The 39-year-old Scot has been Britain's most successful Grant Prix racer since Barry Sheene. At his final race in Knowchill in August 2001, more than 20000 fans turned up to bid farewell to their local hero. Niall has come a long way from Denny where he would regularly get into trouble for racing round the streets and in and out of chip shops to impress the girls. As an amateur it was recognized he had an abundance of talent, especially after winning his first race at Knockhill, but he also had a wild side and looks back on a time when chasing girls and getting drunk were as important as winning races. After moving up through the amateur ranks and securing his first factory 500 rides on a Suzuki, Niall notched up a host of 500 GP podium finished before moving to Superbikes. He proved unbeatable between 1996 and 1998 when is claimed a hat-trick of British Superbike titles. On every occasion he beat big-name team-mates Jamie Whitham, Chris Walker and Steve Hislop.