The [Motorcycle World Championships were first held in 1949, a year before the beginning of Formula One World Championship. Leslie Graham DFC was the first winner of the prestigious 500cc class riding an AJS Porcupine.
By 1953 he had been approached by Count Domenico Agusta ride his MV Agusta machine. The bike was a notorious handful on the track however, Les brought it under control to win MV’s first 500cc Grand Prix at Monza in 1952.
The start of the 1953 Grand Prix season saw Les tipped to win the 500cc championship again. However, on this day during the Senior TT he lost control of his bike at high speed as he took the rise after the bottom of Bray Hill, and was killed instantly. The crash was caused by the bike’s forks getting jammed on full compression. The TT is a cruel mistress.
A commemorative Graham Memorial shelter was built on the Snaefell mountain road in 1955.
