South African riders in Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s elite class
by James Richardson from https://www.thesouthafrican.com/ Later this month Brad Binder will become the fifth South African rider in the history Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s elite class, here we look at those that went before. Formerly classified as the 500cc class before it was transformed to MotoGP, Grand Prix motorcycle racing has not been an environment inhabited by South Africans very often. Before 2020, just four South African riders had made it into the elite class with all three competing during the 500cc era. SA riders in Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s elite class Here we will only look at riders who have reached either the 500cc class or MotoGP. 1 Paddy Driver The first South African to reach the premier class, Driver competed on the Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuit from 1959 to 1965. His best result came in his final year on the circuit when he rode a Matchless to a third-place finish in the 500cc world championship behind Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini. Having lined up in two Formula One Grand Prix Driver is part of a very small club of men who have raced in both the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship and Formula One. That group also includes legends John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Johnny Cecotto. 2 Alan North North made his Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the elite class when in the 1975 season riding for Yamaha. The Durban-born racer spent three seasons in the 500cc class scoring nine world championship points in that time. He won his only Grand Prix race in 1977 when he claimed the 350 cc 1977 Nations Grand Prix at Imola 3 Jon Ekerold Jon Ekerold RG500 Suzuki 1982 Senior TT pic.twitter.com/dw8eaHEcc6 — Chris_R_Philpott (@christyphilpot1) September 27, 2018 SA riders in Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s elite class Prior to Brad Binder’s […]
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