RIP Phil Read

[SoCal250]

7-time World Champion Phil Read has passed away.
He brought Yamaha it's first World Championship in 1964, and won world titles in 125cc, 250cc & 500cc classes.

https://www.cyclenews.com/2022/10/article/phil-read-motorcycle-grand-prix-legend-dies-at-83/
https://www.gpone.com/en/2022/10/06/motogp/godspeed-to-phil-read-the-prince-of-speed.html

[Evans Ward]

RIP to a Yamaha racing icon/ legend.

[Seizer]

The checkered flag waves for us all, eventually. A true Moto Racing Legend. R. I. P. Sir Read.

[Redbird]

Godspeed Mr Reed.

[SoCal250]

The reason why he switched over to 4-strokes in the early 70s after leaving the Yamaha team at the end of the '68 season is kind of interesting. It seems to be the result of a combination of events; his going against team orders and beating out teammate Bill Ivey for the 1968 250cc title, and the fact that the Japanese factory teams pulled back their racing efforts in the following season. He wasn't signed again by Yamaha so he went to MV Agusta.
He had 8 TT wins as well.

[peaky]

Bill Ivey was the man. Read became an outcast in British racing circles for what he did. People cheered for Hailwood in 78 both for the comeback and for the fact that he drove Read into the ground.

I'm sure the 3 are having a fun time sorting it all out now.