Simon Crafar’s journey back into the MotoGP paddock was shaped by a devastating accident that left the former 500cc Grand Prix winner facing a lengthy recovery.
Crafar was seriously injured in 2009 after being hit by a car while helping organise the Red Bull Romaniacs hard enduro event in Romania. The accident left him unable to walk for almost a year and forced him to reconsider his future after racing.
The New Zealander had already begun planning his post-racing career. Having trained as a motorcycle mechanic in New Zealand, Crafar had always maintained a strong interest in the technical side of racing, even during his riding career.
He had spoken with Öhlins race department boss Mats Larsson about becoming an Öhlins technician after retiring from competition.
“I want to be an Öhlins tech after I finish racing.”
That opportunity allowed Crafar to remain inside the racing environment, working alongside tyre technicians, suspension specialists, data engineers, crew chiefs and riders.
Rather than leaving the paddock completely, he simply moved to a different position within it.
Crafar believes that experience was invaluable, giving him a deeper understanding of the technical side of motorcycle racing while allowing him to learn from experienced colleagues.
However, the same period also brought major changes in his personal life, with the birth of his son — now 25 — adding another important chapter to his journey away from professional racing.
