Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing

Motorcycle "Grand Prix" Racing didn't start until 1949, that's not to say it didn't exist before that, it just had a different name, much like current Formula One car racing, It started in 1950, Of course before that it was Grand Prix racing and dated back to about the dawn of the automobile.

I was looking through European Bike racing to see how the Americans did, well for the most part they didn't. As a matter of fact until 1953 they didn't even show up and then they only competed in one European race, that being the Isle of Mann.

Here is a quick run down:

1953 Isle of Mann  Nick Nicholson took his Norton to 18th in the race.

Then between 53 and 57 no one crossed the pond to compete.

1957 Isle of Mann  Andy Aharonian on his BSA retired.
1958 Isle of Mann  John Marcotte took his AJS to 40th
1959 Isle of Mann  Eddie Labelle  finished 20th on a BMW
             and           Ralph Fox retired with an AJS

1960 Allen Krupa on a Norton competed in both the Isle of Mann race and the German GP finishing 34th
         and 13th respectfully. These two finished placed him 41st in the Championship.

1961 Isle of Mann  Fred Chase on a Norton Retired

1963 Stan Brassley finished 38th and Robert Knott finished 39th at the Ilse of Mann on Nortons, placing
          them at 80th and 81st in the Championship.
         William Sharp on a BSA competed in the Belgium race that year but retired.


1964 threw me at first, I thought the Americans had discovered European racing and all jumped on the boat, 
         then I noticed the race was held in America. No less than 19 Americans competed in their home race.

Buddy Parriott       Norton       finished 6th       23rd in Championship
George Rockett     BMW        finished 7th       
Ed Labelle             Norton       finished 8th       34th in Championship
Brian Davis            AJS           finished 9th       40th in Championship
Paul Whitaker        Norton       finished 11th
Joe Tillman            BSA           finished 12th
Peter Bosarge       Honda         retired
Stan Brassley        Norton        retired                    Also competed at Isle of Mann   retired
Wester Cooley      Norton        retired
Jeff Hoff                Honda         retired
Kurt Leibermann   BMW          retired
John Mclaughlin     Norton        retired
Tony Murphy        Honda         retired
John Nash             Triumph       retired
Fred Simone          BMW         retired
Tom Stuart            BMW         retired
Scott Williams       Matchless    retired

That same year Anthony Woodman took his bike to Europe for the East German GP (DDR)   retired


klay