Jack Findlay

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John Cyril "Jack" Findlay (born February 5, 1935 in Shepparton , Australia , † May 19, 2007 in Cannes , France ) was an Australian motorcycle racer . He is considered to be one of the most successful private riders in the history of the motorcycle world championship .

Career

Jack Findlay started in a motorcycle cross race at the age of 15. Since he was actually too young for that, he took his father's name. He worked in a bank until 1957 when he went to the UK to make a living as a racing driver. Findlay initially worked for BSA and Dunlop in racing technology, in 1959 he started for the first time at the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man . At this time he met his long-time friend Nanou Lyonnard, who accompanied him until 1978.

Findlay started in the following years on different motorcycles in different displacement classes. 1966 he was able to attract international attention when he on a 500 cc - Matchless in the World Cup overall ranking third behind Giacomo Agostini and Mike Hailwood was. In 1968 Findlay, also on Matchless, finished second behind Agostini. He chose Italy as his place of residence in the early 1970s. In 1971 he was able to win the 500 World Championship at the Ulster Grand Prix on a Suzuki TR 500 . This success was the first victory for Suzuki and at the same time the first of a two-stroke in the history of the world championship in the 500 cc class. In the 1971 season Findlay was fifth in the World Cup. In 1973 he received a works contract from Suzuki and he managed to win the Isle of Man TT. He also drove for Suzuki in 1974 , but lost his works contract to Barry Sheene in 1975 .

In 1975 , however, Jack Findlay was able to prevail against Sheene in the Formula 750 European Championship on a private Yamaha. In 1977 he was able to book another 500 cc Grand Prix victory on the Salzburgring , again on a Suzuki . In the same year, the Australian had a bad crash and finally ended his racing career in 1978. After his recovery and separation from his girlfriend Nanou, Findlay moved to Vaucresson and worked as a test driver for the French manufacturer Michelin in tire development. He married the widow of Georges Monneret , Dominique Monneret.

In 1987, Jack Findlay suffered an accident and stopped working as a test driver. In 1992 he was hired by FIM as Technical Director. He held this post until 2001.

Findlay died of emphysema in the spring of 2007 . In his hometown a park with a memorial has been set up in his honor.

successes

swell

  • Motorcycle Classic 6/2007

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Findlay, Jack
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Findlay, John Cyril
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Australian motorcycle racer
DATE OF BIRTH February 5, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH Shepparton
DATE OF DEATH May 19, 2007
Place of death Cannes