Race History

Martin Jessopp on airFrom a very young age I was fortunate enough to be on a bike riding around a field, so as soon as I was 6 I was riding Youth Motocross. At the age of five my father bought me a Honda 50cc motocrosss bike to ride around on. I was soon to be racing this bike. When I started racing I soon outgrew the 50cc automatic and bought a 60cc manual to race a South Somerset Schoolboy scramble club. After a year I was winning at the club so when I moved to 80cc I started racing nationals.

In 1996 I entered the team Green Challenge at the BSMA Nationals on a Kawasaki. I remained in the Challenge Cup for that and the following season.

Martin JessoppIn 1999 I set my sights high for the year, to compete in the BYMX youth series, Dutch International Supercross and the British Supercross. At the BYMX Motocross I struggled for the year to learn the new sand tracks but when the season came to a close I started racing Supercross again.

I entered the British Supercross Championship and at the end of the season I was drawing on points for the win with John May and Lewis Gregory but ended up third due to race wins. Soon after the UK Championship I was off to Holland where I finished second and third in the international race.

At the end of 1999 we decided to move to road racing for a fresh challenge where I started to race the Aprilia Superteen Challenge supporting the British Superbike Championship. Having never ridden a road bike before it was a difficult year but was soon in the top 15 scoring points.

Martin JessoppThe following year we did the same series but also purchased a Honda RS125R GP bike to do the MRO Series. I took to the Honda very well and stopped racing the Aprilia and concentrated on the GP125 class where I was having strong top 10 finishes. In 2002 I carried on racing in the same class.

By the end of 2002 I was outgrowing the 125 so I decided to move up to the new R6 Cup in 2003 supporting the British Superbike Series. During the same time I rode for the Phase One Endurance Junior Team in the World Endurance Championship where myself and my teammate Henry Fincher finished the year in a pleasing 13th place.

In 2004 I rode for myself in the National Superstock Championship on a Ducati 999s. This was a poor year with the Ducati having many technical problems preventing me of any success. I ended up in the Cup race where I managed to get a best result of 4th at Mallory Park.

2005 was my rookie year in Supersport and in 2006 I managed a best qualifying position of 4th and best finish of 8th. In 2007 on the 749RS I finished 2nd at the first round before being excluded for a minor fault, but managed 5th place finishes in a season full of bad luck and bike problems.

Ridersmotorcycles.com entered the 2010 MCE British Superbike Championship with new team, new name, riders and new bike, the awesome Ducati 1098R. The team achieved pole position qualifying, podium finishes and fastest lap times. Michael Rutter finished 5th overall, unfortunately I sustained a nasty break of my fibula and tibia during round 5 which paid to the remainder of the season, I am now fully recovered and back in the saddle.

Martin Jessopp & Michael Rutter 2011 BSB TeamFor 2011 Rapid Solicitors is joining Bathams in sponsoring the RidersMotorcycles.com British Superbike team, the team also has long-term backing from Petronas Lubricants.

I will be again racing in the BSB championships alongside team mate Michael Rutter, and will  also race at the North West 200 and Macau GP.

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