1971 Isle of Man TT

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The 1971 Isle of Man TT was a motorcycle event held on 12 June 1971, on the 37-mile Snaefell Mountain course on the Isle of Man between Great Britain and Ireland. It was the third round of the F.I.M. 1971 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season (now MotoGP).

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The unbelievable happened in 1971 - Agostini's MV broke down on the first lap of the Junior. The crowd cheered when it was announced that the Italian had stopped at Ramsey with engine problems. His demise produced a dramatic race in which many of the favourites either crashed or broke down.

Yamaha's Phil Read led Alan Barnett, Rod Gould and Dudley Robinson at the end of the first lap. Gould then crashed at Quarterbridge, but continued. On lap three Barnett came off at Glen Helen, and a lap later Read retired with chassis problems. With one lap to go Robinson led Yorkshireman Tony Jefferies, riding a Yamsel, but he crashed at Rhencullen, so Jefferies came home with 37 seconds to spare from newcomers Gordon Pantall, with Bill Smith third.

Agostini had no such problems in the Senior, which was postponed by a day because of bad weather. Despite spending nearly two minutes in the pits to rectify carburation problems, he won comfortably from Peter Williams (Arter Matchless) and Frank Perris on a Suzuki.

The Yamaha twins dominated the 250cc race, which was reduced to four laps. Phil Read led all the way when his main challenger Peter Williams's MZ expired at the end of the first lap. Barry Randle and Alan Barnett completed a Yamaha clean sweep.

Barry Sheene made his one and only TT appearance in the 125cc race, but slipped off his Suzuki at Quarterbridge on the second lap while lying second in appalling conditions. The race was won by Chas Mortimer, riding a Yamaha, at the slowest 125cc average on the Mountain Course since 1953.

A new three-lap Formula 750 race was introduced to provide a class to accommodate the popular British 750cc racing machines. Tony Jefferies led throughout on a works Triumph after a splendid battle with the BSA of Ray Pickrell and the Norton of Peter Williams.

Pickrell gained revenge in the 750cc class of the Production race. Riding a Triumph, he was involved in a tremendous duel with Williams until the Norton stopped on the third lap at the Bungalow. Pickrell was a comfortable winner from Jefferies and the BSA of Bob Heath. John Williams and Bill Smith brought Honda success in both the 500 and 250cc classes with dominant victories.

Siggi Schauzu won his fifth TT after a superb duel with BMW teammate George Auerbacher in the World Championship sidecar race. Earlier in the week Auerbacher had secured his first TT victory in the 750cc sidecar event after ten years of trying. Schauzu broke the lap record from a standing start but dropped out on the second lap. [1]

1971 Isle of Man Lightweight TT 125cc final standings

3 Laps (113.00 Miles) Mountain Course.

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachineSpeedTimePoints
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chas Mortimer United Kingdom Yamaha 83.91 mph1:20.54.015
2 Flag of Sweden.svg Börje Jansson Sweden Maico 81.83 mph1:23.43.612
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John KiddieUnited Kingdom Honda 76.14 mph1:29.12.210
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter CourtneyUnited KingdomYamaha75.92 mph1:29.28.28
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nev WattsUnited KingdomHonda75.70 mph1:29.43.66
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg C.WardUnited KingdomMaico74.14 mph1:30.23.65
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg F.C. SmartUnited KingdomHonda74.96 mph1.30.36.64
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lindsay PorterUnited KingdomHonda73.99 mph1.31.48.23
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bill RaeUnited KingdomMaico73.19 mph1.32.48.42
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John PearsonUnited Kingdom Bultaco 72.97 mph1.33.05.01
DNF Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Barry Sheene United Kingdom Suzuki

1971 Isle of Man Lightweight TT 250cc final standings

4 Laps (150.92 Miles) Mountain Course.

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachineSpeedTimePoints
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Phil Read Britain Yamaha 98.02 mph1:32.23.315
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Barry Randle Britain Yamaha93.75 mph1:34.27.612
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Barnett Britain Yamaha95.09 mph1:35.02.010
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rod Gould Britain Yamaha95.09 mph1:35.14.08
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bill Henderson Britain Yamaha94.32 mph1:36.01.26
6 Flag of Switzerland.svg Gyula Marsovsky SwitzerlandYamaha94.04 mph1:36.18.05
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter BerwickUnited KingdomYamaha93.65 mph1:36.42.64
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ian RichardsUnited KingdomYamaha93.47 mph1:36.53.43
9 Flag of Sweden.svg Börje Jansson SwedenYamasaki93.39 mph1:36.50.02
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon PantallUnited KingdomYamaha93.35 mph1:37.00.81

1971 Isle of Man Junior TT 350cc final standings

5 Laps (188.65 Miles) Mountain Course.

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachineSpeedTimePoints
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Jefferies United Kingdom Yamsel 89.81 mph2:05.48.615
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon PantallUnited Kingdom Yamaha 89.55 mph2:06.25.012
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bill Smith United Kingdom Honda 89.81 mph2:07.40.810
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Williams United Kingdom AJS 88.94 mph2:07.17.08
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mick Chatterton United KingdomYamaha87.38 mph2:09.33.66
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gerry MateerUnited Kingdom Aermacchi 87.18 mph2:09.51.85
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mick Grant United KingdomYamaha86.50 mph2:28.30.64
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Billy GuthrieUnited KingdomYamaha86.31 mph2:11.09.03
9 Flag of East Germany.svg Günter Bartusch East Germany MZ 86.15 mph2:11.24.22
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter BerwickUnited Kingdom Suzuki 85.90 mph2:11.47.21

1971 Isle of Man Senior TT 500cc final standings

6 Laps (236.38 Miles) Mountain Course.

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachineSpeedTimePoints
1 Flag of Italy.svg Giacomo Agostini Italy MV Agusta 102.49 mph2:12.24.415
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Williams United Kingdom Matchless 98.40 mph2:18.03.012
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Frank Perris United Kingdom Suzuki 96.51 mph2:20.45.410
4 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Selwyn Griffiths United KingdomMatchless95.03 mph2:22.57.48
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon PantallUnited Kingdom Kawasaki 95.02 mph2:22.57.66
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roger SutcliffeUnited KingdomMatchless94.38 mph2:23.56.25
7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Keith Turner New ZealandSuzuki94.08 mph2:24.23.24
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charlie SanbyUnited Kingdom Seeley 93.04 mph2:26.00.83
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom DickieUnited KingdomMatchless92.82 mph2:26.21.22
10 Flag of Germany.svg Hans-Otto ButenuthGermany BMW 92.81 mph2:26.21.81

1971 Isle of Man Sidecar 500cc TT final standings

3 Laps (113.00 Miles) Mountain Course.

PlaceRiderNumberCountryMachineSpeedTimePoints
1 Flag of Germany.svg Siegfried Schauzu/W.Kalauch West Germany BMW86.21 mph1:18.47.615
2 Flag of Germany.svg Georg Auerbacher/H.Hahn West Germany BMW86.10 mph1:18.53.212
3 Flag of Germany.svg Arsenius Butscher/J.Huber West Germany BMW81.31 mph1:23.32.610
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Gawley/G.AlcockUnited KingdomYamaha80.22 mph1:24.40.88
5 Flag of Germany.svg Richard Wegener/A.Heinrichs West Germany BMW80.15 mph1:24.44.66
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Vincent/M.CaseyUnited Kingdom BSA 79.19 mph1:25.40.65
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dick Hawes & J.P.MannUnited KingdomSeely76.37 mph1:28.56.24
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robin Williams & Jack McPhersonUnited Kingdom Triumph 75.47 mph1:30.00.63
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J.Mines & G.DavisUnited Kingdom Matchless 75.25 mph1:30.46.02
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Brown & F.HoldenUnited KingdomBSA74.62 mph1:31.01.81

Non-championship races

1971 Isle of Man Production 750 cc TT final standings

3 Laps (113.00 Miles) Mountain Course.

RankRiderTeamSpeedTime
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ray Pickrell Triumph 100.07 mph1:30.30.2
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Jefferies Triumph98.38 mph1:30.03.0
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bob Heath BSA 97.08 mph1:33.17.4
4 Flag of Germany.svg Hans-Otto Butenuth BMW 93.75 mph1:36.36.0
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David NixonTriumph93.02 mph1:37.21.0
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg B.J.Clark Norton 92.97 mph1:37.24.6
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom DickieBMW91.08 mph1:39.26.0
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Keith HecklesNorton86.11 mph1:45.10.8
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony AndersonBMW85.81 mph1:45.32.0
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Darvill Honda 80.51 mph1:52.29.4

1971 Isle of Man Production 500 cc TT final standings

3 Laps (113.00 Miles) Mountain Course.

RankRiderTeamSpeedTime
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Williams Honda 91.04 mph1:39.28.8
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham PennyHonda89.09 mph1:41.39.6
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg A.T.Cooper Suzuki 86.63 mph1:44.32.8
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham BaileySuzuki86.42 mph1:44.47.8
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom LoughridgeSuzuki85.34 mph1:46.07.4
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Martyn AshwoodSuzuki85.34 mph1:46.07.6
7 Flag of the Isle of Man.svg Danny ShimminSuzuki84.39 mph1:47.21.6
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg P.JonesSuzuki81.67 mph1:50.53.2
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bill Milne Kawasaki 80.55 mph1:52.26.0

1971 Isle of Man Sidecar 750cc TT final standings

3 Laps (113.00 Miles) Mountain Course.

RankRiderTeamSpeedTime
1 Flag of Germany.svg Georg Auerbacher/H.HahnBMW86.86 mph1.18.12.0
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg A.J.Samson/D.A.Jose Triumph 82.50 mph1.22.20.2
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg R.Williamson/J.McPhersonWeslake82.25 mph1.23.50.0
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg R.Woodhouse/D.Woodhouse Honda 81.91 mph1.22.55.0
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg D.Wood/D.Coomber Norton 81.19 mph1.23.39.8
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg D.Plummer/M.BrettTriumph80.77 mph1.24.05.6
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg B.Currie/M.ScottTriumph80.60 mph1.24.16.2
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg M.Potter/P.J.BurleighBSA80.18 mph1.24.43.4
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg D.Hawes/J.P.MannSeeley80.09 mph1.24.48.6
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg A.Methersill/M.MitchinsonAMS79.52 mph1.25.24.8

1971 Isle of Man Production 250 cc TT final standings

3 Laps (113.00 Miles) Mountain Course.

RankRiderTeamSpeedTime
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bill Smith Honda 84.14 mph1:47.43.6
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charlie Williams Yamaha 84.04 mph1:47.52.0
3 Ulster Banner.svg Tommy Robb Honda82.49 mph1:49.47.6
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter BerwickSuzuki81.27 mph1:51.26.4
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon DanielsSuzuki81.09 mph1:51.41.4
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lindsay PorterSuzuki79.14 mph1:54.26.6
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy SimmonsSuzuki76.53 mph1:58.20.0
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Evans Montesa 74.44 mph2:01.20.8
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bill BarkerHonda72.25 mph2:05.21.0

1971 Isle of Man Formula 1 750 cc TT final standings

3 Laps (113.00 Miles) Mountain Course.

RankRiderTeamSpeedTime
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Jefferies Triumph 102.85 mph1:06.02.0
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ray Pickrell BSA 102.81 mph1:06.28.0
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Williams Norton 101.22 mph1:07.06.2
4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg B.J.Clark Yamaha 96.76 mph1:10.12.0
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dudley P.RobinsonYamaha96.39 mph1:10.28.2
6 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David NixonTriumph95.64 mph1:11.01.0
7 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bill Smith Kawasaki 95.37 mph1:11.13.2
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Dickie BMW 92.38 mph1:13.31.4
9 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Darvill Honda 85.81 mph1:13.44.6
10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charlie DobsonNorton91.67 mph1:14.06.0

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References

  1. Source: www.iomtt.com