Sean Emmett (born 4 February 1970) is an English former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.[1]

Sean Emmett
NationalityEnglish
Born (1970-02-04) 4 February 1970 (age 54)
Walton
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1993 - 1996
First race1993 500cc Australian Grand Prix
Last race1996 500cc Catalan Grand Prix
Team(s)Suzuki
Championships0
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
52 0 0 0 0 79

Racing career

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Born in Walton on Thames, Sean Emmett began his career in 1989 at Brands Hatch. In 1989, he won the 350cc Production Championship. He also won the Avon Tyres Trophy for "the most talented young rider with the most promising future". Previous winners included John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Barry Sheene.[2] He competed in his first Grand Prix in 1993 riding for the Shell-Harris Yamaha team, finishing the season in 19th place in the F.I.M. 500cc class.[1] In 1994, Emmett finished in 15th place as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team, followed by two 22nd-place finishes in 1995 and 1996.[1]

In 1999, Sean Emmett competed in the Superbike World Championship, finishing in 28th place aboard a Ducati. Also in 1999, he won the closest ever British Superbike Championship race, defeating Troy Bayliss by just 0.001sec.[3] In the 2001 Superbike World Championship, he finished in 32nd place after competing as a wildcard in a single event.[4]

Sean Emmett competed in the British Superbike Championship between 1997 and 2008. During which he was on the podium 65 times with 19 race wins. Sean Emmett most successful years were in 2001 and 2002 when he finished the year in third place.[5][6]

In 2008 Sean participated in the Yamaha R1 Cup, a support series to the British Superbike Championship. Sean started the campaign well however, the series was dominated by Jon Kirkham the eventual series winner.

In 2011 Emmett won on a RGV 500 (formerly ridden by Kenny Roberts, Jr. in 1999) at the Bikers Classic Meeting at Spa Francorchamps Circuit in Belgium. In February 2013 Emmett won in the South African Classic TT racing series "Day of the Champion" at Zwartkops Circuit.[7][8]

Grand Prix career statistics[1]

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Points system from 1993

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Points 25 20 16 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Points Rank Wins
1993 500cc Shell Harris-Yamaha YZR500 AUS
16
MAL
14
JPN
15
ESP
9
AUT
16
GER
NC
NED
16
EUR
12
RSM
NC
GBR
NC
CZE
NC
ITA
NC
USA
13
FIM
14
19 19th 0
1994 500cc Shell Harris-Yamaha YZR500 AUS
14
MAL
13
JPN
17
ESP
NC
AUT
12
GER
11
NED
NC
ITA
14
FRA
NC
GBR
12
CZE
13
USA
11
34 15th 0
Lucky Strike Suzuki RGV500 ARG
10
EUR
NC
1995 500cc Lucky Strike Suzuki RGV500 AUS
12
MAL
NC
JPN
13
ESP
NC
GER
-
ITA
NC
NED
NC
FRA
NC
GBR
13
CZE
13
BRA
10
ARG
11
EUR
NC
17 22nd 0
1996 500cc Shell Harris-Yamaha YZR500 MAL
11
INA
15
JPN
17
ESP
15
ITA
14
FRA
NC
NED
NC
GER
NC
GBR
DNS
AUT
NC
CZE
17
IMO
16
CAT
NC
BRA
-
AUS
-
9 22nd 0

Personal life

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On 19 February 2013, Emmett's 27-year-old new wife Abigail Elson[9] died in a fall from the open window of their hotel room in Dubai.[10]

They were spending a two-day stopover on the return trip back to UK from their honeymoon in Cape Town, South Africa. Emmett's passport was confiscated and he was detained for ten months in Dubai during the subsequent investigation. Emmett told the BBC that he suspected local media in Dubai intended to implicate him as a murder suspect.[11][10]

Emmett was allowed to return from Dubai after ten months, but on landing at Heathrow Airport on 5 December 2013 was arrested on suspicion of murder by Surrey police, who conducted their own investigation of the circumstances. Emmett was bailed several times during the investigation. In February 2016, a statement by Surrey police confirmed Emmett's bail had been cancelled and no further action would be taken.[12][13][9] The inquest into Abigail's death is still ongoing as of October 2020.[14] Emmett testified during the inquest, but declined to answer questions about allegations of domestic violence in his relationship with Ms Elson, repeatedly stating "I decline to answer that".[15]

In October 2014 a Domestic Violence Protection Order was imposed on Emmett after an altercation with his girlfriend at a pub. He was subsequently jailed for 28 days for violating this order.[16] In March 2015 Emmett was jailed for three months for assaulting his girlfriend.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Sean Emmett career statistics at MotoGP.com
  2. ^ www.superbike-racing.co.uk
  3. ^ www.independent.co.uk
  4. ^ "Superbike Archives | Launching Soon".
  5. ^ "British Superbike Championship Hall of Fame | Devitt". 25 April 2016.
  6. ^ "British Superbike Championship Records and Stats | Devitt". 25 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Emmett to Race South African Classic Tt".
  8. ^ "Emmett to contest South African Classic TT series". 19 December 2012.
  9. ^ a b Superbiker Sean Emmett: No action over wife's Dubai death BBC News, 8 February 2016, Retrieved 6 December 2018
  10. ^ a b Dubai 'courts silent' over Sean Emmett honeymoon death BBC News, 2 October 2013, Retrieved 6 December 2018
  11. ^ Surrey superbike racer Sean Emmett 'wife murder suspect' BBC News, 1 October 2013, Retrieved 6 December 2018
  12. ^ Dubai stranded racer Sean Emmett arrested at Heathrow BBC News, 5 December 2013, Retrieved 6 December 2018
  13. ^ Superbike Fans Shocked as Sean Emmett Arrested over Dubai Death International Business Times, 5 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2018
  14. ^ "Abigail Elson's final moments captured on CCTV with inquest shown what happened before death - Surrey Live". 9 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Sean Emmett: Ex-superbiker declines to answer domestic violence questions". BBC News. 15 October 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Former racer Sean Emmett jailed for assault".