Tony Robinson has been sponsoring bikes since the mid 1970’s

Tony’s interest in bikes began in 1958 with road bikes and indeed has managed to relocate his 1960 Bonneville and has one of the first Honda CB750 ever brought into the U.K.

Tony is Managing Director of Robinson’s of Derby who supplies manufacturing machinery to Chocolate, Confectionery, Biscuit and Allied Industries worldwide and travels extensively.

The sponsoring started in the mid 1970’s by buying a pair of tyres for Mick Poxon to use at the local Darley Moor – this soon progressed to sponsoring Steve Manship who was solo British Champion in 1978 and 1980 on Tony’s bikes – thereby elevating the well-known orange and black Robinson’s racing colours.

More success followed with the continuing sponsorship of Mick Poxon at Darley Moor and Irish circuits, followed by adding Frank Rutter to the team for the I.O.M TT races – indeed Mick and Frank were 3rd and 4th in the inaugural Formula 1 TT races going into the last lap – events however proved two non-finishes!

The next year we tried again and Mick again non-finished on the last lap from a podium position but Frank Rutter who had to use the spare production bike (his F1 blew in the lap practice session) which finished 17th – a good result in a Formula 1 race with a heavy production bike with lights – it was however a bike with a good pedigree – ‘Son of Sam’ a famous Triumph Trident. Again success followed in the U.K. for the next few years with the orange and black Triumph and by now Suzuki.

Towards the end of the 1980/1990’s Tony met up with Brent Gladwin who rode Tony’s Triumph in classic races and also a Honda RC30 to many successes.

A Ducati 850 followed with even greater success in the U.K. and Europe.

As this seemed to be the route to take the 850 was followed by a factory Ducati 851 – the famous ex-Raymond Roche works bike, which was ridden by Doug Polen in USA and Mexico where he won many international races.

This bike was used by Brent to win the European Twin-Cylinder Championship in 199?and indeed Brent lapped Mettet faster than anyone on a twin- Cylinder bike – a lap time that remains even today.

Another Triumph was also purchased from the USA and used by Brent to win Classic races and it even won open class racing.

After Brent had a big get off at Monza on the Ducati 851 it was decided to start GR Motosport to bring on up-and –coming riders.

Many successes have followed and the riders have all achieved major championship wins.

- Peter Jennings
- Steve Plater
- Dean Thomas
- Karl Harris

In 2001 it was decided to reduce the commitment but at the same time we discovered a new and exiting talent that we could foresee would make a lot of people take notice - 23year old Lisa Thorne.

In 2002 we invested in a 125 Honda Grand Prix back for Lisa, who has proved to be a potential star in the making.

Lisa is the foremost female racer in the U.K.

Bringing the story up-to-date for 2003, we will again have Lisa Thorne on a 125 Honda Grand Prix Motorcycle.

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