Less than three weeks after the Queen, we have to say goodbye to (race) royalty again. Grand Prix legend Phil Read, nicknamed the Prince of Speed, passed away in his sleep yesterday at the age of 83.
Read was a very talented and respected member of the Grand Prix paddock. He took seven world titles (and with his 1977 Formula TT victory there were actually eight) and was the first to do so in both the 125, 250 and 500cc categories.
Read took his first 250cc title in 1964 with Yamaha, only to regain the championship the following year. But his best season ever was arguably 1968, when he won both the 125 and 250 World Championships. Read also won back-to-back 500cc titles in 1973 and 1974.
Phil Read raced for Norton, Yamaha, Gilera, Ducati, MV Agusta and Suzuki, but his greatest successes came aboard a Yamaha. Read was also very successful on the Isle of Man with eight victories out of fourteen entries. In 1965 he was the first ever Lightweight TT to lap at an average speed of over 100 mph. In 2013, Phil Read was inducted into the FIM Hall of Fame.
A short piece like this does a disgrace to the man’s career, of course. That’s why in the November issue of Motorcyclist and KickXstart an extensive article about the Prince of Speed.
#Seventime #world #champion #Phil #Read #passed #Motokicx