John Williams (motorcyclist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Williams |
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John Glen Williams (born May 27, 1946 – died August 12, 1978) was a famous English motorcycle racer. He competed in many races, including some big international events called Grands Prix. John often raced as a "privateer," which means he had his own sponsor, Gerald Brown, instead of being part of a big factory team. Sadly, John Williams passed away after a racing accident in Northern Ireland.
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John Williams' Racing Career
John Williams started his racing journey in 1966. By 1968, he won the Stars of Tomorrow race at Brands Hatch. He was riding a 250 cc Ducati Mach 1 motorcycle.
Becoming a Professional Racer
In 1973, John became a professional racer. That same year, he made history at the Ulster Grand Prix. He won three different races in one day: the 250 cc, 350 cc, and 500 cc classes! No one had ever done that before.
In 1974, he achieved another amazing feat. He won three classes at the North West 200 race. These were the 350 cc, 500 cc, and 750 cc races. He was the first rider to win three classes at this event too. John also raced for Honda in long-distance races, like the Bol d'Or.
Highlights of His Career
John's best year in the world championships was 1975. He finished fifth overall in the 500 cc world championship. He was riding a Yamaha motorcycle.
He won his only world championship race in 1976. This happened at the Belgian Grand Prix, where he beat another famous racer, Barry Sheene.
That same year, he almost won the Senior TT race. He set a new record for the fastest lap on the course, going 112.27 miles per hour! Even though he led the whole race, he ran out of fuel right before the finish line. He had to push his bike across the line and still finished seventh. Because of his great achievements, the Liverpool Echo newspaper named him Sports Personality of the Year for 1976.
Privateer Spirit
In 1977, John Williams was offered a spot on a big factory team, Texaco Heron Suzuki. But he decided to keep racing as a privateer. This means he preferred to race with his own team and sponsor. He also had some well-known disagreements with fellow racer Barry Sheene.
John was a very successful racer in Northern Ireland. He won the North West 200 race five times. He also won four races at the famous Isle of Man TT.
His Final Race
In 1978, John Williams won the 500 cc race at the Ulster Grand Prix. Sadly, later that day, he had an accident during another race. He passed away from his injuries. John lived in Heswall, a town in England.
The John Williams Trophy
The John Williams Trophy is a special award given every year at the Isle of Man TT Races. It is presented to the rider who completes the fastest lap in the Superbike TT race. This trophy helps keep John Williams' memory alive in the world of motorcycle racing.
