Sabre Sport Company History

Sabre Sport was formed in 1996 by its owner Keith Newnham to fulfil his ambition to compete in 500cc Grand Prix

1996
Sabre sponsored the late Steve Hislop and Ray Stringer in British Super Bike Championship. The season was very successful with Steve winning the Championship and Ray finishing 5th.

1997
Saw Sabre sponsor Ray in the Privateer Championship of B.S.B. Championship on 750cc Kawaski. Ray won the Championship.

1998
Again Sabre sponsored Ray in the B.S.B. with Ray taking the Championship for the second time. Sabre also contested the Macau G.P. with Michael Rutter and Ray with Michael taking a very close second.

1999
Sabre purchased two Honda NSR 500V twins to compete in the Isle of Man T.T. with Ian Lougher. Ian finished 4th in the Formula T.T. One and 3rd in the Senior T.T. The Sabre VTwin holds the fastest lap of the T.T. by a two stroke and will probably never be broken.

In July 1999 Scott Smart convinced Keith to purchase an Aprila 250 G.P. bike to compete in the British 250cc championship. He competed in the one round at Knockhill where he finished 2nd and set a new lap record.

Sabre had been contacted by I.R.T.A. to invite them to compete in the 250cc World Championship replacing the DOC Shop Team. The team jumped at the chance and packed the truck for the first taste of G.P. racing at Bruno in the Czech Republic.

The team competing in the remaining 7 250cc G.P. rounds with Scott scoring points at 3 rounds.

At the end of the season IRTA invited the team to step up to 500cc G.P. The dream came true and the invitation was accepted.

During the Winter 1999/2000 a third Honda NRS 500V2 was ordered and specially built by Honda for Sabre Sport (in fact the last one ever to be built).

2000
The contracted rider for 2000 was Shane Norval of South Africa. Shane showed great promise during IRTA tests. He unfortunately had a get-off early in the season. Sabre then had a number of riders, including Ron Haslam and Phil Giles and the season was good but it clearly showed the team needed a V4.

The winter of 2000/2001 was spent developing the Sabre V4.

2001
At the end of the winter the team had a 500V4 developing around 175 BHP. The contracted rider was Johan Stigerfelt. The season was good with many encouraging results to take forward to 2002.

Unfortunately that were not to be. Grand Prix was changed to MOTO GP and four strokes and the team places franchised out. There was no longer a space for the true Privateer Team at G.P. level.

But the 2½ years the team was a G.P. was a great experience and Keith achieved his boyhood dream.

2002
The team competed in the 125cc British Championship with the very talented Guy Farebrother. Unfortunately Guy was never able to develop his full potential.

2003
A year out developing other business opportunities.

2004
Supported Luke and Jamie Mossey. Both then 11 years old. The season was good with them both winning many races in the 50cc category.

2005
Luke and Jamie both stepped to the 80cc class competing mainly in Spain. The season was good with both boys finishing in the Metro Kit Championship.

2006
Luke and Jamie will both compete in a 125 cc G.P. championship. Luke will contest the Catalan Championship in Spain. Jamie is the MRO Championship in the U.K.