{{Short description|British motorcycle racer}} {{About|the former motorcycle and truck racer|the photographer and publisher|Steve Parish (photographer)|the businessman and chairman of Crystal Palace F.C.|Steve Parish (businessman)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Use British English|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox motorcycle rider | name = Steve Parrish | image = File:Steve Parrish.JPG | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|02|24|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Cambridge]], England | nationality = [[British people|British]] | GP Active years = [[1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1977]]–[[1985 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1985]] | GP Teams = [[Suzuki]] | GP Race Starts = 52 | GP Championships = 0 | GP Race Wins = 0 | GP Podiums = 1 | GP Total Points = 92 | GP Poles = 0 | GP Fastest laps = 1 | GP First race = [[1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1977]] 500cc [[Venezuelan motorcycle Grand Prix|Venezuelan Grand Prix]] | GP First win = | GP Last win = | GP Last race = [[1985 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1985]] 500cc [[British motorcycle Grand Prix|British Grand Prix]] | TT Contested = 8 ([[1975 Isle of Man TT|1975]], [[1977 Isle of Man TT|1977]], [[1981 Isle of Man TT|1981]]–[[1986 Isle of Man TT|1986]]) | TT Wins = 0 | TT Podiums = 0 }} '''Stephen James Parrish''' (born 24 February 1953 in [[Cambridge]], England)<ref>[http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/search/results?sourcecategory=birthsutf002c%20marriages%20utf0026%20deaths&firstname=stephen&lastname=parrish&birthyear=1953&birthyear_offset=0&keyword=cambridge England and Wales Birth records] Retrieved 2014-03-04</ref> also known as "'''Stavros'''", is a [[British people|British]] former professional [[motorcycle]] and [[truck]] racer, who is now a [[motorsport]] television commentator and speaker/entertainer.<ref>[http://www.steveparrishracing.com/biography.html Steve Parrish Official site, Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160642/http://steveparrishracing.com/biography.html |date=7 December 2013 }} Retrieved 2014-03-04</ref>

==Racing career== Parrish turned professional at the age of 22 in 1976, winning the [[Auto-Cycle Union|ACU]] Solo title in the [[Auto-Cycle Union|British Motor Cycle Championship]]. He was a team mate to [[Barry Sheene]] on a [[Suzuki RG 500]] in the [[1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1977]] 500&nbsp;cc [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|world championship]],<ref>[http://www.autoracingdaily.com/article/steve_parrish_obviously_i_am_very_very_excited_about_riding_the_kawasaki_ni/ Auto Racing Daily : Steve Parrish: "Obviously I Am Very, Very Excited About Riding The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR"<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928111805/http://www.autoracingdaily.com/article/steve_parrish_obviously_i_am_very_very_excited_about_riding_the_kawasaki_ni/ |date=28 September 2007 }}</ref> finishing fifth overall,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Steve+Parrish|title=motogp.com · Steve Parrish|website=Motogp.com|accessdate=29 June 2018}}</ref> but returned to British-based riding to become the 1978 500cc ACU 'Gold Star' Champion. He also won the British Shell 500 title in both 1979 and 1980, and a British [[Superbike]] title in 1981.{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}}

===4 wheel racing===

====Car racing==== After retiring from motorcycle racing in 1986, Parrish briefly tried his luck in car racing, competing in the [[Austin Metro|MG Metro Turbo Challenge]] and making a guest appearance in the 1988 Season.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

He raced in the short-lived Formula Classic series in 1995, peaking with a 2nd place.<ref>https://www.unracedf1.com/it-took-seven-holbay-engines-to-ruin-wheatcrofts-formula-classic/</ref>

====Truck Racing====

Parrish went on to become a successful truck racer, winning 6 British titles and 5 European titles between 1987 and 1996.<ref>http://www.steveparrishracing.com/biography/</ref>

==Team management== Parrish also led a dual career both managing a successful [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] factory team to three British Superbike championship titles;<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/1859932.stm|title=Steve Parrish|date=7 March 2002|access-date=29 June 2018|website=News.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> and starting a successful [[truck racing]] career, winning the 1987 British Open Truck Racing Championship. Parrish took both the [[FIA European Truck Racing Championship|European]] and British Truck Racing championship titles in 1990, then held the British title for four years and retained the European title for three years driving for the [[BP]]–[[Mercedes-Benz]] team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.castrol.com/castrol/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9000068&contentId=7000163|title=BP|website=bp.com|accessdate=29 June 2018}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ascsharp.co.uk/Homepage/racing.html Anna Sharp - Truck Racing<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008212459/http://www.ascsharp.co.uk/Homepage/racing.html |date=8 October 2007 }}</ref> Parrish regained the prestigious European crown again in 1996 in [[Jarama]]. The most successful truck racer ever, he retired in 2002 at the age of 47 to hand over to [[Terry Rymer]].<ref>[http://www.terryrymer.com/28_01_02.htm Terry Rymer Motorsport - News<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929033725/http://www.terryrymer.com/28_01_02.htm |date=29 September 2007 }}</ref>

==Commentary career== Parrish provides commentary and analysis for [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV's]] week-long coverage of the [[Isle of Man TT]] as well continuous commentary on Europsort and TNT Sports for Motorbike racing events including British Superbikes, MotoGP, World Superbikes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport-onthebox.com/2014/05/24/isle-of-man-tt-2014-highlights-on-itv4/|title=Isle of Man TT 2014 highlights on ITV4|date=24 May 2014|website=Sport-onthebox.com|accessdate=29 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iomtt.com/News/2014/April/11/TV-Deals-2014-TT.aspx|title=New TV deals for 2014 Isle of Man TT Races - Isle of Man TT Official Website|website=Iomtt.com|accessdate=29 June 2018}}</ref>

In 1985, Parrish started commentating for the [[BBC]] radio, and then transferring to television with [[Sky Television (1984–1990)|Sky]] with Barry Nutley. From 1990, he commentated on the British 125 championship for the BBC.

Parrish was previously co commentator on [[Superbike World Championship|World Superbikes]] for the BBC with [[Leigh Diffey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d9a1275cad8d4314899699d8f2216545|title=SundayGrandstand|work=BBC|date=9 September 2001|access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref>

Parrish then teamed up with [[Charlie Cox (racing)|Charlie Cox]] commentating on [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|MotoGP]] coverage, until the BBC lost its contract at the end of 2013.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motogp/22464311 BBC Sport May 2013] MotoGP: BT Sport secures TV rights from 2014 in five-year deal. Retrieved 2014-03-04</ref> The pair had a rapport and commentated on a number of series for the BBC from the late 1990s, which were [[British Superbike Championship|British]] and [[Superbike World Championship|World Superbikes]] and MotoGP.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teamdan.com/archive/cox/cox.html|title=Charlie Cox and Steve Parrish - An Appreciation|website=Teamdan.com|accessdate=29 June 2018}}</ref> A qualified pilot, Parrish is also a commentator for the [[Red Bull Air Race]] series for [[Channel 4]].

==Other work and achievements== Away from television, he regularly tests various vehicles and racing machines, and is an expert witness for motor racing incidents. Parrish holds the [[Guinness Book of Records]] [[world record]] for the "Fastest Speed Achieved in Reverse" (85&nbsp;mph) using a [[Caterham Cars|Caterham car]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/sport/steveparrish.shtml BBC - Press Office - Steve Parrish<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013101032/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/sport/steveparrish.shtml |date=13 October 2007 }}</ref>

With journalist and broadcaster [[Nick Harris (commentator)|Nick Harris]], Parrish co-authored ''Barry: The Story of Motorcycling Legend Barry Sheene ''(2008), a biography of his former team mate [[Barry Sheene]].

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071013101032/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/sport/steveparrish.shtml Bio at the BBC Press Office]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parrish, Steve}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:Grovewood Award winners]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:500cc World Championship riders]] [[Category:Motorsport announcers]] [[Category:Isle of Man TT riders]]