True Heroes Racing

"True Heroes Racing” was started by Phil Spencer, a serving Royal Navy sailor. After working with a large number of injured UK Service personnel on motorsport charity events it was decided to try and use competitive motorsport as a way of restoring a sense of direction and focus for our injured UK Service personnel and in 2012 “True Heroes Racing” was formed.

We started working with the team at the start of 2013 and went on to be the main sponsor for Murray Hambro in the Triumph Triple Challenge. It was a fantastic opportunity for Laguna Motorcycles to be involved with such an inspirational rider and to work alongside a group of ambitious and driven team members who have pulled out all the stops to make this unlikely ambition a reality! With several seasons under their belts and their constant growth and improvement on track each season, they really are unstoppable and growing within the motorsport community.

Now that the team have built a solid foundation and reputation within the Ducati Tri Options Cup, switching from Triumph Daytona’s to Ducati 899 Panigale’s to Ducati 959 Panigale’s and fielding teams in the Ducati Tri Options Cup and the Superstock 1000. The team is made up of five riders, Murray Hambro, Dave Mackay, Dan Barfoot and Jim Walker, each rider has an inspiring story behind their journey of getting into racing on two wheels. The team will also be further developing the concept of able bodied riders alongside injured riders, all supported by injured support crew.

With aspirations to take True Heroes Racing as far as possible and to full British Superbike level, the future is bright for the team. The whole concept of what True Heroes Racing is about and what it is achieving has really got the public’s attention and support

Murray Hambro #912

Murray served 12 years in the British Army before he was injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan and unfortunately lost both his legs below the knee. The incident occurred on the 9th of December 2010 and is the reason behind his chosen race number of 912. He now races for the True Heroes Racing team on a specially adapted Ducati 959 Panigale provided by Laguna Motorcycles.

"For 2017 I’m hoping to continue to develop and begin to compete with other riders in the Ducati TriOptions Cup. It will certainly aid my development and will also help the team achieve what we set out to do by offering more opportunities for injured Service personnel to get involved in motorcycle racing."

Dave Mackay #22

Ex Soldier Dave Mackay joined True Heroes Racing in 2015 for the Ducati TriOptions Cup. Dave left the British Army after a full 22 year career, hence his chosen race number of 22. Although not injured, Dave’s addition to the team has required expansion of the team in technical and support roles, allowing more injured UK Service personnel to get involved in True Heroes Racing.

“I’ve competed at a club level for a few years and I really wanted to challenge myself and step up to racing at BSB. Leaving the Army a few years ago has afforded me the opportunity to do this and working with the True Heroes Racing team seemed the perfect way to achieve this, whilst at the same time helping other likeminded ex service personnel get involved in motorcycle racing.”

Dan Barfoot #76

Jim Walker #90

Ducati Panigale 959

Proud Sponsors Of True Heroes Racing Since 2013

True Heroes Racing are racing in the Ducati Tri Options Cup on brand new Ducati 959 Panigales, which we have proudly supplied them with for the 2017 season. This adrenalin fuelled machine, with incredible lightness and unprecedented agility and unmistakable design certainly gives True Heroes Racing new opportunities for a new season! The Panigale that Murray rides is a little bit special. For Murray to be able to ride with his prosthetic legs the gear change control has been removed from the footpegs and mounted up onto the handle bars. Murray uses a Kliktronic system which has 2 push buttons mounted on the left-hand handle bar, one to go up the gears and one to go down. For Murray, the factory Ducati quickshifter has been removed and the Kliktronic system has an ignition interrupter facility that is wired into the bike to replace this and enable Murray to have the same set up. To make space for the Kliktonic system to be mounted certain parts of the original factory bike have had to be modified. The battery has been moved from the front left-hand side of the engine, down into the front of the belly pan and the radiator hoses exiting the engine have had to be re-routed. To keep Murray’s feet on the footpegs studs have been added.

True Heroes Racing

Proud Sponsors Of True Heroes Racing Since 2013

Video: True Heroes Racing Video Diary