# Steve Parrish

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British motorcycle racer

This article is about the former motorcycle and truck racer. For the photographer and publisher, see [Steve Parish (photographer)](/source/Steve_Parish_(photographer)). For the businessman and chairman of Crystal Palace F.C., see [Steve Parish (businessman)](/source/Steve_Parish_(businessman)).

Steve Parrish Nationality British Born (1953-02-24) 24 February 1953 (age 73) Cambridge, England Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1977–1985 First race 1977 500cc Venezuelan Grand Prix Last race 1985 500cc British Grand Prix Team Suzuki Championships 0 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 52 0 1 0 1 92 Isle of Man TT career TTs contested 8 (1975, 1977, 1981–1986) TT wins 0 TT podiums 0

**Stephen James Parrish** (born 24 February 1953 in [Cambridge](/source/Cambridge), England)[1] also known as "**Stavros**", is a [British](/source/British_people) former professional [motorcycle](/source/Motorcycle) and [truck](/source/Truck) racer, who is now a [motorsport](/source/Motorsport) television commentator and speaker/entertainer.[2]

## Racing career

Parrish turned professional at the age of 22 in 1976, winning the [ACU](/source/Auto-Cycle_Union) Solo title in the [British Motor Cycle Championship](/source/Auto-Cycle_Union). He was a team mate to [Barry Sheene](/source/Barry_Sheene) on a [Suzuki RG 500](/source/Suzuki_RG_500) in the [1977](/source/1977_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_season) 500 cc [world championship](/source/Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing),[3] finishing fifth overall,[4] 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](/source/Superbike) title in 1981.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### 4 wheel racing

#### Car racing

After retiring from motorcycle racing in 1986, Parrish briefly tried his luck in car racing, competing in the [MG Metro Turbo Challenge](/source/Austin_Metro) and making a guest appearance in the 1988 Season.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

He raced in the short-lived Formula Classic series in 1995, peaking with a 2nd place.[5]

#### Truck Racing

Parrish went on to become a successful truck racer, winning 6 British titles and 5 European titles between 1987 and 1996.[6]

## Team management

Parrish also led a dual career both managing a successful [Yamaha](/source/Yamaha_Motor_Company) factory team to three British Superbike championship titles;[7] and starting a successful [truck racing](/source/Truck_racing) career, winning the 1987 British Open Truck Racing Championship. Parrish took both the [European](/source/FIA_European_Truck_Racing_Championship) 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](/source/BP)–[Mercedes-Benz](/source/Mercedes-Benz) team.[8][9] Parrish regained the prestigious European crown again in 1996 in [Jarama](/source/Jarama). The most successful truck racer ever, he retired in 2002 at the age of 47 to hand over to [Terry Rymer](/source/Terry_Rymer).[10]

## Commentary career

Parrish provides commentary and analysis for [ITV's](/source/ITV_(TV_channel)) week-long coverage of the [Isle of Man TT](/source/Isle_of_Man_TT) as well continuous commentary on Europsort and TNT Sports for Motorbike racing events including British Superbikes, MotoGP, World Superbikes.[11][12]

In 1985, Parrish started commentating for the [BBC](/source/BBC) radio, and then transferring to television with [Sky](/source/Sky_Television_(1984%E2%80%931990)) with Barry Nutley. From 1990, he commentated on the British 125 championship for the BBC.

Parrish was previously co commentator on [World Superbikes](/source/Superbike_World_Championship) for the BBC with [Leigh Diffey](/source/Leigh_Diffey).[13]

Parrish then teamed up with [Charlie Cox](/source/Charlie_Cox_(racing)) commentating on [MotoGP](/source/Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing) coverage, until the BBC lost its contract at the end of 2013.[7][14] The pair had a rapport and commentated on a number of series for the BBC from the late 1990s, which were [British](/source/British_Superbike_Championship) and [World Superbikes](/source/Superbike_World_Championship) and MotoGP.[15] A qualified pilot, Parrish is also a commentator for the [Red Bull Air Race](/source/Red_Bull_Air_Race) series for [Channel 4](/source/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](/source/Guinness_Book_of_Records) [world record](/source/World_record) for the "Fastest Speed Achieved in Reverse" (85 mph) using a [Caterham car](/source/Caterham_Cars).[16]

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

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [England and Wales Birth records](http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/search/results?sourcecategory=birthsutf002c%20marriages%20utf0026%20deaths&firstname=stephen&lastname=parrish&birthyear=1953&birthyear_offset=0&keyword=cambridge) Retrieved 2014-03-04

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Steve Parrish Official site, Biography](http://www.steveparrishracing.com/biography.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160642/http://steveparrishracing.com/biography.html) 7 December 2013 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Retrieved 2014-03-04

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Auto Racing Daily : Steve Parrish: "Obviously I Am Very, Very Excited About Riding The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR"](http://www.autoracingdaily.com/article/steve_parrish_obviously_i_am_very_very_excited_about_riding_the_kawasaki_ni/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928111805/http://www.autoracingdaily.com/article/steve_parrish_obviously_i_am_very_very_excited_about_riding_the_kawasaki_ni/) 28 September 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["motogp.com · Steve Parrish"](http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Steve+Parrish). *Motogp.com*. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [https://www.unracedf1.com/it-took-seven-holbay-engines-to-ruin-wheatcrofts-formula-classic/](https://www.unracedf1.com/it-took-seven-holbay-engines-to-ruin-wheatcrofts-formula-classic/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [http://www.steveparrishracing.com/biography/](http://www.steveparrishracing.com/biography/)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-news.bbc.co.uk_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-news.bbc.co.uk_7-1) ["Steve Parrish"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/1859932.stm). *News.bbc.co.uk*. 7 March 2002. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["BP"](http://www.castrol.com/castrol/genericarticle.do?categoryId=9000068&contentId=7000163). *bp.com*. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Anna Sharp - Truck Racing](http://www.ascsharp.co.uk/Homepage/racing.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071008212459/http://www.ascsharp.co.uk/Homepage/racing.html) 8 October 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Terry Rymer Motorsport - News](http://www.terryrymer.com/28_01_02.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070929033725/http://www.terryrymer.com/28_01_02.htm) 29 September 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Isle of Man TT 2014 highlights on ITV4"](http://sport-onthebox.com/2014/05/24/isle-of-man-tt-2014-highlights-on-itv4/). *Sport-onthebox.com*. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["New TV deals for 2014 Isle of Man TT Races - Isle of Man TT Official Website"](http://www.iomtt.com/News/2014/April/11/TV-Deals-2014-TT.aspx). *Iomtt.com*. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["SundayGrandstand"](http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d9a1275cad8d4314899699d8f2216545). *BBC*. 9 September 2001. Retrieved 29 November 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [BBC Sport May 2013](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motogp/22464311) MotoGP: BT Sport secures TV rights from 2014 in five-year deal. Retrieved 2014-03-04

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Charlie Cox and Steve Parrish - An Appreciation"](http://www.teamdan.com/archive/cox/cox.html). *Teamdan.com*. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [BBC - Press Office - Steve Parrish](https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/sport/steveparrish.shtml) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20071013101032/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/sport/steveparrish.shtml) 13 October 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

## External links

- [Bio at the BBC Press Office](https://web.archive.org/web/20071013101032/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/sport/steveparrish.shtml)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States People DDB

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Steve Parrish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Parrish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Parrish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.