Born this day in St Helens, England, in 1923, Geoff Duke became a star of motorcycle racing in the 1950’s. His success began in 1949 with a second place in the Junior class of the Manx Grand Prix (after fallng off an remounting) and wins in the Senior race and the Senior Clubman’s TT.
In 1950, he signed up with the Norton works team to compete in both the 350cc and 500cc classes.in the F.I.M. World Championship. The TT race was still a round of the series back then. Geoff managed a second place on his 350cc machine for the Junior category and won the Senior TT on his 500cc Norton.
Although he won three of the six top class races that year, two retirements, at Spa and Assen, meant he came second in the championship. Despite being on the podium at every race he also came second in the 350cc class.
Duke’s most successful year came in 1951. On the 350cc Norton he won every race except two, when he retired. A further four wins in the 500cc class secured him both world championships and Sportsman of the Year.
Geoff did much for the perception of motorcycling, being a well-spoken, charming, and immaculately dressed chap at a time when bikes tended to be associated with uncouth, leather-clad ne’er-do-wells.
Geoff won the 350cc championship the following year before switching from Norton the Italian Gllera. That worked out pretty well as he won three consecutive championships on the 500cc machine, making Duke a six time World Champion overall, winning over half the races he entered, and a household name.
He is also credited with being the first rider to race in one-piece leathers, made at his request by his local tailor.
In 1953, Duke was awarded the OBE “for services to British Motor-Cycle racing.”
Duke retired from racing in 1959, dabbling briefly in F1, forming a racing team in 1963, and was instrumental in setting up the 1965 International Six Days Trial course on the IoM in 1965. So keeping busy, then.
MotoGP inducted him in to their Hall of Fame in 2002.
Gentleman Geoff died on 1st May 2015, aged 92.
