British motorcycle racer
John Newbold |
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Nationality | British |
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Born | (1952-12-14)14 December 1952 Jacksdale |
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Died | 15 May 1982(1982-05-15) (aged 29) Coleraine, Northern Ireland |
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John Newbold (14 December 1952 - 15 May 1982) was an English professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.[1]
Newbold was born in Jacksdale, where his parents ran a butchers shop, and was brought up in South Normanton.[2] He began riding motorcycles on grass when he was 15.[2] He progressed from riding at Darley Moor on a bike loaned to him by John Cooper, to performing in front of 50,000 crowds at Silverstone Circuit.[2]
His best season was in 1976 when he finished in fifth place in the 500cc world championship riding a Suzuki motorcycle.[3] Newbold won his only world championship race in 1976 at the 500cc Czechoslovakian Grand Prix.[4] He was a teammate of Barry Sheene and Mick Grant at Suzuki.[2]
Newbold won the 1978 North West 200 race in Northern Ireland.[5] He made his debut at the Isle of Man TT in 1981, finishing fourth and third.[6] Also in 1981, Newbold was the top points scorer for Great Britain in the Transatlantic Trophy competition between British and American riders of the day.[7] Newbold was killed after colliding with Mick Grant at the 1982 North West 200 in Coleraine.[2][8]
References