Former grand prix rider and Isle of Man TT racer finally gets his motorcycle licence

Former grand prix rider and Isle of Man TT racer Danny Webb has passed his direct access motorcycle licence test.

Webb, who took the final ever 125cc grand prix pole position in 2011 at Valencia aboard a Mahindra that would go on to be used by Bradley Ray in BSB’s Motostar class a few years later, is not alone in being a motorcycle racer who does not have a road licence.

But at the age of 35 Webb has sought to change that, and has now passed his test aboard a Suzuki GSX-8S with its 776cc parallel twin-cylinder engine that produces 83bhp and 58lb-ft of torque.

“It’s nice to put a jacket and jeans on instead of leathers and just go for a ride,” said Webb.

“Pretty much all of my motorcycling is about going as fast as possible, so it makes a nice change to be able to chill out a bit and just enjoy riding around. 

“The 8S has been good, too. The engine’s obviously proving its performance in the British Sportbike Championship, but in a more upright bike it’s a great little road engine with a load of torque.”

Webb’s partnership with Suzuki is not by chance – in the past two seasons he’s raced the Daytona 200 on a GSX-R750 for Team Classic Suzuki, and will head to Florida in November to test for the 2027 event.

The Kent rider also remains active on the world stage, competing in the Endurance World Championship aboard a BMW M1000 RR for Team LRP Poland.

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