RAPID STORIES - ANDY IBBOTT
“A life without challenges is no life at all. We aren’t here to exist and hang on to life - we are here to be the best we can be.”
Andy Ibbott was a high profile motorcycle journalist, test rider, author, riding coach to world class professional racers and Managing Director of California Superbike School. But, after a massive stroke, the 46 year old’s life came crashing to a halt. He was given 5% chance of surviving and told he would never walk or talk again. Since then he has completed a 6-day ultra marathon in the Sahara Desert, climbed to Everest base camp, completed a university degree, and built a life as a motivational speaker. And, of course, he has found his way back to coaching young racers. Andy’s inspirational story reminds us that it’s not life’s adversities that define us, it is having the courage and determination to overcome them that determines our destiny.
When did you first started riding?
When I was 14 I had a paper round. My friend had a motorbike. He let me ride it and - despite not showing me how to brake, which ended with me crashing into some bushes - I was hooked! It was the start of a continuing love affair with everything bike. Leading me to run an international superbike company and coach some of the greatest names of our time.
Your last role before your stroke was MD at California Superbike School. Tell us about your career leading up to that.
My career starting in 1996 when I joined Fast Bikes as a journalist and bike tester. Three years later, I joined MCN and travelled to California to run a feature on Keith Code and his California Superbike School. Keith and I became friends and for the next 19 years the California Superbike School became my life! I launched California Superbike School in Europe where during my time as MD, we trained over 10,000 riders. I was at the top of my game and coached three of the most famous riders in the world including Valentino Rossi.
You’ve coached some world class riders in your day. What can you tell us about them?
I’ve worked with lots of world class racers, but the ones that became champions, that I know I made a difference to, are the ones I am most proud about. I worked with Tom Luthi at Jerez for a couple of days and he was able to go quicker and stop crashing. He went on to become world champion. I worked with Leon Camier (British Superbike Champion), Sandro Cortese (250 World Champion), and I spent 2 days with Rossi. He was a truly great guy and he really knew his stuff. But, some things he didn’t know and I was able to help him.
Your stroke followed what was supposed to be a minor, day surgery. How did that happen?
In 2011 – aged 46 - a doctor advised me to have a small lump on my neck removed. Simple day surgery, under local anaesthetic. I agreed to have it done.
The lump turned out to be wrapped around the main vein to my brain! What was supposed to be a simple procedure evolved into a 10 hour operation under general anaesthetic and resulted in a major stroke. I was so close to death and my relatives were told I had less than 5% chance of surviving 24 hours. But I did survive only to be advised I would never walk or talk again.
How did the stroke change your life physically and mentally?
After 6 months in hospital, I was released with no speech and not able to walk! It took me four years of very hard work to regain my mobility and ability to talk. But my stroke has left me with Aphasia (damage to the part of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension), only 1/2 of my brain functioning properly, my right arm and leg badly affected, and out of work. After two more years and over 3000 job applications - it seemed I was unemployable. I hit a very low moment when I decided to end it all. I just couldn’t see any reason to keep on going. But somehow my ex-wife inspired me to start looking for a new challenge. And that was the start of my journey back.
Tell us about some of the incredible challenges you’ve taken on since then.
In 2017 I started a sports and exercise degree which I’ve since completed. I also competed in the Marathon des Sables; a gruelling, 6-day ultra-marathon in the Sahara Desert with temperatures ranging from 1 degree at night to 55 degrees during the day. I climbed to Everest Base Camp in 2021. I’ve done the London to Paris on a bicycle. I have just completed my first ever open water swim which with only one arm and one leg functioning was absolutely terrifying for me - but it felt like one of my biggest achievements. And I intend to compete in the London Marathon 2024.
“I’m not able to do everything I could, and I don’t have the high flying career I once had, but I can still keep reaching, and I can inspire others to do so too.”
So what are your plans now?
I have learned not to plan too far ahead. But a life without challenges is no life at all. We aren’t here to exist and hang on to life. We are here to be the best we can be. I’m not able to do everything I could, and I don’t have the high flying career I once had, but I can still keep reaching, and I can inspire others to do so too. I hope that my story will show others that life’s adversities don’t have to define us - it’s having the determination to fight back that matters. If I can achieve what I have, anyone can achieve anything if they want it enough.