The man regarded by many as the greatest-ever Grand Prix rider over the last last 75 years would have loved every minute of race day at Silverstone. A rider winning the MotoGP™ race wearing his replica helmet, a rare British winner in Moto2™ and just over half a second separating seven riders in a classic Moto3™ encounter. Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood would have approved.
This was such a special race day to celebrate 75 years of Grand Prix racing, and nobody would have appreciated it more than Mike Hailwood in his home country. A nine-time World Champion in 250, 350 and 500cc classes. A winner of 76 Grands Prix across the 125, 250, 350 and 500cc classes. Mike Hailwood, awarded the George Medal for extreme bravery, and Mike Hailwood aged 39-years-old returning to the TT on the Isle of Man to win for Ducati. You could go on and on. The winner of all classes at the British round of the World Championship around the Mountain circuit at the TT races in the Isle of Man. A rider who won three Grands Prix in one day at the Dutch TT in Assen. At the time, he was the youngest rider to win 250 and 500cc World titles, the youngest rider to win 250 and 500cc Grands Prix and the first rider to win four successive 500cc World titles.
He would so have appreciated the double by Enea Bastianini on the Lenovo Ducati. The Italian wearing with pride a replica Hailwood helmet delivered the comeback of all comebacks. Hailwood returning to the Isle of Man in 1978 and winning the main race on the F1 Ducati. Nineteen years earlier, Hailwood had won the very first Grand Prix of those 76, riding a Ducati to victory in the 125cc race at the Ulster Grand Prix.
In those days, British riders winning their home World Championship event at the TT was a common occurrence. When the British round switched to the permanent circuits at Silverstone and Donington, the winning habit disappeared down the same black hole as Grands Prix wins and World titles. Jake Dixon’s superb win in the Moto2™ race on Sunday was the first since Danny Kent won the Moto3™ race in 2015. Kent went on to win the World title. The last Moto2™ winner at Silverstone was Scott Redding two years earlier. Only one other British rider has won at Silverstone and Donington. Ian McConnachie winning the 80cc Grand Prix way back in 1986.
Hailwood would have loved being involved in that fantastic Moto3™ race on Sunday, with just over half a second separating the first seven riders. He won two 125cc Grands Prix for Ducati and Honda before moving onto the bigger classes.
Hailwood’s great strength, that stood him apart from most, was his ability to ride any machine on any type of circuit. He won Grands Prix in 125, 250, 350 and 500cc classes on Ducati, Honda, MZ, MV Agusta and Norton machinery. Those wins came on circuits as diverse as the Sachsenring and Isle of Man to Assen and Daytona.
Typically, he told nobody when he returned to the pits at Kyalami after pulling Clay Regazzoni from a burning car when they both crashed in the 1973 South African Formula One Grand Prix. Later he was awarded the George Medal for extreme bravery.
Tragically, Mike Hailwood and his daughter Michelle lost their lives in a road traffic accident in 1981. Not only did that fantastic day at Silverstone celebrate 75 years of Grand Prix racing but also the life of Mike Hailwood. Thank you Enea, Jake and those seven Moto3™ riders for giving us the opportunity to remember a true great of our sport but my own personal hero.
