Phil Read

With a career spanning over 16 years, Phil Read made a place for himself in the history books of MotoGP with 52 Grand Prix wins and seven World Championship titles. Competing in four different classes, Read conquered them all, while competing with greats such as Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini and Barry Sheen.

In 1961 Read made his Grand Prix debut, appearing in a handful of races in the 125cc, 350cc and 500cc classes. He also won the Isle of Man TT 350cc race on a Norton machine. By the 1964 season, Read had won his first World Championship title, in the 250cc class, for Yamaha, a first for the manufacturer. He clinched the title after winning seven of nine 250cc Grands Prix and he finished in second position in the other two categories.

In 1966, Read was on a new four cylinder 250cc Yamaha, but had to give up the title to Mike Hailwood, riding for Honda. In the next season, though Read fought hard for it, the 1967 World Championship title once again went to his countryman Hailwood.

In 1968, Read came back into form and won the World Championship title in the 125cc class and followed it up with a title win in the 250cc class, a controversial move. Since he had already won top honors in the single cylinder category, his 250cc win was against his team mate Bill Ivy, which did not go down well with Yamaha.

Read did not receive any factory Yamaha support from that season onwards, and made only a few sporadic appearances in the World Championship. In 1971, even when major Japanese manufacturers were withdrawing from Grand Prix racing, Read returned to the 250cc class and reclaimed the World Championship title.

In 1972 he was signed up by MV Agusta for the 350cc class and for their 500cc class as well in the next season. Read won the premier class title in 1973 and 19741, and finished up as runner up to Giacomo Agostini in 1975, who was riding for Yamaha. In 1976 Phil Read retired from World Championship racing.