Profile

Richard Britton was born in 1970 and had been a motorcycle road racer for the past 10 years. In this time he had become one of the Ireland’s leading pure road racers. Born in England, Richard moved to Ireland and was brought up in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh were he lived with his wife Maria and his son, Loris.

His racing career began with the 'Clubman Championships’, which he went on to successfully win riding in the 400cc class. From that moment on, he was bitten by the bug and was destined for a career in motorcycle racing.

In 1998 as a member of the Omagh based 'Schimmel Racing Team' fronted by Alan Gregg and riding Honda machinery, Richard began his assault on a road racing career. That year he successfully won the 'Regal 600 Championship' for Gregg and this was to be his first of four titles he was later to go on to win.

After badly breaking his arm in a racing accident at the Cookstown 100 races, Richard missed most of the 1999 season. In 2000, he parted company with 'Schimmel Racing' at the Isle of Man TT races and was immediately drafted into the 'PJ O'Kane Racing Team' by the then team Manager, Willis Marshall.

Richard was immediately given a Yamaha 600 R6 and he soon put it on the winner's rostrum with a double win just one month after the TT, at 'Nutts Corner'. The team later acquired the ex Jason Griffiths Yamaha R1 and he immediately found this to be an exceptional package. Richard finished off the his 2000 season winning the 'Regal 600 Champion', which was to be the first 'Irish Championship' for PJ O'Kane's 'Racing Team'.

In 2001 Britton was lined up to ride the new Yamaha R6 and his older trusty Yamaha R1. Later that year he continued his winning streak by becoming the 2001, '600 Regal Champion’ for the third time'.

The team then switched to Suzuki machinery for 2002 with a GSXR 600 and GXSR 1000 line up for the Enniskillen mans campaign. Again, and for the first time in Irish history, Richard won his fourth, (and his third successive) 'Regal 600 Championship'.

In 2003, Patsy O'Kane withdrew from the sport but allowed Richard to keep the 1000 Suzuki that he had campaigned his 2002 season on. It was difficult for Richard to obtain machinery in 2003 but with the kind help from Mick Morgan of ‘MSS Kawasaki’, they supplied him with the new 600 Kawasaki for the up coming season. Richard took it to the limit and was duly crowned 'Irish 600 Road Race Champion' at the 'Dundalk Road Races', Darver, Co Louth, in late August of 2003.

2004 Saw the introduction of Des Moore as a fresh injection of sponsorship for Richard providing him with an ex Vitrans Honda – Ten Kate prepared CBR 600 RR which Richard raced in the three International Roadraces of 2004. Moderate success was achieved on the DMRR Honda in its first year and the alliance between Des and Richard was formed.

Richard, by his own high standards, has had an up and down season with no luck balanced with a few highlights in the shape of new lap records and race wins at various meetings. Typical of his nature, Richard never complained of his misfortunes but had preparing to set about the 2005 season with a renewed determination to succeed!

Sadly Richard was to lose his life in September 2005 in a freak slowing down accident at the final Road Race of the season in Ballybunnion South of Ireland.
RIP Richard you are still the 'Peoples Champion'

 

Career Highlights

2004 Tandragee 100 Fastest Lap: 3m 03.729 104.706mph (New Course Record).
2004 International Northwest 200 - Rides the BSB John Reynolds Rizla Suzuki.
2004 Faugheen Road Races – Race win on the DMRR Honda – New Lap record.
2004 Mid-Antrim 150 August 7th 2004 - Fastest Lap: 107.391mph New Lap Record.
2004 Killalane 11th Sept 2004 - Fastest lap & outright lap record at 105.174mph.
2003 Sets a new lap record for the Dundrod 150 circuit at 127.530mph.
2003 Rides for the British Supersport MSS Kawasaki Team.
2003 600 Irish Road Race Champion.
2003 2nd Junior 400 TT.
2003 SS600 RACE UGP 4th.
2003 Production 600 Race UGP 4th.
2003 Production 1000 Race UGP 4th.
2003 Superbike Race One 4th.
2003 Superbike Race Two 3rd.
2003 Awarded the Sam McClements Trophy for most successful Superbike rider in 2002 by the MCUI.
2002 Regal 600 Champion.
2002 Takes 3rd place in the NW200 Superbike race.
2002 3rd Junior 400 TT.
2002 5th Senior TT.
2002 Becomes the fastest Irish rider to lap the TT circuit at 124.29mph.
2002 Ulster GP two 3rd places in both Superbike races lapping at over 127mph.
2001 Regal 600 Champion.
2000 Regal 600 Champion.
1998 Regal 600 Champion.