Bob MacLean the founder of the WCM Team has passed away at the age of 87.
Robert John MacLean peacefully passed away at his home in Wilson, Wyoming, on December 14th 2024.
MacLean was a former motorcycle racer who founded World Championship Motorsports (WCM) in 1991. He co-owned and operated the team until 2005, during which the team competed in the 500cc and MotoGP eras of Grand Prix racing.
"He was the very best friend and business partner anyone could wish for," Peter Clifford (WCM Team co-owner) said about Bob MacLean on RoadRacing World.
"A total 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 started the World Championship Motorsports (WCM) 500cc Grand Prix team.
"Then he enabled us to do fantastic things as 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 humour as well as unwavering support. Bob MacLean was unique and very special. May he rest in peace…"
BikeSport News sends its condolences to Bob's family and friends.
