these returned riders and mechanics were happy to pass on their knowledge to the next generation , many of whom — such as a young Graeme Crosby — hung on their every word .
ANZAC ‘ CAN DO ’ ATTITUDE So , after the first wave of Anzacs had returned from Europe , it was the Boomers ’ turn , and they went in even greater numbers , some taking their mechanics with them . How many were there at the peak in the late 1980s and early 90s is hard to say but at the West German Grand Prix in May 1989 Australian Lou Martin rounded up most of the New Zealanders and Australians in the paddock for a group photo . There were at least 30 , not including riders . They had a ‘ can do ’ attitude , hugely important in racing . Repairs that would see some European teams go back to their home base , redesign and improve a part were accomplished ‘ in the field ’ by the ANZACS . Pretty important when a championship was at stake . The ANZACS had a good work ethic and were prepared to give almost anything a go . They were adventurous , prepared to travel halfway around the world and sleep on mate ’ s couches to get into race teams . The idea of travelling Europe and living in a caravan at a grand prix circuit was a dream come true . Many team bosses found this ANZAC commitment attractive . They were not about to pack up and leave mid-season ... Conversely , of the English-speaking mechanics , the British were less enamoured of this lifestyle : they wanted to live at home and ‘ commute ’ to the Continental races . We should add to this that in the 1960s , 70s and 80s , there were far fewer GPs than today and there was a thriving British domestic racing scene , so British riders and their mechanics could make a decent living at home .
RISE OF THE ANTIPODEAN CREW CHIEF Young Australians had Kel Carruthers as a role model . He moved from racer to team-manager-mechanic in the United States and fronted Yamaha Motor Corporation USA ’ s road-racing and dirttrack effort before going back to world championship racing with Kenny Roberts and winning three World 500 Championships in succession . Carruthers ’ achievements would fill a volume . Like Carruthers , many of the men who went on to head world championship winning teams were ex-riders . After Aucklander Ken Fletcher realised he was better at machine preparation than racing , he did just that , ending up as Barry Sheene ’ s head mechanic . He got the job on the back of a recommendation from Bob Haldane , who had been contacted by Sheene ’ s father Frank , specifically seeking a New Zealand mechanic . The old adage , ‘ success breeds success ’, certainly held true for these young ANZACs . Once some of them got established in racing teams , they would help fellow countrymen if they could . Australian Mick Smith was working for the British Suzuki racing team and when an opening came up , he put in a word for fellow Aussie Jeremy Burgess . Over time , Burgess was to work for three riders — Wayne Gardner , Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi ; who between them won 13 premier class world championships . Burgess had raced at top level in Australia on Suzuki RG500 and Yamaha TZ750 machines . So too had Warren Willing , who helped Kenny Roberts ’
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