Mike Hailwood Tribute - 2nd April
1940 - 23rd March 1981
Introduction Considered
by many experts to be the best motorcycle road racer
ever, Mike 'the bike' Hailwood is a legend to whose
achievements other riders can only aspire. He took
his first world title at the age of 21 and went on
to win eight further crowns with a total of 76 Grand
Prix victories. Only the great Giacomo Agostini and
Angel Nieto can claim to have enjoyed such success.
In 1959 and 1960, Mike won nearly
every national race he competed in. Success in the
World Championship was harder to come by, however,
he was riding against factory teams with the latest
bikes. Nethertheless, he still won in Ulster and further
podium finishes secured 3rd place in the 125s and
5th overall in the 250s. During the next season, he
raced in the 500cc class for the first time and finished
an impressive 6th.
By 1961, Hailwood was undoubtedly
the most promising young rider in the World Championship,
but incredibly, he was still racing as a privateer
and often on borrowed machines. Honda lent him a 250cc
four-cylinder RC162 but it had few of the ultra-lightweight
components used on the factory bikes.
One of the most well-loved riders
of all times, Hailwood was the initiator of the frog
style, with the knees pointing outwards. He raced
and won in all the classes, including the 125, which
certainly was not suited to his height. He led difficult
motorcycles such as the MZ 250 and the first Honda
500 to victory. He reached the finish lines despite
some frightening falls. He won a TT race even after
spending years away from the world of motorcycling
and a nasty car accident, still with a manner marked
by exemplary fairness with his rivals.
Born into a wealthy family in Oxford
in 1940, he started racing at the tender age of 17
with the help of a sizeable cheque he received from
his father that he used to buy a semi-official MV.
He became official in 1961, and was MVs leading man
after Hocking pulled out in 1962. He then won four
consecutive titles with the 500 from 1962 to 1965.
He went to Honda in 1966, and his memorable duels
with former team-mate Agostini elated and divided
up fans.
After turning to car racing with
satisfactory results, Mike the Bike made occasional
appearances in motorcycle races in 1971 and in brilliant
T.T. exploits of 1978 and 1979. As a mocking sign
of fate, he died in an ordinary road accident together
with his young daughter Michelle on 22 March 1981.
Career Stats
- 1958 - 3rd in TT 250cc race, 2nd and 3rd in 250
and 350cc Swedish GP
- 1961 - 250cc World Champion
- 1962 - 500cc World Champion
- 1963 - 500cc World Champion
- 1964 - 500cc World Champion
- 1965 - 500cc World Champion
- 1966 - 250 and 350cc World Champion
- 1967 - 250 and 350cc World Champion
- 1972 - European Formula 2 Champion (cars)
- 1978 - Formula 1 TT World Champion
  
  
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