Two young engineers from MAN Diesel & Turbo UK’s (MDT-UK) Headquarters in Stockport are working together in their own time in pursuit of motorcycling success.
20 year-old Jake Poole – pictured left – (who has just completed his apprenticeship and is now a fully qualified Sub-Assembly Fitter) and 21 year-old Brendan McCormick (who is in the final year of his Technical Apprenticeship) have combined their love of racing and engineering by restoring a five year-old 600cc Yamaha motorcycle to racing standards over the last six months.
Both have been interested in engines and racing from an early age with rider Jake “getting the bug” after attending motorcycle shows with his late father Gary. After trying his hand at motocross and karting, Jake finally settled on motorcycling in 2011 with a 125cc bike.
Jake and Brendan both attended – separately – Harrytown High School in Stockport and continued their studies at the town’s Technical College. It was only when they were both recruited by MDT-UK that they realised they knew each other!
The racing enthusiasts and close friends live nearby to each other in Stockport and after Jake bought his current bike in November last year, the pair have spent considerable time and money working every off duty hour literally in a garden shed to get the bike to its current state. After an initial outlay of £2,600, the team estimate they have spent an additional £5,000 so far and have even set up their own company in order to obtain further funding and sponsorship.
Maintaining and racing motorcycles at this level is a real team effort. Jake is the rider and Brendan the mechanic but the team also receive invaluable support from their respective families – not least Jake’s girlfriend Lynsey – although Jake’s mother, Lisa, by her own admittance, does not relish the prospect of seeing her son speeding around racetracks at 160mph inches from the ground! Brendan too is in agreement and is more than happy to concentrate his efforts in keeping the bike in full working order.
The bike will be tested thoroughly at Oulton Park on Wednesday 26th February 2014 in preparation for racing at the world-famous Brands Hatch circuit on the weekend of the 7th, 8th and 9th of March. This is just one of a series of nine race meets throughout 2014 as part of the televised Thundersport GB Championship.
MDT-UK are fully supportive of Jake and Brendan’s efforts and are delighted to be sponsoring the team in what we hope will be a safe and successful future.
Wayne Jones, Senior Vice President, Business Unit After Sales Diesel added
“Both Jake and Brendan are a great credit to their generation and to our Company. They have worked extremely hard in progressing to this level and are a living example of why we should continue to recruit young people with the right attitude. Their hard work and commitment is also evident in their efforts to complete their Apprenticeships.”
Pictured above:
Wayne Jones, Senior Vice President, with Jake and Brendan in MDT-UK’s Warehouse in Hazel Grove