Jeff Hardwick started his long relationship with Honda in 1972, when he bought a motorcycle dealership on the Gold Coast, Queensland.
Around that time Hardwick and Shell began backing a number of bikes in major local road racing events such as Bathurst and the Castrol 6-Hours, providing a national platform for riders like Mick Doohan, Mat Mladin, Troy Bayliss and Andrew Pitt.
The following year Hardwick joined forces with Mick Doohan to enter a team in the 250cc world championship[1] with Tohru Ukawa riding a works Honda NSR250, and Anthony West on a TSR-Honda 250.
Ukawa won the French and Valencian grands prix, finishing the season in second place behind the young Valentino Rossi.
However at the end of 2001 Shell ceased their sponsorship deal with Hardwick Racing and the team fell in financial difficulties.