Ian Lougher, Isle of Man TT biker from Bonvilston, Cardiff

Ian Lougher

Guts, skill and force of will, Ian has brought victory after victory home, a true Welsh sporting hero! His first motorcycle was a Demm Dove moped/shopping bike which he got when he was twelve for ten pounds, he rode it in the fields and forestry around his home in Bonvilston (near Cardiff) where he was born.

Ian is the youngest of four children, attended Llancarfan Primary School and later Barry Boys School. His interest in motorcycles developed through his father Haydn and older brother Nigel who both had road bikes at one time or another. His racing career started in 1982 at Llandow Circuit near Cowbridge riding a RD400 Yamaha.

He progressed quickly through club racing to International level within eighteen months! "Thank goodness for motorcycle racing." Ian says "I trained as an agricultural mechanic, before being a builders labourer then a lorry driver. Job's I disliked immensely."

Ian spent many years racing on a shoe string!

Yet he still managed to compete at British and European Championship level. These early years were tough. He was up against some very determined racers like Max Biaggi, Jurgen Van DeGoorbugh, Steve Hislop, Carl Fogarty, Roger Marshall, Joey Dunlop to name just a few!

The breakthrough!

1990 brought major acclaim when he won his first TT race in the Isle of Man. The TT is one of the worlds most demanding motor sport challenges. Ian had to wait another six years before he could record his second TT win, but since then has rarely been off the podium.

Ian Lougher Awards and Wins:

• 8 times Isle of Man TT winner and lap record holder.
• Ian is also the rider with the most number of 120mph average laps ever raced in the 101 year history of the event.
• He is the second most visited rider to the Isle of Man TT podium with 27 podium placings.
• 9 times an International North West 200 winner
• 32 times Southern 100 winner
• 115 Race wins at Oliver's Mount race circuit, the only "pure" road race circuit in England.
• 13 times Ulster Grand Prix winner
• Duke Road Racer of the Year : 2002, 2005 & 2006

After twenty-eight years of racing Ian says his greatest acheivment is "To be still racing competitively and remaining highly motivated". His toughest win so far was against his good friend Steve Hislop, in the 1990 Lightweight 250cc TT and setting a new lap record which remained unbroken for a further nine years.

This was Ian's first TT victory, so naturally it was very special, but what made the win even sweeter was that at the time Hislop was a full factory backed contracted Honda rider and as a "privateer" Ian on-board Welsh motorcycle legend, the late Ray Cowles, Yamaha, Ian should not have been able to come anywhere near Steve - but it just goes to show that determination is an amazing thing.

But bikers pay for their victories, Ian has suffered a catalogue of broken bones: shoulders three times, collarbones fours times, fingers twice, arm twice and wrist once. Other injuries include twice damaging his shoulder ligaments and twice badly damaged knees!

The Isle of Man TT is notoriaously dangerous, we asked Ian about the risks. He said "All motorsport is dangerous. Clearly there are inherent dangers with racing on closed public roads, such as the TT, but certainly over the last four years the TT organisers, as with the organising committees of many other "pure" road race events, have made great leaps in terms of safety. As in many aspects of motorsport, the technology and science involved in all areas has developed dramatically in recent years, including vastly improved safety and air fencing coupled to quicker medical response times."

Team Black Horse Yamaha
Within his own motorcycle racing team, Team Black Horse Yamaha, Ian is very aware of the benefit of his vast experience and over the past few years. The team have been actively running a young rider programme for up and coming racers within motorcycle road racing, both on British short circuits, within the BSB championships and also on the "pure road" race stage, at events such as the International North West 200, Isle of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix and Aberdare Park.

Ian's racing ability and experience is widely acknowledged by other racers, who often come to Ian for advice. Highly respected as an ambassador for the sport, Ian's opinions and ideas are often requested on aspects of safety and organisational procedures from event organisers. He's technically good too, although the team has a dedicated crew of technicians, Ian still prepares all the new Team Blackhorse Yamaha machinery before the start of each racing season.

Ian loves Wales, he says he admires the dragon on the Welsh flag, "It symbolises the strength and fire within the Welsh people." It's a fire this true Welsh sporting hero has shown us over and over again!

Pictures courtesy of Team Black Horse, many thanks.
Ian's official website: ianlougher.com
Ian's team official website: teamblackhorse-yamaha.com

Connection: Ian was born in Cardiff.

comment by:OmegaRain
Ian has also recorded the most 120mph plus laps in the 101 year history of the Isle of Man TT. 9 x Northwest 200 winner 13 x Ulster Grand Prix winner 111 victories at Olivers Mount, Scarborugh. Plus numerous other titles

link by: OmegaRain

Official Website
Information about Ian