MR PRODUCTION

Three wins in four years at the Isle of Mann along with two one-make British Championship wins, earned Geoff Johnson the moniker 'Mr Production; and throughout the 1980s he was one of the UK's leading riders, first as a privateer and then with factory backing.

Hailing from Richmond in NorthYorkshire, Johnson, born in September 1952, took up racing in 1974, his affair with the 37.73-mile Mountain Course starting two years later, with his Manx Grand Prix debut. It was an encouraging bow too, as he finished 11th in the Junior.

A brace of retirements followed in 1977 but he was back in 1978, coming eighth in the Senior, then a glimpse of what lay ahead came in 1979 with second in the Senior, on a Lambert Yamaha.

Continuing to compete at his local circuits which included Croft, Carnaby and Oliver's Mount, 1980 would prove to be somewhat of a breakthrough year on the roads, with Geoff reckoning the £690 prize money picked up in Northern Ireland was his first-ever racing profit.

The second place finish from 1979 had brought Johnson, who, at the time, was driving for the North Yorkshire National bus company, to DennisTrollope's attention, with the loan of aTZ500Yamaha for the Senior, and an engine for the Junior. Johnson opened his account for the week with a good fourth in the 3 5 0 c c class.

Second quickest in Senior practice, Johnson completed the first lap in second, 5.2s behind Ulsterman Brian Reid. Johnson took the lead on lap two but making two pit stops, compared to the one made by the majority of the field, meant Reid overhauled him again on lap three, the gap now 7.2s. Johnson's lap of 107.08mph helped him move some 39.4s and he wasn't to be denied his dream victory. Indeed, his eventual winning margin over Reid was nearly a minute.

Despite the budgetary challenges facing him once more, Johnson made the move up to the TT in 1981, taking two top 10 finishes. The first came in the Senior, with a lap of 108.64mph on the John Wilson Motorcycles Yamaha helping him claim