5 Minutes With… Rick English
For the past 27 years, Rick English has been one of the UK's leading stunt performers, bringing some of Hollywood's biggest action sequences to life. From high-speed motorcycle chases and spectacular crashes to driving the Batmobile through flames, his career has seen him work on some of the world's biggest film franchises, all while maintaining a long-standing relationship with Kawasaki.
We caught up with Rick to find out how he got into the stunt industry, why Kawasaki has been his stunt bike of choice for more than two decades and which blockbuster moments stand out from an incredible career.
"I've been a professional stunt performer for 27 years now," explains Rick. "I actually got into the industry through martial arts and motorcycle racing. I was club racing bikes at the time, and that naturally led me into film and television. Once I joined the British Stunt Register, I quickly found myself specialising in motorcycles and motorcycle stunts."
That specialism has seen Rick become one of the go-to riders for some of the biggest action films ever made. "I've been lucky enough to work on some amazing productions over the years. The James Bond films, Jason Bourne, Mission: Impossible and the Kingsman movies have all been real highlights. More recently, I've worked on a lot of superhero films, which means I've been riding some pretty unusual motorcycles, including Batman's Batcycle and working alongside Jason Momoa on Supergirl."
While motorcycles remain his first love, Rick's talents extend well beyond two wheels. "I do a lot of car stunt driving as well, and getting behind the wheel of the Batmobile has definitely been one of the highlights. In the latest Batman film, I was also responsible for one of the big jumps through the flames, which was incredible to be part of.
But if you ask me what I enjoy the most, it's still bike crashes. They're challenging, technical and there's a real art to making them look spectacular while keeping everyone safe. Alongside the bike work, I also perform plenty of general stunts, so every project brings something different."
The motorcycle world and the stunt industry often overlap, and Rick has seen several familiar Team Green faces make the transition. "I've worked with Dylon Woodcock, who's following in the footsteps of his dad, someone I've worked alongside for around 25 years. Dylon's just about to join the British Stunt Register and he's fitted into the industry brilliantly. His motocross skills are absolutely incredible.
We've also had British Superbike rider Danny Buchan come and work on a few productions. Professional racers already have such an incredible level of bike control that many of the skills transfer really well into stunt work."
Of course, when it comes to choosing the right bike for the job, Rick has remained loyal to Team Green.
"I've been using Kawasaki stunt bikes for around 20 years now, and the Ninja ZX-6R has always been my go-to platform. Last year I upgraded to the latest 2025 model, and it's been fantastic. The engine is perfect straight out of the crate, but for stunt work I do have to make a few modifications. Some of the electronic rider aids need to be switched off so I can wheelie, perform burnouts and carry out some of the more technical stunt riding.
I also fit additional crash protection, a rear handbrake and a few other specialist parts, but apart from that the bike stays remarkably standard. Kawasaki has done such a great job with the chassis and handling that there really isn't much else to change."
Helping keep Rick's machines in top condition has been the team at Derby Kawasaki, a relationship that has grown over several years. "I first worked with Derby Kawasaki during the filming of The Running Man a few years ago, and we've stayed in touch ever since. They've been brilliant supporters, helping service and maintain my previous stunt bike before also assisting with sourcing my latest ZX-6R. It's great to work with people who genuinely understand what I'm using the bike for, and their support has been invaluable.”
With an action-packed career that continues to take him around the world and onto some of cinema's biggest productions, it's clear Rick's passion for motorcycles is as strong as ever!