Former champion motorbike racer Colin Appleyard is celebrating the latest success in his remarkable business story.

The Keighley businessman left school at 15 with only one thing on his mind - a burning ambition to race bikes.

He matched his victories on the circuit with progress at work, where he rose from being an apprentice mechanic with a local dealer to sales director.

In 1971 he set up his own business, and now Colin Appleyard Ltd has received the prestigious Investors in People award for the quality of training and development of its 86 staff. The business has grown from modest roots and now has four major outlets. It was the first UK dealer for Suzuki Cars in 1978, exported Japanese bikes to Japan in the 80s and was Suzuki dealer of the year in 1998.

Colin's son Robin, who was a British champion bike racer, now runs the motorcycle centre in Leeds, and car division general manager Robin Luscombe is UK sidecar racing champion - and currently aiming for an all-time record twelfth championship.

Colin says: "In my eyes the success of our business has always been due to the workforce.

In addition to my own son working for the company, there are many other examples of second generation employees, with sons following in their fathers' footsteps.

"We are now firmly focussed on the future.

"The company is extending and refurbishing its three older sites, including a re-location of our head office at Keighley."

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