Obituary: Chrissy Rouse (1995-2022)

Chrissy Rouse, who passed away on Thursday after an incident in the third British Superbike Championship race at Donington Park last Sunday, was talented in so many different ways and it’s no cliché to say he was one of the most popular riders in the paddock.

A former National Superstock Champion, Rouse’s achievements on track are plentiful but he was a lot more than a motorbike racer, being highly skilled off it, both in academia and business. Intelligent, hard-working, charming and innovative, the Newcastle rider gave 100% commitment and dedication to every aspect of his 26 years.

Like many before him, the ever-smiling Rouse started racing at a young age, riding a Malaguti 50 at the age of seven before moving onto motocross and then to circuit racing in 2008, firstly in the FAB Racing Series and then the Aprilia Superteen Championship, which he won in his second year.

2011 saw him spend a year riding for multiple British Champion Steve Patrickson in the 125cc British Championship, taking a best finish of sixth at Knockhill and a year later he finished fourth in the Triumph Triple Challenge taking a win and seven podiums.

However, a year later, he dominated the series taking ten wins and four more podium finishes to win by 50 points. Three years then followed in the National Superstock 600cc Championship, his best finish coming in 2015 when he finished sixth overall on the Haribo Starmix Triumph.

The next six years were spent in the highly competitive National Superstock Championship where he soon established himself as a regular front runner and fierce competitor. Riding for Mission Racing, Team IMR and Morello Racing, he took three wins and 19 podiums between 2016 and 2019, finishing fourth overall in both 2017 and