First two-stroke premier class winner passes away

A minute’s silence was held this morning at the Le Mans circuit in memory of Australian Jack Findlay, who passed away last night.

Findlay set several world championship landmarks in a distinguished career that spanned 21 years from 1958 to 1978.

He was the first rider to take a premier class victory on a two-stroke machine in the 1971 Ulster GP. And he was the first rider to claim victory on Michelin tyres and he also won Suzuki’s first 500cc race.

He won three premier class races including the 1972 Isle of Man TT, and his best championship finish came in 1968 when he finished second before he won the Formula 750 world championship in 1975. He eventually retired in 1978 at the age of 43 and remained a prominent figure in the MotoGP paddock, serving a period as Technical Director.

Findlay was 72, and is survived by his wife Dominique.