Difference between revisions of "Phil Read"

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|- style="text-align:center; background:#505050;"
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| colspan=2 style="padding:0; background:#333333; color:#fff; border-bottom:1px solid #999;" |[[Image:06-08-05-RupHoll-Phil Read -164.jpg|220px]]
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|- style="color:#fff; background:darkred; font-size:larger;"
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! colspan=2 |'''Phil Read'''
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|-
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|Nationality    ||  {{flagiconUK}} [[United Kingdom|British]]
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|-
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|Years          ||  [[1961 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1961]] - [[1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1976]]
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|-
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|Teams          ||  [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]], [[MV Agusta]]
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|-
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|Races          ||  113
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|-
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|Championships  ||  125cc - [[1968 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1968]]{{-}}250cc - [[1964 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1964]],[[1965 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1965]],[[1968 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1968]],[[1971 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1971]]{{-}}500cc- [[1973 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1973]], [[1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1974]]
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|-
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|Wins            ||  52
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|-
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|Podiums        ||  121
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|-
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|Points          || 
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|-
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|Poles          ||  5
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|-
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|Fastest laps    ||  1
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|-
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|First race      ||  [[1961 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1961]] 350cc [[Isle of Man TT]]
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|-
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|First win      ||  [[1961 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1961]] 350cc [[Isle of Man TT]]
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|-
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|Last win        ||  [[1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1975]] 500cc [[Czechoslovakian Grand Prix]]
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|-
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|Last race      ||  [[1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1976]] 500cc [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|Nations Grand Prix]]
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|}
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| colspan=2 style="padding:0; background:#333333; color:#fff; border-bottom:1px solid #999;" |
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|- style="color:#fff; background:darkred; font-size:larger;"
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! colspan=2 |'''Phil Read'''
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|-
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| Nicknames        ||  Readie, The Prince Of Speed
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|-
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| Nationality      ||  {{flagiconENG}} [[England|English]]
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|-
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| TTs Contested    ||  14 ([[1961 Isle of Man TT|1961]] - [[1973 Isle of Man TT|1973]], [[1977 Isle of Man TT|1977]])
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|-
 +
| TT wins          ||  8
 +
|-
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| First TT win      ||  [[1961 Isle of Man TT|1961 Junior TT]]
 +
|-
 +
| Last TT win      ||  [[1977 Isle of Man TT|1977 Senior TT]]
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|-
 +
| Podiums          ||  13
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|}
  
  
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'''Phil Read''' (born [[January 1]], [[1939]] in [[Luton]], [[England]]) is an English former [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Grand Prix]] [[motorcycle]] [[road racing|road racer]] nicknamed "the Prince of Speed." Although he would often be overshadowed by his contemporary, [[Mike Hailwood]], he would become the first man to win [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|world championships]] in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes.
+
'''Phillip William Read''' (born [[1 January]] [[1939]] in [[Luton]], [[England]]) is an English former [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Grand Prix]] [[motorcycle]] [[road racing|road racer]] nicknamed "The Prince of Speed." Although he would often be overshadowed by his contemporary, [[Mike Hailwood]], he would become the first man to win [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|world championships]] in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes.
 +
 
  
 
==Biography==
 
==Biography==
  
 
In 1964, he gave [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] their first world title when he won the 250cc class. He would repeat as champion the following year. For 1966, Yamaha would introduce a new, four cylinder 250cc bike. Teething problems with the new engine meant he would lose the crown to Hailwood. In [[1967 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1967]] he would battle Hailwood on his six-cylinder [[Honda]] all the way to the final round. They would end up tied but, Hailwood took the crown due to having five wins to Read's four.
 
In 1964, he gave [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] their first world title when he won the 250cc class. He would repeat as champion the following year. For 1966, Yamaha would introduce a new, four cylinder 250cc bike. Teething problems with the new engine meant he would lose the crown to Hailwood. In [[1967 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1967]] he would battle Hailwood on his six-cylinder [[Honda]] all the way to the final round. They would end up tied but, Hailwood took the crown due to having five wins to Read's four.
 +
[[File:Phil Read i.jpg|thumb|left|Phil Read i]]
 +
The [[1968 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1968]] season proved to be controversial for Read. The Yamaha factory had wanted Read to concentrate on winning the 125cc title and team-mate [[Bill Ivy]] to take the 250cc crown. After winning the 125cc championship, Read decided to disobey team orders and fight Ivy for the 250cc title. They finished the season tied in the points and Read was awarded the championship based on elapsed times. It was a costly decision as Yamaha would never offer him another ride.
  
−
The 1968 season proved to be controversial for Read. The Yamaha factory had wanted Read to concentrate on winning the 125cc title and team-mate Bill Ivy to take the 250cc crown. After winning the 125cc championship, Read decided to disobey team orders and fight Ivy for the 250cc title. They finished the season tied in the points and Read was awarded the championship based on elapsed times. It was a costly decision as Yamaha would never offer him another ride.
+
After sitting out most of the 1969 and 1970 seasons when the major Japanese factories all withdrew from Grand Prix racing, he returned in [[1971 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1971]] on an [[Eric Cheney]] modified privateer Yamaha with no factory support. On this bike he was able to claim his [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|fifth world championship]].
  
−
After sitting out most of the 1969 and 1970 seasons, he returned to Grand Prix racing in 1971 but, this time on a privateer Yamaha after his falling out with the factory. In spite of not having factory support, he was still able to claim his [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|fifth world championship]].
+
In [[1972 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1972]] he was given a ride with the [[MV Agusta]] team and in [[1973 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1973]], he took the 500cc world championship. He successfully defended his crown in [[1974 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1974]] in what would be the last world championship for the legendary Italian marque. It would also be the last time a [[four-stroke]] machine would win a title until the advent of the [[MotoGP]] class in 2002.
 +
[[File:Phil Read No 10 i.jpg|thumb|left|Phil Read No 10 i]]
 +
He would give Agostini's Yamaha a strong fight for the [[1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1975]] 500cc championship but finished in second place. Realizing the writing was on the wall for four-stroke machinery, he left the Italian company to campaign a privateer [[Suzuki]] in the [[1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1976]] season after which, he retired from Grand Prix racing. His last race was at the [[Isle of Man TT]] in 1982 at the age of 43. The [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] named him a Grand Prix "Legend" in [[2002]].
  
−
In [[1972 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1972]] he was given a ride with the [[MV Agusta]] team and in 1973, he took the 500cc world championship. He successfully defended his crown in 1974 in what would be the last world championship for the legendary Italian marque. It would also be the last time a [[four-stroke]] machine would win a title until the advent of the [[MotoGP]] class in 2002.
+
A less well-known aspect of Read's career was his involvement in endurance racing.  He rode a Honda in the 24-hour Bol d'Or endurance race at Le Mans; and he was involved in the 8-hour race at Thruxton.
  
−
He would give Agostini's Yamaha a strong fight for the [[1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1975]] 500cc championship but finished in second place. Realizing the writing was on the wall for four-stroke machinery, he left the Italian company to campaign a privateer [[Suzuki]] in the 1976 season after which, he retired from Grand Prix racing. His last race was at the [[Isle of Man TT]] in 1982 at the age of 43.
 
  
 
==Motorcycle Grand Prix results==
 
==Motorcycle Grand Prix results==
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Latest revision as of 22:19, 11 September 2009

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Phil Read
Nationality 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png British
Years 1961 - 1976
Teams Yamaha, MV Agusta
Races 113
Championships 125cc - 1968
250cc - 1964,1965,1968,1971
500cc- 1973, 1974
Wins 52
Podiums 121
Points
Poles 5
Fastest laps 1
First race 1961 350cc Isle of Man TT
First win 1961 350cc Isle of Man TT
Last win 1975 500cc Czechoslovakian Grand Prix
Last race 1976 500cc Nations Grand Prix
Phil Read
Nicknames Readie, The Prince Of Speed
Nationality 22px-Flag of the United Kingdom.png English
TTs Contested 14 (1961 - 1973, 1977)
TT wins 8
First TT win 1961 Junior TT
Last TT win 1977 Senior TT
Podiums 13


Phillip William Read (born 1 January 1939 in Luton, England) is an English former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer nicknamed "The Prince of Speed." Although he would often be overshadowed by his contemporary, Mike Hailwood, he would become the first man to win world championships in the 125cc, 250cc and 500cc classes.


Biography

In 1964, he gave Yamaha their first world title when he won the 250cc class. He would repeat as champion the following year. For 1966, Yamaha would introduce a new, four cylinder 250cc bike. Teething problems with the new engine meant he would lose the crown to Hailwood. In 1967 he would battle Hailwood on his six-cylinder Honda all the way to the final round. They would end up tied but, Hailwood took the crown due to having five wins to Read's four.

Phil Read i

The 1968 season proved to be controversial for Read. The Yamaha factory had wanted Read to concentrate on winning the 125cc title and team-mate Bill Ivy to take the 250cc crown. After winning the 125cc championship, Read decided to disobey team orders and fight Ivy for the 250cc title. They finished the season tied in the points and Read was awarded the championship based on elapsed times. It was a costly decision as Yamaha would never offer him another ride.

After sitting out most of the 1969 and 1970 seasons when the major Japanese factories all withdrew from Grand Prix racing, he returned in 1971 on an Eric Cheney modified privateer Yamaha with no factory support. On this bike he was able to claim his fifth world championship.

In 1972 he was given a ride with the MV Agusta team and in 1973, he took the 500cc world championship. He successfully defended his crown in 1974 in what would be the last world championship for the legendary Italian marque. It would also be the last time a four-stroke machine would win a title until the advent of the MotoGP class in 2002.

File:Phil Read No 10 i.jpg
Phil Read No 10 i

He would give Agostini's Yamaha a strong fight for the 1975 500cc championship but finished in second place. Realizing the writing was on the wall for four-stroke machinery, he left the Italian company to campaign a privateer Suzuki in the 1976 season after which, he retired from Grand Prix racing. His last race was at the Isle of Man TT in 1982 at the age of 43. The FIM named him a Grand Prix "Legend" in 2002.

A less well-known aspect of Read's career was his involvement in endurance racing. He rode a Honda in the 24-hour Bol d'Or endurance race at Le Mans; and he was involved in the 8-hour race at Thruxton.


Motorcycle Grand Prix results

Year Class Classification Machine Victories
1963 250cc 10th Yamaha 0
1964 125cc 8th Yamaha 0
1964 250cc 1st Yamaha 5
1964 350cc 6th AJS 0
1965 125cc 10th Yamaha 1
1965 250cc 1st Yamaha 7
1965 350cc 9th Yamaha 0
1966 125cc 4th Yamaha 1
1966 250cc 2nd Yamaha 0
1966 350cc 8th Yamaha 1
1967 125cc 2nd Yamaha 2
1967 250cc 2nd Yamaha 4
1968 125cc 1st Yamaha 6
1968 250cc 1st Yamaha 5
1969 250cc 13th Yamaha 1
1969 350cc 13th Yamaha 1
1971 250cc 1st Yamaha 3
1972 250cc 4th Yamaha 2
1972 350cc 5th MV Agusta 1
1973 350cc 3rd MV Agusta 0
1973 500cc 1st MV Agusta 4
1974 500cc 1st MV Agusta 4
1975 500cc 2nd MV Agusta 2
1976 500cc 10th Suzuki 0
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