Sad death of Mike Greenough
By Photo: Colin Bullock on 21st Feb 24
The TMX Team are devastated to report that former staff member Mike Greenough has sadly lost his battle with cancer. Mike’s daughter Holly informed the world of his death yesterday evening with a post on Facebook.
“Dad passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 10, 2024,” she wrote. “He was his usual happy self right to the end.”
Following his hard shift at TMX underneath founding Editor Bill Lawless, Mike went on to work for Dirt Bike Rider magazine and MCN as well as landing a role in the Suzuki Racing PR department. As such, he left a huge mark on the off-road community who have been leaving messages of remembrance. Here are just some of them…
Sean Lawless – TMX Royalty
“He was a lovely bloke - big, daft and an all-round ace.”
John Dickinson – TMX Editor
“Back when he was a young TMX staffman – just 17 at the time – Mike was a gifted rider but he was very hard on bikes. Testing an Italjet one day the bike was unloaded and Mike fired it up and went off, wearing jeans and trainers. Two minutes later Greeny had trashed it so comprehensively that the test had to be cancelled before it had even started!
“Mike also spectacularly set himself on fire one night during an impromptu test session. Greeny was a smoker and he stuffed his box of matches down his sock (No, I don't know why either!) before having a rip on a Fantic 50 that we had just ‘tuned' by hacking 5mm off the back of the piston.
“As he lunged at a pile of pallets the matches somehow self-ignited, there was a blue flame (very impressive, as it was dark at the time) and Mike's leg was ablaze. The Fantic was dropped and the flames extinguished, revealing Greeny's polyester socks melted to his ankle.
“Another visit to A and E – there was never a dull moment.”
Dickie Dye – DBR Test Rider
“I spent many, many days travelling all over the place over several years with Mike working with him and testing for DBR etc. He was always great to me, had time for me and was a real friend… Mike was a big part of a fab time in my life…"
Kevin Chevis – DBR Photographer
“I’m heartbroken. When I was a young Photographer at DBR, Mike took me under his wing and believed in me and supported me so much. I am so lucky to have many great memories with Mike. I’m so very sad to hear this.”
Roddy Brooks – DBR Editor
“A lovely bloke. RIP.”
Richard Cole – Quad Racing legend
“RIP Mike! Nearly as big a wind-up merchant as me. Condolences to your family.”
Adam Duckworth – MotoHead Editor
“Such terrible news. He was my first boss at MCN and taught me a lot. We had some great times. Condolences to his family.”
Rob Andrews – MX Racer and Author
“I’m so sad to hear this. Mike was a great guy. Our condolences to his family.”
John Hulme – Trials Editor
“So sorry to hear this news, I had some good times with him when he was a reporter at Trials and Motocross News. We must all remember his big crash on the Majesty Yamaha at Kickstart and of course his contributions to the off-road world, a real character, RIP.”
The Greenough family have announced that a funeral service for Mike will be held at the Warren Hill Kettering Crematorium on March 6 at 2:30pm. Anyone who wants to attend is more than welcome. Drinks will follow at The Stitching Pony pub, Market Street in Kettering from about 4pm.
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