OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
EXCITING CONTENT looked after me as a youngster . When I was 17 I passed my test and they said , ‘ come and work for us .’ I had some fantastic years there , like 15 years , and progressed up and got my licences for the trucks . We used to move bikes for Alec Wright , Colin Wright ’ s dad . There came a point where Colin needed a job , so he came and worked for us as well . So that ’ s how I met Colin , who would have been about 18 at the time . When I broke my leg , years later , Colin asked me what I was going to do after it had healed up , at the end of the 2000s , when they had just won BSB with Neil Hodgson . He said , “ We ’ re going WorldSBK racing next year and I need another ******* truckie . Do you want the job ?’ So I said , ‘ of course I want the ******* job .’ Colin said to get myself up to Coventry to the workshop the next day . I joined the team and it was some of the best years I have ever had . We always had such a ball . And it worked , we all respected each other and to be fair we have a very similar thing in Crescent . And it shows .” At first a truckie and general GSE team-member , Ash grew into the role of tyre guy too , under the guidance of legendary UK tuner and crew chief , Stuart
Johnson . Having been in the same kind of truck driver role for years , Ash still lives by one main piece of advice - do everything you do as if you were doing it for the first time . “ Any part of this job , any part , do it like you were doing it for the first time and you do not want to screw it up . Do it like the first time you have done it and don ’ t ever forget that . So , when I go through peages - and it is tight in there for a truck - every time I give it total respect . I don ’ t come charging in , because one day you will screw it up and smash the front . I just try and be consistent with my professional approach . I have a responsibility to Paul ( Denning , the Crescent Team Manager / Owner ) and the rest of the team , to bring these trucks here safely and without making a mess in the back . I am not working for a Supermarket ; I have made my own arrangements - I have all day . I won ’ t be rushed because I want to look after my truck .” Next time you see all the paraphernalia of racing laid out at a racetrack , remember who got it there . WorldSBK ’ s very own literal road crew
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