Specialist Spotlight Louigi Moto

We're shining a light on some of the biggest and best players In the Classic Racing world and this time we've been speaking to Louigi Moto's Richard Llewellin.

INTERVIEW

CR: HOW DID YOU GET INTO BIKES?

RL: As a boy, I had a fascination for motorcycles and airplanes and I was the most excited kid in the street when I got my first bike – an FS1E – in the spring of 1976 when I was 16. Man, that summer was the best. I had freedom, a proper job and it was hot. Life was good. By the time I turned 17, I wanted more speed so I went out and bought a SuzukiTS185 and discovered the local green lanes (which were still in abundance back then).

I then progressed to more serious competition machinery and started to compete in local off-road events, working my way up to Enduro racing. It was much to the dismay of my father, who had no interest in motorcycles (despite owning a James Captain in the late 1950s), and complained that it was a waste of time and money – he couldn’t understand why I didn’t like football.

I still have no interest in football and he still has no interest in motorcycles.

CR: HOW DID YOU START SPANNERING?

RL: As long as I can remember I’ve always had a passion for making things. Even at a young age, I was a regular visitor at my father’s friend’s scrapyard, and I soon learned how to take things apart – quickly realizing that some of the parts I removed would also fit other vehicles.

After school, I was fortunate to join the biggest local employer in town, carrying out a formal apprenticeship with Cadbury PLC as a heavy good and motor vehicle mechanic. I spent 10 years fixing anything that had wheels and an engine (from 29 tonne articulated trucks through to the MD’s Jaguar and a Lister engined tug used for pulling waste).