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Shane Booth
MEET SHANE
NAME: Shane Booth
NICKNAME: Boothy
RIDER NUMBER: 88
HOMETOWN: Sydney, Australia
YEAR STARTED RIDING: 1985
FIRST BIKE: Honda QR50
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE: 37 Years
POSITION/ROLE: Motodevelopment Director / GS Off Road Training Instructor / BMW Safari Marshal
ABOUT:
It all began when my dad took me to the local minibike club, Baulkham Hills Junior Motorcycle Training Club, when I was just four years old. The club focused on gymkhana, showcasing various skills events alongside some motocross track time. I was captivated by it, and soon after, Dad bought me a Honda QR 50, which marked the start of his weekends being consumed by my motocross journey for the next 20 years. By the time I turned seven, I was racing on a KX 60, and my passion for motocross only escalated from there.
By age 12, my parents were driving me all over the country to compete in both motocross and supercross events. I immersed myself in the sport, dedicating everything I had to be competitive. With numerous supercross podium finishes, a few wins, and three NSW State Motocross Championships by the age of 15, my drive to push for more continued to grow. At around the same time, I began instructing at Stephen Gall’s University of Motocross, which later evolved into the Academy of Off Road Riding with Lyndon Heffernan.
I continued racing professionally into my early 20s, which allowed me to compete and train internationally in places like New Zealand, Indonesia, and the USA. My journey also included competing in the A4DE (Australian Four Day Enduro) and the Hattah Desert race. As my interest in coaching intensified, it became a natural progression for me to focus more on that aspect, even while still competing. My coaching passion led me to significant roles, including being the NSW Head Coach for the Yamaha Australian Institute of Motocross (Y-AIM) and coaching at Motorcycling Australia high-performance camps at the Australian Institute of Sport. I also spent time in the USA working with AMA Supercross and Motocross Factory racers like Michael Byrne and James Stewart. Between 2010 and 2015, I managed Yamaha Australia’s Junior Motocross Racing program in NSW, guiding riders to multiple state championships and three national titles.
In 2006, I began test riding for Australasian Dirt Bike magazine, eventually transitioning to a permanent role with Dirt Action magazine as Online Editor and test rider. This position lasted nearly a decade and provided incredible opportunities, including testing Factory Motocross race bikes in Australia and the USA, as well as attending world launches for new motorcycle models.
In 2008, Chris Urquhart and I founded Motodevelopment with the goal of leveraging our experience to focus on motocross rider training and innovative coaching events. This led to the creation of our Moto Masterclass Events, featuring elite riders flown in from overseas, such as Michael Byrne, Jeff Emig, and Dean Ferris. These events allowed Australian motocross riders to learn from current and past champions of the sport who would otherwise be out of reach.
A significant highlight was when Motodevelopment collaborated with Ricky Carmichael to bring RCU (Ricky Carmichael University) to Australia for three events in NSW and QLD. Nearly 300 Australian motocross riders had the chance to learn from legends like Ricky Carmichael, Jeff Emig, and Jeff Stanton.
In 2013, we were presented with the opportunity to take on BMW’s Off Road Rider training program, which marked the inception of BMW GS Offroad Training in its current format. Our relationship with BMW Motorrad has since flourished, allowing us to manage and run BMW Safari, GS Experience, and other exciting activations.
Through these events, we have explored many parts of Australia, and I was fortunate enough to participate as Australia’s Media representative at the 2018 GS Trophy in Mongolia and the 2020 GS Trophy in New Zealand—both of which were unforgettable experiences. I look forward to continuing my journey with the team at Motodevelopment, planning amazing events and experiences while providing training to help our customers advance their adventures.