Team

Originally formed in 2006, Team CanUK has grown in size over the years. Some of the team have already been on extensive motorcycle adventures while others are relative novices. But what we all have in common is a sense of adventure and a love of motorbikes.

Yarema 'Jerry' Bezchlibnyk

Despite being the newest member of the team, Jerry has already proven himself as an able and fearless rider - having flown over the handlebars twice in pre-trip training (if you’re not falling then you’re not trying hard enough). Like his fellow Canadians Ted and Tyson, Jerry is currently at Toronto Med school learning how to become a doctor. But fortunately for all of us Jerry is already a fully qualified field medic. He has travelled extensively and is a skilled mountain biker, but this is his first big motorcycle adventure. Like the majority of the group he will be riding a Kawasaki KLR 650 on this trip – the same bike that he learned to ride on.

Tyson 'T-Bone' Brust

The self declared old man of the group (although technically only the second oldest), Tyson has been in higher education for over a decade. Despite all that ‘free time’ he has only been riding motorbikes since June 2006. Just a few days after gaining his license he cut his teeth on LA’s freeways in what was Team CanUK’s first adventure – a Harley Davidson tour of California. Since then Tyson has embraced motorcycling with open arms. In his short riding career he has been the proud owner of a Kawasaki Ninja 250 and subsequently a KLR 650. It was the second of these two bikes, nicknamed ‘Rosa’, that took him all the way from Toronto to Buenos Aires during the summer of 2007. That same bike is accompanying him on this trip.

Ted 'MacGyver' Macher

The most experienced rider and skilled off-roader of the group, Ted earns his nickname for his resourcefulness and ability to fix pretty much anything. Having spent the majority of his life in Ontario, Ted’s first big trip away from home was with Tyson on their epic pan-American journey. Ted is also the least lucky member of the group having come off his bike twice – once in Mexico and again in Peru – sustaining injuries in both spills. But his steely resolve and dogged determination make him more than capable to deal with such challenges. Ted has owned and ridden a number of bikes during his riding career but he is most familiar with his Suzuki DR650 – the bike that took him all through the Americas.

Tom ‘The Kid’ Smith

The sole Brit on the team, Tom gets his nickname for being the youngest member of the group and for his love of all things sweet - particularly pud. He has been riding bikes (or more accurately scooters) since the age of 16, but got his full license in October 2005 and bought his first proper bike in May 2006. Since then Tom has been on both of Team CanUK's adventures, although on the pan-American trip his journey had to end early in Guatemala City due to work commitments. He works as an economist at the Bank of England in London and has two bikes – a Honda CB400 (his first bike) and a KLR 650 (which is far too big for him).