A TOP rider is enjoying race success in part thanks to go-faster livery designed by students from his old college.
Motor cycle racer Daley Mathison competes in the most challenging of sports where he rides his motorbikes up to 200mph on closed road circuits such as the Isle of Man TT, where this year he won two bronze medals, the Ulster GP and Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough. He recently became Welsh champion after winning at Abadare and will compete in the Ulster again this weekend.
The top 20 competitor admits that he is obsessed with how his superbikes – a Suzuki GSXR600 and GSXR1000 – look on the start line and that this is down to the finishing, body and paint tutors and students at Darlington College.
“I have to feel right and am OCD when it comes to how my bikes look at race meetings,” said Daley, who was brought up in Murton and now lives in Middleton-St-George, near Darlington.
“The colour schemes vary depending on my sponsors and it is great having the support of Darlington College who sort out my bikes’ body kits.”
When he is not riding the 23-year-old works in construction and five years ago studied mechanical engineering at the college.
“It is great continuing my association with my old college and I am very grateful for their help and support,” said Daley, who started riding when he was just 12.
Curriculum manager Lee Childs said it was rewarding to be able to support a former student.
“But working with a successful sportsman also completely inspires our students,” he said.
“Many of the students on the Level 1 and 2 City and Guilds motor vehicle finishing, body and paint course are interested in bikes and working on a rider’s machines really captures their interest. As a result of the work we are doing with Daley we are hoping to offer new courses in motorsport engineering and motorcycle maintenance from September.”
Workshop tutor James Ditchburn added: “The students take real pride in their work and you can see when they are working on Daley’s bikes that it spurs them on in their studies.”
For more information on opportunities at Darlington College visit www.darlington.ac.uk. For more information on Daley visit www.daleymathisonracing.co.uk.
