MotoGP: “Don’t let the bastards get to you!” ", Garry Taylor is gone

Garry Taylor, iconic long-time Suzuki Grand Prix team principal, whose role spanned several years from Barry Sheene through Kevin Schwantz to the last champion Kenny Roberts Jr, passed away on January 30 2024 at the age of 74.

The published announcement perfectly sums up who was Garry Taylor.

“Garry Taylor was the crew chief of the last British-based team to win motorcycling's greatest world championship and one of the sport's greatest figures of recent decades.

Garry and the Suzuki factory team won the MotoGP crown twice with Kevin Schwantz in 1993 and Kenny Roberts Junior in 2000. He worked with Suzuki from the late 1970s to the early 2000s, from Barry Sheene in the four-stroke MotoGP era. Garry had a natural flair for his work, looking after pilots, mechanics and engineers and liaising closely with a Japanese company.

He had a swaggering management style, at a time when MotoGP was wilder and more colorful than today. And he was a superb storyteller, telling wonderful stories about the adventures he had around the world, battling for motorcycling's greatest prize.

Racing has been a lifelong passion, a flame lit when Garry was at school, when he accompanied a friend who was already racing cars, at Brands Hatch and Lydden. Of course, he had to try it himself, once he was old enough to drive on the road, because his road car was also his racing car. After running out of money, he began organizing race meetings. During his career, he has seen racing from all angles.

A career in the advertising industry awaited him, but Garry was sidetracked forever when he responded to an advert for a PR and marketing manager for a grand prix team. He thought it was a Formula 1 role, but in reality he was working for Suzuki's motorcycle Grand Prix team.

It was 1976 when Sheene won the first of his two consecutive titles. Garry never looked back and became a hugely popular presence in the Grand Prix paddock, also playing a key role in organizing the championship.

In the mid-1980s, Garry was Suzuki team principal, taking on the role just as Kevin was emerging. The young American was an astonishing talent and one of the most popular racers of all time.

Kevin's Grand Prix career with Garry and Suzuki spanned from his GP debut in 1986 until his retirement in 1995. During that time he won a world title, 25 GPs and millions of hearts.

Kevin was a team leader’s dream,” Garry said last year. “It was a wild ride and an incredible privilege to work with him. Everyone involved with Kevin owes a debt to him because he was very special. »

Suzuki had a difficult few years after Kevin's retirement, but quickly got back on top by signing another American, Kenny Junior, for the 1999 season. Kenny won the title the following year, edging out young Italian Valentino Rossi

Garry retired at the end of 2004 because he wanted to spend more time at home with his wife Kate and young daughter Phoebe and because his health was deteriorating.

He spent his retirement years indulging in his various passions, including shooting (he opened a school for Phoebe), encouraging young riders, competing in the Goodwood classic events, with Kevin's winning little Suzuki RGV500 in 1993, and enjoying a quieter home life with family, friends and beloved dogs

Garry had a great final year meeting Kevin at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Unfortunately, his health couldn't keep pace with his incredible personality and brain. After battling so many health issues, he spent his final days surrounded by Kale, Phoebe, good friends and lots of love.

Garry's favorite saying: Nil bastardum carborundum, Don't let the bastards get to you! »

Hervé Poncharal, who shared this period with him, concluded his eulogy by saying: « It is he here daily all the years by Kevin Schwantz en 500cc, with Pepsi at the beginning then with Lucky Strike afterwards, and it was someone, how to say, very very nice, affable, with a very humor British that soft I love. Talways in the mood equal, et it is he , here my given the opportunity,then that Tech3 was a year and a half old age, designate as being the Team official Lucky Strike Suzuki 250 for 2 years. Here, it was someone , here a bring Kevin Schwantz to the title of 500 world champion, who after had stop Valentino Rossi to be world champion for his year of rookie en 500, since it is Kenny Robert Jr. who summer world champion on the Movistar Suzuki. VS'was really a person qui framed with the Grand Prix of years 80/90. It was someone rock'n'roll, with the hair long, beard, and often floral shirts. He was a good guy.”