Stephen J. "Stavros " Parrish is a British former professional motorcycle and truck racer, who is now a motorsport television commentator and speaker/entertainer.
After retiring from motorcycle racing in 1986, Parrish led a dual career both managing a successful Yamaha factory team to three British Superbike championship titles; and starting a successful truck racing career, winning the 1987 British OpenTruck Racing Championship. Parrish took both the European and British Truck Racing championship titles in 1990, then held the British title for four years and retained the European title for three years driving for the BP-Mercedes Benz team. Parrish regained the prestigious European crown again in 1996 in Jarama. The most successful truck racer ever, he retired in 2002 at the age of 47 to hand over to Terry Rymer. ;Career highlights
1976: Winner, British Solo Championship
1975: Winner, Grovewood Award, Best Young Rider, Motorcycles
Steve provides commentary and analysis for ITV's week-long coverage of the Isle of Man TT, alongside former racer James Whitham, shown on Velocity Channel in the US. In 1985, Parrish started commentating for the BBC radio, and then transferring to television with Sky with Barry Nutley. From 1990, he commentated on the British 125 championship for the BBC, before transferring to their Moto GP coverage, in conjunction with Charlie Cox until the BBC lost its contract at season-end 2013. The pair had a rapport and commentated on a number of series for the BBC from the late 1990s, including British Touring Cars, British and WorldSuperbikes and now MotoGP. A qualified pilot, Parrish is also a commentator for the Red Bull Air Race series for Channel 4.
Other work and achievements
Away from television, he regularly tests various vehicles and racing machines, and is an expert witness for motor racing incidents. Parrish holds the Guinness Book of Recordsworld record for the "Fastest Speed Achieved in Reverse" using a Caterham car. With journalist and broadcaster Nick Harris, Parrish co-authored Barry: The Story of Motorcycling Legend Barry Sheene , a biography of his former team mate Barry Sheene.
Personality
A notorious practical joker, Parrish is known to have carried out various pranks.
He is permanently banned from the Chinese administrative region of Macau after blowing a brothel up with a home-made bomb made out of firecrackers, when several of his fellow riders were being 'serviced' inside.
He once sabotaged a Mini Moke belonging to Team Bike, by undoing every single wheel-nut to the last thread, in a revenge prank. The prank was discovered shortly before the vehicle was going to be driven off.
He once posed as Barry Sheene in a qualifying session when the two were team-mates, as Sheene had turned up to the session with a hangover. Parrish put on Sheene's helmet/overalls and qualified on his behalf, then put his own clothing back on and qualified further down the grid as himself.
Parrish owns an ambulance and has been seen using the ambulance to park on double yellow lines with the doors open in visits to his local bank.
He also owns a fire engine and once hosed down the inside of a friend's packed pub on a Sunday afternoon.
Steve appeared in Beadle's About pranked by one of his best friends. Beadle launched a military assault in the back garden of the ex-champion motorcycle racer. Beadle's About - S02E04
Personal life
Parrish commonly goes by the nickname of Stavros, named by Barry Sheene back in his racing days, after the 'Stavros' character in the TV show 'Kojak' who had a similar mop of black curly hair. Divorced from wife Ruth, the couple have two children. Parrish remarried in December 2017, to Michelle, a television outside-broadcast floor manager.
