History of Brian Houghton's racing career
1975
Brian's riding days all started with his father salvaging an old Honda 90 step through from the local sandy mud flats beach of Pilling, which was duly stripped,and extensively modified to make a mini sand\speedway bike which saw him commence sand racing and long track but his mother soon put a stop to that thinking it was too dangerous for the young
Brian. Christmas saw a TY 80 trails bike delivered albeit unceremoniously by one of the familys bulk coal trucks transporting coal from south Wales back to the Houghton Depot in North West Lancashire.
1976 >
Riding in the Schoolboys British Championship Trials over the following years Brian won:
~ Isle of Man Schoolboy Trial twice
~Competed in Isle of Man Man 2 day six times
Leading on to becoming an established rider in the adult British Championship Trials scene.
1987 >
Saw the need for more speed and a defection to Motocross ensued. Commencing with a 1986 Honda CR 250, Brian soon established his place in the Northern Centre Region Motocross Championship.
1988
The purchase of a Honda 250 saw Brian take out the Northern Centre Region Motocross Championship.
1989 >
Was the beginning of a long association with the iconic Northern Suzuki dealer, Cooks in Barrow-in-Furness who supplied both the Suzuki RM 125 and 250. During this time Brian won the Northern Centre Motocross Championship five times
Good friend and legendary 2 stroke tuner and former European road race side-car champion Frank Wrathall of FW Developments made sure all engines were in top shape and was instrumental in the move to tarmac on a RS125 GP bike and only made possible by the ongoing support from Frank and Martin Crooks, the Houghton Family's transport business and the unwavering support of Brian's family. A promise that Brian still keeps to this day. Brian's first race as a rookie at Three Sisters, Wigan saw him thinking he had jumped the start as he streaked away from his competitors, he hadn't and went on to win all of his three races that day. Brian's experience at Wigan was repeated in Pembrokeshire where he won six of his seven races after crashing in one. Brian's unprecedented winning saw him attract close scrutiny on the start line as the local riders questioned his starts as he left them in his wake every race. He soon had the reputation as a 'holeshot merchant'. An intense six months of riding most of the circuits in England saw Brian qualify for a national road race licence . A move mirrored by motocross mates John McGuiness and Chris Walker. Brian's illustrious career continued, seeing him continually qualifying for the British Championship races.
1995
It all changed, seeing Brian give it all away when he packed up his life and with his family moved to the other side of the world and settling in Brisbane, Australia.
2013
Eighteen years on the bug has bitten again and with encouragement from his wife Melanie, Brian was tempted out of retirement. Within two weeks Brian had purchased a bike (250 Moriwaki), trailer, riding gear and booked for his first race at Morgan Park in October!
2014
Not one for looking back, Brian went on to purchase a Honda NSF250 HRC Moto3 machine courtesy of Kazu, legendary GP mechanic and owner of K1 Racing. Brian quickly returned to the good old days of competitive racing at the grand old age of 47 seeing him win the Southern Downs Championship. After an unfortunate clipping of the wall when rounding the corner under the bridge at Morgan Park resulting in Brian riding off the track severely winded and later discovering that he had broken several ribs and bruised his lungs, Brian missed out on a possible 2nd place in the QLD Championship.
2015
After a successful 2014, Brian defended his Southern Downs title and won, won the Qld Moto 3 championship and came runner up in the ASBK Moto 3. This was a busy year and only made possible with support and sponsorship from:
Latters Conshift
Allquip Mini Excavators
K1 Racing (supplier of Brian's bike and parts)
Ricondi (supplier of Brian's leathers)
Houghton Finance Solutions (aka Brian's wife)
RaceArt
Castrol Qld
2016 - Saw a clean sweep of, Southern Downs championship, QLD championship and at last a national title ASBK Moto 3 Champion.......at 49 years old.Big year could have done Europe easier, lots of miles again, good fun.
2017 Decided to carry on, procured a 600 set up from the Mavins, quick Hondas but in modern times not Yams. However despite destroying his already weakened right shoulder at the goat track in Goulburn ASBK rd1 the year was concluded with domination in QLD
2018 Selected national rounds
with top 10 results, cleaned up in Queensland, ready to get back to gardening.
2019, The temptation to jump on a superbike was to great for the geriatric Lancastrian. 2 very quick CBR1000RR SP Hondas were found and so it continues.
2020. having enjoyed local success on the big tractor 2020 was going to be an all out tour.......Rd 1 QLD 4 2nds behind the Spanish Aussie Corey Turner, after that the great scamdemic hit. and motorised 2 wheels stopped for the 54 year old ...
2021.. XC mountain bike racing...........keep watching.
