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Jack Findlay

Jack Findlay
Jack Findlay cropped.JPG
Findlay circa 1973/74 working on a Suzuki TR500 watercooled twin
Nationality Australian
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years 1958 - 1978
First race 1958 500cc German Grand Prix
Last race 1978 500cc West German Grand Prix
First win 1971 500cc Ulster Grand Prix
Last win 1977 500cc Austrian Grand Prix
Team(s) Suzuki
Championships 1975 - Formula 750
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
156 3 25 1 1

Cyril John Findlay (5 February 1935 – 19 May 2007) was an Australian former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is noted for having one of the longest racing careers in Grand Prix history spanning 20 years. He competed at the highest level despite racing as a privateer - that is, not as a contracted member of a factory team - throughout most of his racing career.

Findlay was born in Mooroopna, Victoria, roughly 120 miles north of Melbourne. He began racing aged 15, two years under age, taking the name "Jack" so he could use the identification documents of his father, John 'Jock' Findlay, a Scottish immigrant to Australia. After leaving school, he worked as a trainee accountant at Commonwealth Bank of Australia until 1957.

He moved to England in 1958 to race, got a job at the BSA factory in Birmingham, and joined the Grand Prix circuit with a 350cc Norton Manx. He competed in his first Isle of Man TT in 1959. He competed on the Grand Prix circuit from 1958 to 1978.

His best championship result was in 1968 when he rode a Matchless to finish second behind Giacomo Agostini in the 500cc class. In 1971 he won his first race for Suzuki at the Ulster Grand Prix. It was also Suzuki's first 500cc Grand Prix victory. His greatest victory came in 1973 when he won the Isle of Man Senior TT after 15 years of trying. He rode Suzuki TR500s in 1973 and 1974. In 1974, he was a member of the Suzuki factory racing team and helped develop the RG500, with Barry Sheene and Paul Smart. In 1975, he defeated Barry Sheene for the Formula 750 championship. An accident that fractured his skull curtailed his racing career, and he retired in 1978. A further high-speed accident in 1987 stopped him riding motorcycles.


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