From Joiner to Superbike Racer – the Perfect HIPPO Partnership
Imagine switching your circular saw for a superbike? Well, that’s exactly what 29-year-old Shane Richardson regularly does, swapping his overalls for leathers and competing for HIPPO Suzuki in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
An experienced joiner, working in the trade since the age of 16, life on the track hasn’t meant he has left his handiwork behind, however. Now, New Zealand-born Shane alternates between the workshop and the race track, and what a career he’s built.
We loved his story, the link to our world, and everything Shane is about, so at the start of 2024, we announced our sponsorship of Shane as he returned to competitive racing after a 2-year break.
We caught up with Shane to hear more about his remarkable story and his plans for success in 2024 and beyond.
“I come from a family of joiners. My dad and granddad have both always been in the trade, so I guess I was destined for a life of making things! At the same time, biking and motorsport have been my passion for as long as I can remember, so it made sense for me to join the two, making my own bike ramps, spray painting my first car at the age of 10, it all just fitted together.
“I first sat on a motorbike when I was 2 and a half, and got into motocross and road racing pretty early. When I was 16, I had a nasty accident on the road which I was lucky to survive, so my mum stepped in, put her foot down and stopped me riding on the bike I was on, which was actually bigger than my licence allowed at the time.
“Shortly after I bought a new bike of similar capacity. After a lot of conversations and guilt tripping, she eventually compromised and let me take it to a track day. It wasn’t what I wanted – I wanted the thrill of the road, but the desire to ride the bike outweighs any disappointment of a track day. I was getting back on two wheels so I was happy.”
Shane persisted with this track riding and invested in a track bike, which meant he quickly progressed, joining a club, and racing from 2013. His talent was clear, and by 2017, he was racing internationally.
He recalls, “I’ve never taken for granted how lucky I’ve been and how privileged I am to do what I do. Fortunately, when I started club racing, I took to it like a duck to water and progressed quickly. There have been quite a few ‘pinch me’ moments, like racing in the MotoAmerica championship in the United States. I’d done really well in qualifying at Road America and landed a spot on the front row of the race. I realised I was surrounded by riders such as Garrett Gerloff and Valentin Debise who I’d followed for years, since way before I’d even started racing. That’s a memory I’ll treasure forever.”
His career then shifted to the UK, racing in the National Stock600, National Stock1000 and now British Supersport. This eventually led Shane to self-employment to allow the flexibility of working alongside his competitive racing career. It hasn’t always been easy though, and Shane shares some of the toughest parts of what sounds like a dream job.
“Being able to race is amazing, I’m living my dream, but it’s not easy and it takes such hard work to be able to keep it up. Motorsport is one of the most expensive hobbies you can have, so finding the money and the sponsorship to keep going, and also juggling work alongside racing commitments can be tough. Then there’s the toll on your body and the inevitable injuries, which when you’re working in a manual job like joinery can be difficult. I’ve lost out on work and had to return deposits before because of injuries I’ve picked up from racing.
“Moving to self-employment was a big step financially but also a massive challenge. I’ve always been used to getting on with work, using my hands and carrying out jobs for other people. Becoming self-employed meant getting to grips with the business side of the job, which is a lot to learn when you’ve never done it before. It was also a challenge sourcing the best products for the job, and getting pricing right. It’s tough to have the self-confidence to back yourself and price things as what they’re worth. My grandad always told me, “When you start something, do it right, do it once”, so I’ve always had high standards for my work.”
Shane joined his UK-born partner in the UK in 2019, where his two children were born. He continued full-time joinery work, focusing on cabinetry making, before securing a job testing bikes for iconic motorcycle brand, Triumph in 2023.
It was when Shane was not competing in 2023 that he met with Gareth, Harry and Sam of HIPPO and discussions about a potential partnership began. The synergy was clear, with our shared passion for the trade industry and values that perfectly align. Before long, our agreement was made, with HIPPO confirmed as Shane’s title sponsor for the 2024 season, riding for HIPPO Suzuki, run by Astro JJR.
Shane’s season began in April at the Navarro Circuit in Spain and finishes in October at Brands Hatch.
Longer-term, it’s the joinery / racing life for Shane, who plans to keep up his ‘dual’ lifestyle for as long as possible, mixing woodwork with speedwork and competing at the very top of his game.
His advice for anyone looking to get into the trade industry? “Don’t be afraid to try new things, and listen and absorb every piece of information you get given.”
To keep updated with Shane’s progress across the season, find more information via our trade social accounts, which can be found below.
Instagram - @hippowastetrade
Facebook - HIPPOTRADE
X - @hippowastetrade