In 1974 Maurice Burton received the nationwide 20km title, turning into Britain’s first ever Black biking champion. But, because the 18-year-old stepped onto the rostrum, the gang booed – a response that typified the racism he skilled all through his profession. After being ignored for Olympic choice, regardless of having overwhelmed these chosen, he moved to Belgium to race professionally on the six-day circuit, turning into the primary Black six-day rider for over 75 years.
In his lately printed biography, co-written with me, Burton got down to assert his place as a change-maker and pioneer in British sporting historical past. In writing the guide collectively, Burton and I met many occasions over the course of a yr, in pubs, at his bike store De Ver Cycles, and on bike rides. This function, drawing on our conversations, lays out Burton’s 9 key life classes from his wealthy and diverse expertise as the primary Black British biking champion, six-day star and later as a profitable enterprise proprietor and neighborhood chief in South London.
You possibly can’t be what you possibly can’t see
Burton’s profession started at Herne Hill Velodrome
(Picture credit score: Phil O’Connor)
I knew about Herne Hill, however I didn’t know how one can get in. There was no data for individuals like me; there have been no Black individuals doing it. Except you knew somebody, you didn’t know. I used to be fortunate: my college took me to Herne Hill. The VC Londres coach Invoice Dodds instructed us the way it labored. One factor stood out: he stated, “From right here, you possibly can go to the Olympic Video games.” I knew at that second that that was the place I needed to be.
Sure riders are a category aside
I used to be sprinting at Paddington in 1973 with Steve Heffernan; one in every of us was going to win. All of a sudden, anyone ripped previous us, and we each thought, who the hell was that? It was Danny Clark, Olympic silver medallist who turned a six-day legend. I met a man lately who was in the identical race; he stated Danny requested if he may get by however he didn’t hear him. The subsequent factor he heard was Danny shout, “For f***’s sake, mate, will you get out of the f***ing manner!” and he got here previous like a bike.
Willpower is every little thing
(Picture credit score: Graham Watson)
After I stood on the rostrum in Leicester to obtain my jersey as nationwide champion in 1974, boos rang out across the velodrome. They didn’t like the color of my pores and skin. In 1975, I received gold within the group pursuit and silver within the Madison. I used to be 19-years-old, profitable my third title. I crashed out within the scratch, however then they disqualified me, claiming I pulled Heffernan off his bike, which I didn’t. It was typical of how I used to be handled and it stored occurring. I received’t hand over on something. It’s dedication, a need to see it by. My experiences made me extra decided to race in Belgium.
Beginning out on the continent is difficult
I travelled to Ghent on Christmas Eve 1974 with no cash and nowhere to remain. I went straight to the Christmas Day monitor assembly. The bike store Plum Vainqueur had a stall with Rosa Desnerck, the proprietor, who knew a butcher who took in international cyclists. I slept amongst piles of newspaper ready to be collected. Later I stayed with Albert Beurick, who had supported Tommy Simpson again within the day. I used to be the one bicycle owner; the opposite lodgers had been three drunkards who’d miss the bathroom and urinate everywhere in the ground and seat. It wasn’t the most effective set-up. These early days had been a wrestle.
Keep in mind the toughest street
I used to be reliant on prizes and primes – cash was tight and I needed to win. In my first race in Ghent I got here fifth, which wasn’t sufficient. I wanted to tug my finger out, so I drew up a price range and labored out a coaching programme. The mainstay concerned a street from Ghent to Zelzate, 20km every manner, doing a five-minute warm-up, then full-gas out and again. Within the winter I rode mounted, as much less may go improper. Different days I’d do 160km behind the derny at tempo, and within the afternoons I went to the monitor. I did this for 2 weeks and received my subsequent race. Even now, when issues look dangerous, I keep in mind the street to Zelzate.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, evaluations and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
Racism was systematic and mainstream
(Picture credit score: Maurice Burton)
I got here again to the UK to try to get chosen for the Olympics in 1976. British Biking invited me to coaching classes, after which stated I ought to ask for an invitation. In the end they stated I may go however I needed to pay for myself. I used to be beating all of the riders within the squad. I don’t know what they had been attempting to get from me or what they thought my ‘worth’ was. Who else needed to pay? It obtained to the purpose the place it was so embarrassing for them that they needed to carry me in. I gave it my greatest shot. I attempted, however it didn’t work. I’m not disrespecting the riders who made it, however I’m saying I didn’t get a good likelihood.
Although issues weren’t excellent in Belgium both, some riders like [Patrick] Sercu and [René] Pijnen noticed me as one other human being, a motorcycle rider, not only a Black man. Others had been threatened by me. After I turned as much as race the Dusika Velodrome in Vienna, the very first thing I noticed was the again web page of the newspaper, with the headline “Will the n***** beat Sercu?”.
You are on the mercy of the money-men
The promoters had been highly effective. Early on, Paul Medhurst and I rode for the factors jersey. We took laps, obtained flowers, confirmed ourselves to the crowds, demonstrated that we had been price a contract. The promoter typically determined the pairings. You may be driving the taxi, taking care of a neighborhood star, and also you wouldn’t get a inserting, however the crowd obtained to see stars like [Stephen] Roche and [Francesco] Moser, they usually went house completely happy. Largely we had been racing flat-out; we had no selection. If the group was going at 50kph, you then needed to go at 60kph, for nevertheless lengthy it took. In the end, in case your efficiency dropped then the promoter would get anyone else in. It was cut-throat, with 300 riders competing for 16 slots on the circuit.
You aren’t getting to decide on the ending
My final six-day was in Buenos Aires [Argentina] in 1984. The tyre blew out and I went down actually exhausting, breaking my thigh bone. This sort of damage requires large power – automotive crashes or gunshots. I made up my thoughts whereas in hospital that it was time to alter course. There have been simply too many issues occurring. You must do not forget that I by no means needed anything, from an early age. In hindsight, stopping racing was a great factor, however if you take that away and cease, for the primary time ever, it’s exhausting.
Generally taking a danger pays off
(Picture credit score: Graham Watson)
I took over De Ver Cycles in 1987. I’ve been there almost 40 years. It hasn’t all the time been straightforward. At one level, the financial institution was demanding £800 that day. I used to be within the store with Mia, my spouse, my head in my palms, when a chap strolled in. He stated, “I need to purchase a motorcycle, I’ve obtained £800.”
Equally, simply earlier than the pandemic I did some offers and had bikes in every single place. I needed to promote the inventory by June. It was a danger, however when the pandemic hit, nobody else had any bikes. I bought all of them, grabbed each different bike I may lay my palms on. Wanting again, issues occur for a purpose – I took a danger and it paid off .
Maurice Burton’s profession timeline
1955 Born in South London
1972 Wins Junior Satan nationwide title
1973 Wins Junior Dash
1974 Chosen for Commonwealth Video games, New Zealand
1974 Wins White Hope Dash and three-mile race on the Good Friday Assembly
1974 Wins 20km scratch Nationwide title at Leicester
1975 Races in Ghent for the primary time
1975 Beats world champions Daniel Morelon and Nels Fredborg at Trinidad Invitational
1975 Wins Golden Wheel and scratch on the Good Friday Assembly
1975 Wins Nationwide title in group pursuit, silver within the Madison
1976 Second at Ghent Newbie 6, wins Silber Adler in Cologne
1977 Turns skilled, wins Ghent omnium with Paul Medhurst towards Gerrie Knetemann, Rik Van Linden
1977-1983 Competes in 56 six-day races, together with 16 throughout the 1980- 81 season alone
1984 Sustains career-ending damage on the Buenos Aires six-day
1987 Turns into proprietor of De Ver Cycles in Norbury, London
2020 CS7 renamed ‘The Maurice Burton Method’
2023 Inducted into the British Biking Corridor of Fame
The complete story of Maurice’s extraordinary life is instructed in The Maurice Burton Method, out now in hardback (£20, Bloomsbury).
