Simon Crafar
Encyclopedia
Simon Crafar is a former Grand Prix
motorcycle
road racer
from New Zealand
.
He won Malaysia's Superbike
championship in 1991. In 1993
he was racing for Harris in the 500cc World Championship
before joining the Suzuki
factory racing team in the 250 class for the latter part of the season. He did not enjoy this, feeling that he is too large for the bikes.
For 1994
he joined countryman Aaron Slight
on a semi-works Rumi Honda
RC45 in the Superbike World Championship
. After coming 5th overall in 1994, he started 1995
with Rumi before replacing Doug Polen
as the second factory rider alongside Aaron Slight
, although they raced under different liveries. The bike gradually became more competitive, and Simon was strong in late 1995, coming 2nd in race 1 at Assen
. He then spent 2 years with the Kawasaki
racing team. In 1997
he took two 2nd places and three 3rds to again finish 5th overall. In total he scored 10 podiums but, no wins in the series.
He rode a WCM
Yamaha
in the 500cc world championship for 1998
, winning at Donington Park
(the last win for Dunlop
in a dry race, and the only non-Honda
win at Donington in 6 years) and finishing 7th in the standings. He remained with the team for the early part of 1999
, scoring points 5 times, also taking 10th on an MuZ
at Donington. In total he has contested 32 500cc races, taking 3 podium finishes.
He returned to World Superbike for 2000
as a substitute rider for Aaron Slight
for two rounds. In 2002 he raced in British Superbike
for Yamaha
, coming 8th overall and peaking with two 3rd places.
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racer
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
He won Malaysia's Superbike
Superbike racing
Superbike racing is a category of motorcycle racing that employs modified production motorcycles. Superbike World Championship is the international superbike championship, and national superbike championships are held in many countries as well, including the United Kingdom, the United States,...
championship in 1991. In 1993
1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 45th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Kevin Schwantz won the 1993 world championship in a season marred by the tragic end to his rival Wayne Rainey's career. Schwantz started the season strong with four wins by the...
he was racing for Harris in the 500cc World Championship
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
before joining the Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
factory racing team in the 250 class for the latter part of the season. He did not enjoy this, feeling that he is too large for the bikes.
For 1994
1994 Superbike World Championship season
The 1994 Superbike World Championship season was the 7th F.I.M. Superbike World Championship season. The season started on May 2 at Donington, and finished on October 30 at Phillip Island after 11 rounds....
he joined countryman Aaron Slight
Aaron Slight
Aaron Tony Slight is a former professional motorcycle road racer who has recently dabbled in car racing and now fronts the AA Torque Show....
on a semi-works Rumi Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
RC45 in the Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
. After coming 5th overall in 1994, he started 1995
1995 Superbike World Championship season
The 1995 Superbike World Championship season was the 8th F.I.M. Superbike World Championship season. The season started on May 7 at Hockenheim, and finished on October 29 at Phillip Island after 12 rounds....
with Rumi before replacing Doug Polen
Doug Polen
Doug Polen is a former world champion motorcycle road racer. He raced successfully in AMA Superbike, Japanese Superbikes, Superbike World Championship and Endurance racing....
as the second factory rider alongside Aaron Slight
Aaron Slight
Aaron Tony Slight is a former professional motorcycle road racer who has recently dabbled in car racing and now fronts the AA Torque Show....
, although they raced under different liveries. The bike gradually became more competitive, and Simon was strong in late 1995, coming 2nd in race 1 at Assen
Assen
Assen is a municipality and a city in the north eastern Netherlands, capital of the province of Drenthe. It received city rights in 1809. Assen's main claim to fame is the TT Circuit Assen the motorcycle racing circuit, where on the last Saturday in June the Dutch TT is run...
. He then spent 2 years with the Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
racing team. In 1997
1997 Superbike World Championship season
The 1997 Superbike World Championship season was the 10th F.I.M. Superbike World Championship season. The season started on March 23 at Phillip Island, and finished on October 12 at Sentul after 12 rounds....
he took two 2nd places and three 3rds to again finish 5th overall. In total he scored 10 podiums but, no wins in the series.
He rode a WCM
World Championship Motorsports
World Championship Motorsports was a grand-prix motorcycle racing team formed in 1992 by Bob MacLean and Peter Clifford. The team ran Yamaha motorcycles from to . They were sponsored by Red Bull for to and were called Red Bull Yamaha WCM....
Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
in the 500cc world championship for 1998
1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 50th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Mick Doohan and Honda continued to dominate the 500 class with the Australian taking 8 victories and Honda winning all but one race. Simon Crafar winning the British Grand Prix for...
, winning at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
(the last win for Dunlop
Dunlop Tyres
Dunlop Tyres is a British company owned 75% by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and 25% by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, which bought the right to sell Dunlop-branded road tyres....
in a dry race, and the only non-Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
win at Donington in 6 years) and finishing 7th in the standings. He remained with the team for the early part of 1999
1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 51st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:The dominant reign of Honda's Mick Doohan came to an end with serious injuries suffered in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix. In his absence, his Honda team-mate Àlex Crivillé...
, scoring points 5 times, also taking 10th on an MuZ
MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk
MZ Motorrad- und Zweiradwerk GmbH is a motorcycle manufacturer located in Zschopau, Germany. MZ an acronym, stands for Motorradwerk Zschopau in the Erzgebirge region of Saxony...
at Donington. In total he has contested 32 500cc races, taking 3 podium finishes.
He returned to World Superbike for 2000
2000 Superbike World Championship season
The 2000 Superbike World Championship season was the 13th F.I.M. Superbike World Championship season. The season started on April 2 at Kyalami, and finished on October 15 at Brands Hatch after 13 rounds....
as a substitute rider for Aaron Slight
Aaron Slight
Aaron Tony Slight is a former professional motorcycle road racer who has recently dabbled in car racing and now fronts the AA Torque Show....
for two rounds. In 2002 he raced in British Superbike
British Superbike
The British Superbike Championship is the leading road racing superbike championship in the United Kingdom.The championship is managed and organised by MotorSport Vision. The Series and Race Director is Stuart Higgs. Event marshals are provided by the Racesafe Marshals Association.Two annual...
for Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
, coming 8th overall and peaking with two 3rd places.