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Profile: Mark Aitchison
Date of birth: 22 November 1983
Occupation: Professional Motorcycle Rider
Education: University of Newcastle, Bachelor of Management, Bachelor of Management Honours in Marketing
Place of residence: Central Coast, NSW, Australia
Marital Status: Engaged
Hobbies: Motocross, Snowboarding & Wakeboarding
Training: Swimming, Cycling, Weights
Favourite Track: Phillip Island, Australia
First Bike: Honda QR50
Favourite Food: Thai, Italian & BBQ
Favourite Movie: Anchorman, The Departed
Favourite Band: Foo Fighters/Papa Roach, but anything that pumps me up on the grid or when I’m training!
Ambition: To become WSS & WSBK champion

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2009 – World Supersport Championship, Hanspree Honda Althea
2008 – World Supersport Championship, Team Triumph BE1 Racing
2007 – 5th World Superstock Championship
2006 – 2nd Australian Supersport Championship
2005 – 1st Australian Supersport Privateer Championship
2005 – 3rd Australian Supersport Championship
2001 – All Japan Summer Road Racing Championship
2000 – 2nd Australian Junior Road Racing Championship

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At the age of 10 Mark began racing dirt track on the Central Coast, Sydney Australia. Mark honed his skills from an early stage and managed to win two Australian dirt track titles by the age of 15. He then changed the direction of his career from dirt track to road racing and entered into the Australian Junior Road Racing Championships.
 
In his first year of road racing Mark managed to secure 2nd place in the Australian Junior Road Racing Championships. This led to the opportunity to compete for the famous Moriwaki engineering company in the Japan Summer Road Race series.

Over the next two years Mark put his road racing pursuits on hold to concentrate on his education. In 2004 Mark competed for Honda Australia under their satellite program in the Australian Supersport Championships, where he managed 8th in the championship.

In the 2005 season with support from Yamaha Australia, Mark finished 3rd in the Australian Supersport Championships and 1st in the Privateer's championship. Another highlight in the 2005 season for Mark was winning the prestigious RK Chains Samurai Trophy Award. The Samurai Trophy is given to the Rider of the Year. A host of great Australian riders have won this award previously, such as Mick Doohan & Troy Corser.

Early in the 2006 season Mark signed with Yamaha Australia to campaign their new R6 in the Australian Supersport Championship. He had a fantastic year and managed to secure 2nd place in the championship. A highlight of his year was breaking the World Supersport Championship lap record at Phillip Island.
 
On the basis of excellent results, hard work and determination to race on the world stage, Mark accepted an opportunity from Suzuki Italy to campaign the GSXR 1000 in the 2007 Superstock FIM Cup 1000 Championship. Mark completed his debut campaign finishing 5th in the World Superstock Championship & was named rookie of the year for 2007.
 
For the 2008 season Mark partnered with Triumph to enter the World Supersport Championship with BE1 Triumph Team Italia. With a new bike & new team in the fierce Supersport Championship proved tough for the BE1 Team & Mark, but together managed to enter into the top 10 on a number of occasions & ultimately finish 14th in the Championship.