Tommy Robb (motorcyclist)

Last updated

Tommy Robb
Nationality Northern Ireland
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years 1957 - 1959, 1961 - 1973
First race 1957 250cc Ulster Grand Prix
Last race 1973 125cc Isle of Man TT
First win 1962 250cc Ulster Grand Prix
Last win 1973 125cc Isle of Man TT
Team(s) Honda
StartsWinsPodiums Poles F. laps Points
8832802368

Tommy Robb (born 14 October 1934) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Northern Ireland.

Contents

Robb began riding in trials and scrambles during 1950. His first event was a road time-trial riding a 197 cc James. He then competed on Irish grasstracks, winning six national titles and a 25-mile sand race between 1954 and 1956, before turning to short circuits on tarmac and road-racing. His first road race was at Lurgan Park, outside of Belfast, in 1957 riding a 197 HJH. He was noticed by Belfast sponsor Terry Hill, himself a trials rider, who provided a 173  MV and a 250 cc NSU Sportmax for 1957 and 1958 with Robb finishing third in the 1957 Ulster Grand Prix and second in the 1958 race. [1] [2]

Robb was then sponsored by tuners Geoff Monty and his business partner Allen Dudley-Ward until joining the works Honda team from 1962, [1] winning his first world championship race in the 1962 250 class at the Ulster Grand Prix with two further wins at the inaugural Japanese Grand Prix in Tokyo. [1]

Robb during practice for the 1962 Dutch TT. Training TT-races op circuit Assen , L Taveri en T Robb, Bestanddeelnr 914-0761.jpg
Robb during practice for the 1962 Dutch TT.

In the 1962 season, Robb became one of the first non-Japanese riders hired by the Honda factory racing team. He enjoyed his greatest success with Honda, finishing second to his teammate, Jim Redman, in the 1962 350 world championship. [3]

In 1973, he won the Lightweight 125 TT at the Isle of Man TT races, aboard a Yamaha. [4] He was also a five-time winner of the North West 200 race in Northern Ireland.

Towards the end of his competitive riding, Robb established a road-race school in conjunction with former Motor Cycle magazine journalist and retail motorcycle shop owner David Dixon, using Yoshimura-equipped CB250, and CB450 Hondas, with Dixon being the UK importer and distributor of Yoshimura tuning equipment. [5] [6]

Trivia

In 1964, Robb's daughter Corienne won the annual Miss Pears competition - a year's modelling and a cash prize. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Motor Cycle, 28 February 1963, p. 262 Dashing Irishman Accessed and added 2014-09-20
  2. ↑ Motor Cycle, 3 February 1966, p. 157 Help Club Accessed and added 2015-09-04
  3. ↑ Tommy Robb career statistics at the MotoGP Homepage
  4. ↑ "Tommy Robb - Competitors - iomtt.com: The World's #1 TT Website". www.iomtt.com.
  5. ↑ Bennetts, August 2013 David Dixon RIP by Ian Kerr Retrieved 2014-07-04
  6. ↑ Motorcycle Mechanics, June 1973, p. 31 Yoshimura, Honda Speed! European and S.A. Yoshimura Distr. Dixon Racing, Wodeland Ave, Guildford, Surrey. Accessed and added 2014-07-04
  7. ↑ Motor Cycle 28 February 1963, p. 86 Racing Line by David Dixon. "...his delightful little four-year-old daughter Corienne beat more than 100,000 entrants for the 'Miss Pears, 1964' title—and won a £500 first prize!". Accessed and added 2015-01-21
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