Bill Ivy
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| Grand Prix Career | |
| Nationality |  British |
|---|---|
| Active years | 1965 - 1969 |
| Team(s) | Yamaha, Jawa |
| Grands Prix | 46 |
| Championships | 125cc - 1967 |
| Wins | 21 |
| Podium finishes | 42 |
| Pole positions | N/A |
| Fastest laps | N/A |
| First Grand Prix | 1965 125cc Dutch TT |
| First win | 1966 125cc Spanish Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1968 125cc Nations Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1969 350cc East German Grand Prix |
William David (Bill) Ivy (27 August 1942–July 12, 1969) was a British Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Maidstone, Kent.
Ivy started racing motorbikes at Brands Hatch in 1959.[1] His first races in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship came towards the end of 1965, where he finished fourth in two 125 cc races and third in a 250 cc race. In 1966, he raced for the works Yamaha team. He won the first race of the year at the Montjuich Circuit in Spain, and took three more wins. However this was not enough to beat the Swiss rider Luigi Taveri, who beat Ivy to the title by six points.
1967 saw Ivy dominate the 125 cc championship. Out of twelve races, he won eight to claim the World Championship by 16 points from Phil Read. On top of this, he won two 250 cc races in France and Belgium.
In 1968, Ivy and his team mate Phil Read were in control of the 125 and 250 cc championships. Yamaha ordered them to win one title each, with Ivy scheduled to win the 250 cc championship, and Read the 125 cc championship.[1] After securing the 125 cc title, Read ignored Yamaha's orders to tie with Ivy on points. The tie break was decided on overall race times, and Read took the title. Ivy announced his retirement from motorcycle racing, stating that he would race Formula Two cars during the next season.
Despite announcing his retirement the previous year, Ivy returned to motorcycle racing in 1969, racing a 350 cc motorcycle for Jawa Motors. The season started promisingly, as he took two second places behind Giacomo Agostini. During practice for the fifth race in East Germany, his motorcycle's engine seized[2], and Ivy was thrown from the bike. He sustained massive head injuries and died in hospital.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Bill Ivy - motorcycle GP rider tribute. ozebook.com. Retrieved on November 15, 2007.
- ^ The year 1969. Racing Memory (French language). Retrieved on November 15, 2007.
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