Neil Simmons
He retired from motorcycle racing in 2000. He won 7 world titles, four World Superbikes (1994, 1995, 1998 and 1999) as well as three World TT (Formula 1) titles (1988, 1989 and 1990).
He helped develop the Petronas FP1 racing team in the early 2000’s.
In 1998 he was awarded an MBE.
In 2002 Ducati, in recognition of his services, released a special limited edition model (only 300 units were built) in his honour.
He is the global ambassador for Triumph, he is also endorsing for ZONA (see the official ZONA press release and competition and how you can enter at the end of the interview).
He started 219 World Superbike races, with 108 podiums, 16 double wins, 29 race wins and totalled 3,008 points.
Add to that he was crowned King Of The Jungle for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here in 2014.
These are his Quick 10……and it is my absolute honour to say he is Carl Fogarty……or to his fans…….FOGGY
1. What is your favourite circuit and why?
Assen. It was my most successful circuit. The old circuit’s banked corners suited my riding style of high corner speed.
2. Who is/was your racing idol?
Kenny Roberts. He was the most successful racer when I was growing up and I loved seeing him in the TransAtlantic races at Oulton
3. Who would you regard as your toughest opponent?
Either John Kocinski or Scott Russell – two tough Americans who wanted to win as much as me
4. Considering racers of all time, you are a team principal and money is no object. Which two racers would you have in your team?
Mike Hailwood and Valentino Rossi
5. If you could invite four famous people to dinner (past and present), who would you invite?
Donald Trump, Liam Gallagher, Gazza and James Whitham
6. Personal racing number? What is it and the reason behind it?
Number 1. No explanation required
7. What is the best race you have been involved in?
I probably remember my two wins at Brands Hatch in 1995. It was the perfect weekend. I was fastest in every session, on pole, broke the lap record and won both races in front of 60,000 fans.
8. Is there a race or series you have not competed in, that you would like to or had wanted to?
It would have been nice to have had 2 or 3 seasons on the Marlboro Yamaha in Grand Prix but it didn’t happen, probably because World Superbikes was so big at the time
9. How did you get into motor racing? What ignited that spark?
I raced motocross as a boy and followed my dad when he was racing. So it seemed the natural thing to do.
10. What is the best advice in racing you have been given?
I’m still waiting for that!
– How did you get involved with ZONA?
I receive a lot of approaches to get involved with new products but it has to be the right product. I honestly believe ZONA can improve safety and the riding experience for every rider.
– Tell us about the product and how it enhances and assists road bike users?
ZONA is a unique and solution to the age-old problem of poor rear vision for motorcycles. It’s an in-helmet display wirelessly linked to an intelligent rear camera. The intelligent vision and delivers clear and wide screen stabilised rear views without interference to riders’ forward vision, as well as eliminating vulnerable blind spots.
– Is there anything more you’d like to see done regarding road safety?
I think technology will play a bigger and bigger part in making riding more safe.
ZONA
Overwhelming biker response to ZONA reveal at MCN London Bike Show
Zona – a new motorcycle accessory – was revealed at the MCN London Motorcycle Show.
There was a tremendous response to Zona at the show with 2,500 people visiting the stand and around 1,000 trying the product for themselves. During the show over 500 hundred people registered for Zona news updates and dozens of people took advantage of the show’s pre-order offer and purchased the product.
Zona is a unique solution to the age-old problem of poor rear vision for motorcyclists. It can be fitted into any helmet and on to any bike. It’s been carefully engineered to extend the rider’s view – enhancing the riding experience.
Using cutting edge patented technology and advanced optics Zona is a state-of-the-art in-helmet display wirelessly linked to an intelligent rear camera.
The team received excellent feedback about the product and in response they are adding an extra feature – loop recording – to Zona at no extra cost ahead of its official release in the summer. So if anyone is shunted from behind they will have video footage to support their insurance claim.
Customer Dave, at the MCN London Show, said: “I think it’s brilliant. I saw a similar product a few years ago, it was too intrusive in your helmet but just trying this on now it’s fantastic, completely out the way but what you can see behind is incredible.”
Customer Graham Lynch said: “Incredible idea, can’t wait for it. Roll on summer for sure, even more safe miles now seeing everything around me thanks to Zona.”
Zona is an invention that 7 x World Champion Carl Fogarty knows will change the way bikers ride forever.
Carl has been influential in developing Zona and was at the MCN London Motorcycle Show on the Sunday to talk about the product, which generated even more interest in the new accessory.
Zona is easy to fit and can be used with any motorbike and helmet. It has flexible fitting options to suit individual rider preferences and once fitted it provides a clear wide screen rear view to the rider with a single glance into the in-helmet display.
The rider sees a stabilised full rear view through Zona’s micro display and optics fitted inside the rider’s helmet. It appears to the eye as a 30” flat screen at 3 metres distance from the rider, giving a comfortable focus for the rider’s eye when looking into the helmet-mounted display, and works equally well for riders who wear glasses when riding.
Zona is not only about enhancing the rider’s experience and enjoyment, it’s about keeping them safe too. The product eliminates vulnerable blind spots and automatically adjusts to remove blur giving riders a better view of any potential hazards around them.
Zona’s Intelligent Rear View System becomes a natural extension of the rider’s senses, giving them better awareness of what’s around them and more time to focus on the road ahead, and ride with more enjoyment, freedom and confidence.
John Hale, Founder and CEO of Zona, said: “We’ve been blown away by the fantastic response at the London Show. We were hoping for a positive reaction, and this was even better than we had expected.
“I’ve been riding since I was old enough to get my bike licence. I know that poor rear vision for bikers is a real problem. Not being able to see clearly behind the bike affects us every day. Motorcycling is an experiential activity – it’s all about connecting with the road and enjoying the ride.
“Zona is a revolutionary solution to this problem and will change the way we ride our bikes forever. It helps bikers focus on the road ahead, improving their overall experience by making them feel more comfortable and the ride more enjoyable – that’s what it’s all about.”
Zona has been a real labour of love for John as he initially came up with the idea back in 2003 when he was nearly knocked off his motorbike on his way to work after not being able to see a motorist behind him.
Initial research and designs led him to putting the idea on hold until the correct technology was available. In 2010 John secured £100,000 funding to develop the first prototype to prove the concept of Zona.
Following the concept design and further investment the final prototype was completed in 2016 and the product is now ready to take to market and will be available in June.
** COMPETITION **
For your chance to win a ZONA just re-tweet this article on Twitter or share it on Facebook. Yes, it is that simple to win this state of the art bike technology.
I wish to thank Carl Fogarty for taking the time out from his busy schedule to take part in this Quick 10, it was an absolute honour to put these questions to not only a racing legend and champion but somebody as a fan I cheered on. I would also like to thank his manager Neil Bramwell for the help and assistance in making this interview possible, always at the end of an email with quick responses. Really appreciated. I would also like to thank Sarah Jeffery the Senior PR Executive at Gardiner Richardson in her help and generosity with ZONA. Without these people this interview would never have occurred.
Ladies and gentlemen that was the Quick 10 With…..Foggy
Visit Carl at: http://www.carlfogarty.com/
Follow Carl on Twitter at: @carlfogarty
Visit ZONA at: http://www.zona-store.com/
Neil Simmons
Twitter: @world_racing
(c) Carl Fogarty images courtesy of permission from Neil Bramwell (no credit required)
(c) ZONA images