In 1994, a handyman barely in his twenties sets off to help spin some spanners on his mate’s motocross bike. Nearly 30 years later, he is still spinning spanners on his mate’s motocross bike, only now he does it for the most successful team in the pits.
CDR Yamaha’s Brad McAlpine finished his shop-based apprenticeship but decided looking at the same four walls every day and working on anything from farm bikes to road hogs wasn’t for him, so when Lee Hogan needed a mechanic to take to the races in 1994, McAlpine took the gig and leapt into the driver’s seat of a Toyota Hiace van and began chasing white lines up and down the highways of Australia. In 1995, Hogan took a deal with a team, so McAlpine took his toolbox to Queensland and began working with Peter Melton. Melton had a solid year in 1995 but dominated 1996 and the pair made a unique duo. The only time to be serious was when the helmet came on, the rest of the time was a good time, and for 24 months, it was work hard, play hard and enjoy life to the maximum.
Melton would always claim that McAlpine was the key to his success in those years and the pair had a tight bond and friendship that lasted to Peter’s tragic passing just a few years ago. After Melton, McAlpine moved through a number of race teams before finding a home with the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team in 2014. His knowledge and experience have continued to grow, and he specialises in the motor and electronics development of the bikes in the CDR Yamaha team. It is of no surprise that some of CDR Yamaha’s greatest success has come when McAlpine joined the team. “I’m like most mechanics in that I really wanted to be a racer, but I simply wasn’t good enough,” Brad begins. “But I enjoyed working on my bikes and the only way I was going to be in a professional race team, was as a mechanic and never as a rider. “I have worked with a lot of riders and a lot of teams, and I still love what I do. It’s nearly 30 years now and I still come across new challenges with the bike and the rider every year, so it keeps me on my toes. “I obviously have a very understanding wife and family who allow me to follow my passion. I still get a reward out of seeing one of our riders achieve their goals or win a championship and seeing the bike we built as a team, assist in that process.” There is still plenty of events left to go in 2023, with ProMX, Australian Supercross as well as Global Supercross but you can guarantee you will see Brad track-side waving on his riders like a wild man and making the most of every moment.
