The passing today of one of motorcyclings greats. Lancastrian Duke was a dominating figure in the fifties on the GP circuit as well as the Isle of Man TT. No better picture of him that taking a Manx Norton at speed in front of s cheering crowd.
1923-2015
Very sad, but 92 is a tremendous age by anybody’s standards.
He was a very great racer and champion.. easily the best of the time he was at his peak.
I have always thought that the FIM ban was his undoing because he never seemed to hit top form again.. and that was a real shame.
The ban was a vindictive disgrace, a berluddy outrage.. forced on the weak FIM by the circuit owners who were coining cash in but did not want to pay a living fee or wage to the privateer riders who made up the field in each race.
Today.. in an era where the press would geld them.. they would not dare behave in such a manner.
I met him or was in his company many times [ years ago]. Not an easy man to get to know or like even.
One could say dry, stiff, wooden.. other than the niceties of introduction etc everything else was hard work.
So NOT Stanley Woods.. now there was fun.!
Enjoy your WE
WF
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