Scottish motorcycle racer (1962–2003)
Robert Steven Hislop (11 January 1962 – 30 July 2003) was a Scottish motorcycle racer. Hislop won at the Isle of Man TT eleven times, was the British 250cc Champion (1990) and lifted the British Superbike championship on two occasions (1995 and 2002).
Hislop died when piloting his Robinson R44 helicopter in July 2003. He was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in March 2010.
Biography.
Hislop was born into a close, Scottish Borders family. He grew up in the village of Chesters near the town of Hawick with his father Sandy, mother Margaret and younger brother Garry [his best friend]. Sandy encouraged his boys to be enthusiastic about competitive motorcycling and take up racing. However, when Garry was killed in a racing accident at Silloth circuit in 1982 aged 19, Hislop's enthusiasm waned and he slumped into an alcohol fuelled depression (the death of his father three years earlier from a heart attack may also have contributed).
Racing career.
Isle of Man TT.
Hislop began his Isle of Man road racing career in 1983 by finishing second in the newcomers' race at the Manx Grand Prix.
The 1992 Senior TT is often described as one of the best races in TT history. Hislop was on Ron Haslam's Norton 588. Hislop's took to the circuit in the unconventional white livery of long-term sponsor Abus. He came a good second in the opening TT F1 race, with the bike proving it could complete six laps of the gruelling Snaefell Mountain Course in hot weather.
A number of adjustments had been made to the Norton prior to the Senior TT: a larger screen was fitted to protect Hislop from the high winds, the front mudguard was removed to admit more cooling air to the engine and protective covers were fitted to the front forks.
Hislop's main rival was Carl Fogarty, who started at number four. Hislop started at 19. This give the Scot more traffic to contend with but the time difference between the two never exceeded 7.4 seconds. The two riders smashed records they had set the previous year, with Hislop taking a narrow advantage into the final lap. In a last-ditch attempt to catch Hislop, Fogarty recorded a record lap time of more than 123 mph on his Yamaha. It was all in vain, however, as Hislop guided the Norton home in first place – one of Hislop's greatest achievement in his last battle with Fogarty.
Short circuits.
On short circuits, Hislop's first championship success came when he won the 250cc British Championship in 1990. Superbike victory followed with the British Superbike Championship in 1995. Although he did not take a BSB victory in 1996 or 1997, Hislop was hired by Rob McElnea strong Cadbury's Boost Yamaha team for 1998. The nature of the fight for the championship between Hislop and team-mate Niall Mackenzie was illustrated by a near-collision on the last lap at Snetterton, which cost the team a 1–2 finish. Hislop generally matched his countryman before an injurious crash took him out of title contention.
His last championship success came in 2002 when he won the British Superbike Championship riding a Ducati. A notable feature of his season resulted from Hislop lapping Donington Park circuit more quickly on a superbike than the fastest Moto GP machine: Hislop's modified production Ducati was heavier and less powerful than the bespoke Grand Prix bikes.
Personal life.
Hislop had two children by former partner Kelly Bailey, the first called Aaron Hislop but the couple split just before his second son Connor was born. He had joint custody of the children, and had found love again with girlfriend Ally Greenwood.
Hislop died in a helicopter accident near Teviothead, Roxburghshire and was interred in the village of Chesters near his birthplace of Hawick, Scotland.