingpodcast
Instagram: @offtrackpodcastuk
www.instagram.com/offtrackpodcastuk
Twitter: @offtrack_
www.twitter.com/offtrack_
Us and the guests…
IG: @thedaveneal | Twitter: @daveneal | Facebook: Dave Neal
IG: @bencurrie61 | Twitter: @BenCurrie61 | Facebook: Benjamin Currie #61
Off Track Merchandise: https://www.hmycustoms.co.uk/off-track-podcast
Our Patreon Page is live! https://www.patreon.com/join/9993138
source
Always a great interview with the mac squad 👍
Love Niall Great guy such an interesting interview looking back at those days when things could happen so fast for the right riders and the speed that these things could change I reckon it was such a special time in the sport . Back in those days I reckon the brits just seemed to have so much more chance to get on the world scene especially in MotoGp things just seem to be very against our top people these days , I may be wrong of course but are things a whole lot more kind of political these days ?. The great thing about being on the tech side is that your not going to have such a limited career in the paddock as the riders so can stay involved and experience the atmosphere of the paddock longer but also I am sure not without the pressure . I've waffled on enough here 😁 Side issue Dave have you heard anything on Rory and what he's doing this coming season ?so wrong what occurred for him in Moto2 .👌👍
Another awesome pod guys, I could listen to Niall talk for hours. The Mackenzie guys are mega, Taz and Taylor are a credit to Niall and there mum 👏👏
You can never have too many friends, costs nothing to be nice 😉 and the odd name drop helps lol
Read Nialls book. It's good.
Met Niall many times over the years what an absolute gentleman.
What an amazing story and an amazing family, they deserve whatever success comes their way. These podcasts are so entertaining keep up the good work!
All I could say is bloody brilliant, and the last five minutes was excellent 😂👍
Great interview, one of my favourite riders.