Rob Mac and Whit - "The Fast Orange Reunion"

Join iconic former racing teammates Rob McElnea and James Whitham for an exclusive evening of entertainment at the Attis Arena on 27th February.

Iconic former motorcycle racing teammates Rob McElnea and James Whitham are to be reunited at the end of this month, for an exclusive one-off evening of short stories and tall tales in Rob’s home town of Scunthorpe. 

Individually, the pair were two of Britain’s best biking exports during the 80s and 90s, with McElnea recognised as the last crossover star of both MotoGP and the Isle of Man TT, whilst Whitham went on to World Superbike and World Supersport glory after being crowned British Superbike Champion in 1993.

That breakthrough BSB title for Whitham came as one half of the famous Fast Orange Yamaha Team, which also featured McElnea as rider-manager. Running out of the team's workshop in Scotterthorpe, the pair dominated the season and were set for a famous championship one-two until the final round, where James rammed into Rob and knocked him out of contention for the runner-up spot - as well as breaking his leg!

Whilst Rob’s riding career never recovered from that setback, a successful future in team management flourished and the pair’s longstanding friendship endured, with James rejoining to relaunch his own career in 1996 following a battle with cancer, lining up alongside Niall Mackenzie in the new-look Cadbury’s Boost Yamaha team. 

One of the most exciting seasons in BSB history ensued, with Mackenzie snatching the title from Whitham in a memorable final round showdown at Donington Park. Whilst Whitham returned to the world stage, McElnea claimed two further BSB titles with Mackenzie before helping shape the careers of the likes of Chris Walker and Steve Hislop, whilst his groundbreaking Yamaha R6 Cup series produced some of the biggest talents in modern British motorcycle racing, including Tommy Hill and Cal Crutchlow. 

Since retiring from team management back in 2011, McElnea has rarely stepped back into the limelight but a spontaneous series of hilarious short videos posted on social media during Covid lockdown proved his enduring popularity with the British biking public. This one-off appearance alongside one of his great racing friends, who has of course gone on to be one of the most loved and respected commentators in the game, is a night not to be missed.