Tom Phillis
Thomas Edward "Tom" Phillis (born April 9, 1931 in Sydney , Australia , † June 6, 1962 in Peel , Isle of Man ) was an Australian motorcycle racer .
In the 1961 season he won the first world championship title for Honda in the history of the motorcycle world championship in the 125 cc class .
Career
Tom Phillis made his debut in 1959 at the Ulster Grand Prix in the 350cc class on a Norton in the motorcycle world championship . In 1960 he achieved his first podium finish on a 250cc Honda at the Ulster Grand Prix with second place.
In the 1961 season , Tom Phillis competed for Honda in all 125cc and 250cc World Championship races and was able to celebrate the first Grand Prix victory in the history of the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer at the Spanish Grand Prix in the 125 cm³ class . Phillis achieved a total of six victories this year, in the eight-liter class he won the title just ahead of MZ pilot Ernst Degner from the GDR , in the 250 cc he was only beaten by Mike Hailwood and became vice world champion. The 125cc title win also represents the first world title for Honda in the history of the motorcycle world championship.
The following year, Tom Phillis had a fatal accident at the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man . In the second lap of the Junior TT , he fell in third place in the Laurel Bank section and succumbed to the consequences of the accident a short time later. The reigning 500 cc world champion Gary Hocking , a good friend of Phillis, then decided to end his motorcycle racing career immediately.
In his short career, Tom Phillis competed in 35 Grand Prix races, started at 29 and celebrated six wins and 20 podium finishes.
Statistics in the motorcycle world championship
| season | class | Result | machine | Victories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 350 cc | 13. | Norton | 0 |
| 1960 | 125 cc | - | Honda | 0 |
| 250 cc | 6th | Honda | 0 | |
| 500 cc | 11. | Norton | 0 | |
| 1961 | 125 cc | World Champion | Honda | 4th |
| 250 cc | 2. | Honda | 2 | |
| 500 cc | 12. | Norton | 0 | |
| 1962 | 50 cc | - | Honda | 0 |
| 125 cc | 13. | Honda | 0 | |
| 250 cc | 4th | Honda | 0 | |
| 350 cc | - | Honda | 0 |
Web links
- Tom Phillis on the official website of the Motorcycle World Championship (English).
- Tom Phillis on the Isle of Man TT official website.
- Phillis' entry at motorsportmemorial.org (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Phillis, Tom |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Phillis, Thomas Edward |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Australian motorcycle racer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 9, 1931 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sydney |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 6, 1962 |
| Place of death | Peel |