Tributes to race great Geoff Duke
By TMX Archives on 6th May 15
Six-time world road racing champion Geoff Duke OBE died last Friday in an Isle of Man nursing home at the age of 92. He had suffered failing health for several years.
He was one of Britain's best-known sportsmen of his generation, primarily down to his achievements in road racing where he represented Norton and Gilera with distinction.
When he first became a double 350cc/500cc world champion in 1951 he was voted Britain's Sportsman of the Year and two years later was honoured with an OBE.
Geoff was also an extremely good off-road rider, finishing as runner-up in the 1947 Scott Trial on a BSA B32 and won the 350cc class of the West of England national the same year.
In August 1948 the St Helens-born ace represented Great Britain in the Motocross des Nations in Belgium. Norton-mounted, he finished fourth overall.
Later the same month he made his road racing debut on the Mountain Course in the Manx Grand Prix before returning to his off-road roots to win the Northern Experts Trial in December.
As his road racing career began to flourish in the early 1950s he continued to ride off-road at a high standard in the UK, taking time out to ride a Norton in the DK Mansell Trial in 1952 and 1953. Incredibly, he was also racing works Aston Martin cars during the same period.
Having retained the 350cc world title in 1952 he controversially switched to the Italian Gilera team in 1953 and regained the 500cc crown.
He won the title three years in succession – it would have been four but for a ban in 1956 when he supported a riders' strike to secure better start money for the GP privateers.
He retired from GP racing in 1959 having etched his name in motorsport history as one of the greatest motorcycle road racers of all-time. Included in that period were six TT wins.
Having married a Manx woman, Pat Reid, in 1951 the pair made the Isle of Man their home a couple of years later and in 1958 took over the running of a popular country hotel named Arragon, three miles from Douglas.
His interest in off-road motorcycling continued and during his years as a hotelier he invited many top-line motocross riders, notably Jeff Smith, to the island in the winter months to take part in local events.
Geoff was president and latterly patron of Ramsey Motor Cycle Club and was clerk of the course for the 1965 International Six Days Trial staged in the Isle of Man.
Both of his sons, Peter and Michael, competed off-road.
Always highly respected, Geoff will be remembered for his bravery and outstanding ability on a motorcycle together with his mild-mannered personality, charm and approachability. He will be sadly missed.
