Scottish newspaper The Bulletin reported in 1956 that Geoff Duke’s six month racing suspension had been upheld.
The ban was imposed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) at the start of 1956 after he and Gilera teammate, Reg Armstrong, supported the threat of a rider’s strike at the 1955 Dutch TT at Assen where, in spite of huge crowds in excess of 100,000 fans, the organizers paid the hard-pressed privateers a pittance in start money.
Although a new regulation came into effect at the end of the season compelling organizers to pay riders a much higher cash sum than before, Geoff’s reward was to be suspended from racing for the first half of the following season, leaving him unable to defend his 500cc world title or his Senior TT title at the Isle of Man (the TT still being part of the Grand Prix calendar back then).
Geoff, on his way to winning the 1955 TT
Imagine the FIM suspending Jorge Martin or Marc Marquez for such a reason today. There’d be rioting in Spain!