Motocatman
Paul Boulton (aka Motocatman) is what I call the complete “race engineer”. How does a “race” engineer, differ from a normal one?
Well, imagine this if you will; you’re stranded on a desert island, where fortuitously there is a very nice and perfectly usable racetrack. In the pits there is a shed. In the shed is one non-running, slightly unfinished, slightly jaded racing motorcycle and an engineering workshop.
For you to have a chance of enjoying yourself, you need someone who can take a worn out motorcycle, repair the bits that are broken, make the bits that are missing, make it run and then rebuild it to race standard. Once its running, they have the skill to then optimise the performance of every component so you have a race-ready weapon, and they know how to operate under pitlane pressure too.
Got that in your head? Great – Then the next bloke you really want to be washed up is Paul Boulton!
We had Paul build the Katana engine for us, which was an easy choice – he is an ex Factory Suzuki mechanic with the kind of experience that you don’t really trip up over on a daily basis. Stuff like being one of the 4 mechanics that worked for Pepsi Suzuki in 1988 (the year Schwantz broke through and started winning) or working on original Factory GSX-R’s with the likes of Mick Grant.
These days he’s usually found fettling Steve Wheatman’s impressive fleet of Team Classic Suzuki RG500’s which continues his long and devoted relationship to the Suzuki marque.
Paul is 100% free of bullshit and ego, he thinks everything should be lighter, he thinks riders aren’t as important as bikes and he won’t waste a moment of time that he doesn’t have to. We often disagree about the “expendable” nature of riders, but that aside, I’ve enjoyed working closely with him and watching patient genius at work.
The good news is, pay him money, and he’s available to do it for you too – but be warned, if it’s not a race bike, he’ll probably not be interested. This guy still loves competition…!