Jack Findlay

Cyril John "Jack" Findlay ( born February 5, 1935 in Shepparton, Australia, † 19 May, 2007 Cannes, France) was an Australian motorcycle racer. He is considered one of the most successful privateer in the history of the motorcycle world championship.

Career

Jack Findlay started at the age of 15 years for the first time in a motorcycle cross race. Since he was actually too young for that, he took the name of his father. He worked until 1957 in a bank and then went to Britain to earn his living as a racing driver. Findlay first worked for BSA and Dunlop in the racing technology, in 1959, he started for the first time at the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man. At this time he met his longtime girlfriend Nanou Lyonnard know which accompanied him until 1978.

Findlay launched in subsequent years on different bikes in a variety of size classes. In 1966 he was able to attract international attention when he was on a 500 cc Matchless in the World Cup Ranking third behind Giacomo Agostini and Mike Hailwood. 1968 ranked Findlay, also on Matchless, the second world, behind Agostini. He chose the early 1970s, Italy to live. In 1971 he was able to win the 500 run to the 500cc World Championship at the Ulster Grand Prix on a Suzuki TR. This success was the first win for Suzuki and also the first of a two-stroke engine in the World Cup history in the 500 cc class. In the season 1971 Findlay fifth in the World Cup. In 1973 he received a contract for work by Suzuki and managed to win him the Isle of Man TT. Also in 1974 he rode for Suzuki, lost his contract for 1975 but to Barry Sheene.

However, in 1975, Jack Findlay was able to prevail in the Formula 750 Championship on a private Yamaha against Sheene. In 1977 he was again posted to Suzuki, on the Salzburg ring another 500 cc Grand Prix victory. In the same year, the Australian crashed heavily and eventually ended his racing career in 1978. After his recovery and separation from his girlfriend Nanou Findlay moved to Vaucresson and worked as a test driver for the French manufacturer Michelin in the tire development. He married the widow of Georges Monneret, Dominique Monneret.

1987 Jack Findlay suffered an accident and ended his activity as a test driver. He was taken by the FIM Technical Director under contract 2001. A post he held until 2001.

Findlay died in the spring of 2007 from emphysema. He is a park with a monument erected in his hometown of honor.

Swell

• Motorcycle Classic 6/2007