Editorial Note: John Denning is the father of Paul Denning, principal of the Pata Yamaha by Brixx World Superbike team.

JOHN DENNING – 30TH MAY 1940 TO 2ND APRIL 2022

It is with great sadness that Crescent Motorcycle Co and the Crescent Yamaha WorldSBK team announces, following a short illness, the passing of Crescent’s modern-day founder, father-figure and constant guide, John Denning. [He was 81.]

John began working in the Bournemouth-based motorcycle and bicycle shop with his father straight from school in the 1950s, and leaves behind him a legacy of 65 years of service to Crescent’s customers and of guidance and care to Crescent’s staff. Operating the business in a prudent professional manner and gaining a reputation for customer service as his first priority, John was pivotal to Crescent’s growth and longer-term success as he supported his son, Paul, in expanding Crescent’s activities in the mid-1990s. This included the move into professional circuit racing in 1997, and John took great pleasure in all stages of the team’s growth, culminating with his huge pride in the ultimate accolade of World Championship victory in 2021. John played an important part in Crescent’s business to the end and was a constant source of encouragement and guidance.

John’s final “official” professional engagement was the recent presentation of the Torrens Trophy to Crescent at the Royal Automobile Club in London, where despite being weakened by his illness, the event was greatly enjoyed.

A keen sportsman and enthusiastic participant in four-wheeled machinery in addition to his passion for motorcycles, John Denning was an energetic, humble and deeply generous gentleman with an irreverent sense of fun, who will be greatly missed by all at Crescent, by his wife Angela, his family and his many friends and colleagues from all over the world.