'It toughens you up, nothing can you prepare you for it'

'It toughens you up, nothing can you prepare you for it'Image source, PacemakerImage caption, Storm Stacey will make his debut at the North West 200 road race in MayByAndy GrayBBC Sport NI JournalistPublished2 minutes agoWarning: This article contains themes of suicide, self harm and mental healthA 22-year-old motorcycle racer walking around a paddock in a top hat is going to stand out. But that is the whole point for Storm Stacey. It's a conversation starter, a way to encourage people to open up about their feelings.He was 13 years of age when he discovered his dad had died by suicide, and it has shaped his path, not only as a sportsman, but how he interacts through life."You wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy and nothing can prepare you for that," Stacey said on the BBC Bikes podcast."But do you know what? It toughens you up. I could have gone down the road of drugs, partying, gone off the rails, probably be in prison. "But what kept me going was motorbike racing. It gave me purpose and something to do, something to keep fighting for, to keep progressing and keep going."Stacey and Hodson to make North West 200 debutsPublished12 FebruaryEngines are in Stacey's DNA. His first rode a motorbike at just three years of age and he got a love of both motorcycles and cars from his late father.A love of classic cars comes from his father, including a 1966 Ford Mustang that was handed down to him. His collection is extensive and ranges from a Rolls-Royce, a Dodge Ram to a Ford Fiesta R2 rally car.He was even named after a Lister Storm, a rare, historic British sportscar from the 1990s.But, despite his love for bikes, Stacey had very little interest in watching them race.When his dad suggested going to watch MotoGP or World Superbikes at Donington Park or Silverstone, Stacey didn't want to go. "Even if I did go, I'd be pulling the grass out the floor and stuff like that. I wasn't watching the racing becau...