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MotoGP, Farewell to Bob MacLean, the creator of the WCM team and GP star in the late 1990s

Bob Maclean, who many will remember as a partner of our friend and colleague Peter Clifford in the adventure that was the WCM team, has passed away. A team that was founded with passion and raced in both 500 and MotoGP.

MotoGP: Farewell to Bob MacLean, the creator of the WCM team and GP star in the late 1990s

RoadRacingWorld informs us of the passing of Bob Maclean, whom many will remember as a partner with our friend and colleague Peter Clifford in the adventure that was the WCM team. A team that was founded with passion and raced in both 500 and MotoGP.

Robert John MacLean passed away peacefully at his home in Wilson, Wyoming, on December 14, 2024, at the age of 87. He was born on February 18, 1937, in Coronado, California.

After many years of motorcycle racing himself, Bob founded World Championship Motorsports,(WCM) in 1991, which he co-owned and operated until 2005. WCM competed at the highest level in FIM motorcycle racing.

He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Mary Anna MacLean and three sons, Chris MacLean (Cathryn Kishbaugh), Ian MacLean and Mark MacLean (Marsha Yamaykina) and his five grandchildren.

"He was the very best friend and business partner anyone could wish for," wrote Peter Clifford for RoadRacingWorld, "A true enthusiast who put a huge amount of effort into supporting so many riders. He had tremendous success racing in the U.S. with Rich Schlachter, Kork Ballington, Wayne Rainey, etc., before we strarted the World Championship Motorsports (WCM) 500cc Grand Prix team.

Then he enabled us to do fantastic things with WCM, becoming the best privateer 500cc team with riders that included Peter Goddard, Niall Mackenzie, Neil Hodgson, Andrew Stroud, Mark Willis and Kirk McCarthy, which gained us Yamaha's respect so that they offered us the factory bikes in 1997. Then, with riders such as Luca Cadalora, Troy Corser, Simon Crafar, Regis Laconi, Garry McCoy, John Hopkins, Jean-Michel Bayle and Alex Hofmann we won GPs and competed for the 500cc World Championship.

When the class switched to MotoGP and Yamaha could not supply us with bikes, we built the WCM MotoGP machines and ran Chris Burns, David de Gea, James Ellison, Franco Battaini and Youichi Ui.

Bob did all of this and built a huge population of friends around the world, far beyond the riders involved. The team members all looked up to Bob and appreciated his wonderful drive and good humor, as well as unwavering support. Bob MacLean was unique and very special. May he rest in peace..."


GPOne.com's condolences to the family and our friend Peter Clifford

WCM co-owners Bob MacLean (left) and Peter Clifford (right), circa 1997. Lou Martin photo/courtesy WCM.

 

Translated by Julian Thomas

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