Mike Hailwood's 14th and final Isle of Man TT Win | Road Racing Legend

One of the most successful TT riders of all time, Mike Hailwood (MBE, GM) was regarded by many as the greatest motorcycle rider ever to race on the Mountain Circuit. His fans worshipped him and he repaid them with an 18-year career which was nothing short of awe-inspiring. During his incredible reign ‘Mike-the-Bike’ scored no less than 14 TT victories and 9 World Championship titles.
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He first rode in 1958, winning four replicas. He gave Honda their first TT wins in 1961 with a Lightweight double and added the Senior on a Norton for the first TT hat-trick.
In 1962 he won 4 races with MV Agusta before returning to Honda in 1966, winning the Lightweight and Senior. After winning the Junior, Lightweight and Senior in 1967 - his second hat-trick - he retired and turned to cars.
Two of his most amazing TT victories were made during his comeback in 1978. After 11 years in retirement Hailwood crossed the finishing line on a Ducati victorious in the Formula One and in 1979 returned once more to win his last ever TT, the Senior Race.
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[@MrDecBC]

What a humble man, a tragic loss

[@missingmac7104]

Manners never cost anything, but some guys have buckets loads Mike was one of these guys all my respects to a great rider

[@robertedwards5184]

Mike Hailwood was Absolutely Unique. Brilliant on the TT Course and short circuits. Will always be mentioned when Great Riders are discussed. 😃😃😃

[@sergioleone3583]

Truly the Greatest Bike Racer of all time, no question. Of ALL time!

[@jakric3959]

Mike Hailwood best ever no question.

[@josepg.2479]

Almost everybody talks about how Rossi is the best because he won with different machines and categories, those boys should to consider the Hailwood's carreer, he not only won with differents teams, but in differents kinds of competitions. Netx time you / they give Rossi the GOAT atribute, first of all think about Mr. Mike Hailwood.

[@vssjim4311]

You know 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@clarehennessey3653]

Damn right!

[@sergioleone3583]

Mike the Bike = The GOAT for sure. I can think of four or five other riders I'd place above Rossi as well.

[@chloehood6355]

They are all hero's. R

[@marcsalmon626]

Mike was a class act both on and off a bike. He seemed very unassuming, a really down to earth fella. That was a enjoyable video to watch.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Hello, what a man. I had the good fortune to learn about his exploits with Hondas and chose him as a boyhood hero.

[@polygamous1]

Guys have you noticed 2 of the best riders for me actually the 2 best are both humble honest down to earth n nice blokes, am talking of course about Hailwood n Agostini, its been many great riders n many more to come am sure but these TWO will always be the BEST

[@jestermoon]

Take A Moment I was there. Crying now. Ride Safe Stay Free

[@je7887]

I was blessed to see this race!

[@MyTroubadour]

De superbes images qui font honneur à ces pilotes Britanniques mais en particulier au grand Mike, qui une fois de plus nous a démontré son talent inimitable. Puis, Mike reste aussi le champion de nos cœurs.

[@markdavies5508]

A motorcycling icon and a gentleman. Thank you Mike.

[@simonwhite699]

Such a polite and lovely human .

[@logotrikes]

An unassuming humble man. What a loss...

[@sexyroseize]

What a great guy

[@jamespink4202]

Mike was utterly incredible to watch, smooth, not hanging off the bike, quicker everywhere. Just remarkable!

[@massimilianobelloni237]

I wasn't even trying very hard... The Greatest!

[@eventcone]

Interesting that Mike went to the Island in 1979 intending (so I have read) to use the Formula 1 Ducati in the Open Classic and not the Suzuki. Clearly the Ducati's performance had deteriorated so much since the previous year whilst Honda put a lot of effort into improving their own F1 bike. So no suprise that Hailwood chose to use the Suzuki instead - and on a 500cc machine he finished 2nd, only 2.5 seconds behind Alex George on an 1100cc Honda. Apparently he had been offered a Suzuki RG680 (a 680cc version of the 500) but turned it down as he felt its speed would have been too frightening at the TT. If only he had taken it!

[@GrrMeister]

*I well remember the Race of the Year at Mallory Park September 1964, and long after the race had finished and the crowds had gone, asking a Marshall if I could drive my car (Citroen DS19) around the circuit, he said better ask Mike (Hailwood) and directed me to him. I asked Mike, who I had briefly met a number of times before, and he said of course you can, and told the Marshall to let me through the top gate (Near Hairpin) - He said come back after we are having a bit of a Party with Chris Barber later. Did two/three laps and then went back. Mike appeared genuinely pleased to see me again and asked how I got on. Had a good laugh together as we found had a lot of common interests (3 years older than me and born on the same date 2nd April) and had been to the Belgian Grand Prix the previous year in my Morris Minor 1000. Stayed until late with many of the riders and "Chris Barber & his Jazzmen" playing. Imagine that today, the pits were open and you didn't need a fancy pass to get in. I was very keen on Jazz Bands, and in fact had an Acker Bilk Beard at the time, and was often mistaken for him ! (Maybe Mike thought I was "Acker") Still got the Program Price 2/6p and signed by many riders then including Phil Read, Jim Redman, Mike Duff, Bill Ivy etc Incidentally Mike Won the race on the MV Agusta and was £1000 richer. Huge amount in those days. So no wonder he was happy. He held the 350cc Lap Record from 62-64 at 84.93 mph and the 500cc Lap record at 53 seconds 91.70 mph in 1962*

[@devenair681]

Such a tragic loss of a brilliant racer. What a talent. 🤔🤔

[@teterouge1472]

Legend

[@williambaird6276]

Amazing Racer..😎🇬🇧🏍

[@ruffomaldito]

"........really, I broke the lap record?....and I wasn´t even trying" - I wonder what he would do today in the racing scene today.

[@roadrocket]

mike the best ever.

[@cyclist3969]

I was there for 1978 and 1979, the sad note was the lost opportunity of a rematch between the popular TT expert John G Williams and Hailwood, JGW passed away in 1978 of a heart condition, JG the rider who challenged Hailwood for the 1978 TT F1 race (runner up) , Hailwood and Williams on a similar RG500 would have pushed the lap record even higher

[@eventcone]

Or a fully fit Mick Grant (who raced with a broken pelvis but had to retire). And then there was the match up between the same riders in the Classic of the previous year, when Hailwood's TZ750 had to retire at Ballaugh on the first lap, after being equal on corrected time at Ballacraine.

[@neiledwards8931]

Brilliant racing motorbike rider I went to see last at Oulton Park a real leader of the pack another brilliant ride some distance from the rest great racing great to see Mike at his brilliant best God Bless Mike keep revving 👏🏁🙏

[@thomashosker441]

Was you at transatlantic races when Mike was captain.1980.

[@thomashosker441]

I'd like to get in touch with Neil Edwards about Oulton park because Mike autographed a painting for me in the paddock at the transatlantic match races 1980 he died not long after .there was lots of people taking photos of Mike And me with the painting I have just two my brother took always wondered if I could find more photos.

[@eventcone]

Mike's last was at Oulton Park? I thought his last race was the 1979 Classic TT. Then the Suzuki spat him off in practice at Donnington, whereupon he decided to retire........?

[@thomashosker441]

Mike was at OULTON as none riding Captained the British team he did not ride he crashed in practice at Donington but did not race again.

[@atomicorang]

A class act especially in 2020.

[@Akrapovic1976]

The king of motorbikes

[@johnnyv673]

This is great, thank you

[@Luke-Harno3]

Raiders Class... Raiders Legend.

[@Gazza-zg2tr]

I WASNT EVEN TRYING VERY HARD LOL A GREAT MAN.

[@stup4747]

What a bloke xxc

[@stup4747]

What do I need to do I'm getting in trouble for enjoy over Mike hailwood, wow I'm amazed

[@jeanlawley6483]

Just imagine how many TT wins Mike would have if he had not had a break ... is 30 to many to say?

[@cyclist3969]

When Honda withdrew in 1967, Hailwood was paid a retainer fee to not ride for any other factory

[@boss302gorie8]

"a seal in the engine or something technical " just aim it in the right direction and Mike would win

[@JB91710]

Same track, same cc's, I wonder how much faster the bikes are today. Win this once, you are The Man. Win it 14 times, you are a GOD!

[@chrisdoyle6990]

For the short time we had Mike Hailwood he was an absolute gift . Beyond his vast talent ,he shined with warmth and that superb sense of humour .im so grateful

[@robw7676]

Hailwood won this race, the senior TT in 1979 at an average of 112mph on a 500cc 2 stroke Suzuki RG500. He raised the lap record to 114mph. Today the average is 130mph on a 1000cc 4 stroke and the lap record is 135mph set by Peter Hickman on a BMW S1000RR.

[@eventcone]

Or is it how much faster the course is? Mick Grant seemed to think that that is where most of the lower lap times come from.

[@jcpr6542]

Leyenda!!!

[@0Zolrender0]

114mph avg lap on those machines??? that balls out. @3:04 is that the corner Conor Cummins had his big off?

[@marinjeam]

A legend. question, does footage exist of the Hailwood-Ducati TT formula1 win of '78

[@dukevideo]

yes, the race is included in our film 'TT Tribute' which can be purchased here: www.dukevideo.com/prd1186ED/TT-Tribute-Download

[@eventcone]

Have you seen footage of his ride on the Ducati at the post-TT meeting at Mallory Park - as in the whole race, as it was televised live at the time? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn3Rf4Ntotxqjrs

[@lucaslaino7292]

The best rider rides the best bike

[@rolfdejonge3915]

✌️🤠🌟

[@BigAl53750]

That 114mph is the average speed for the whole lap, so the actual top speed must be way more than that. Anyone know what it was?

[@jeffholder6220]

See my profile pic. Himself on an RG500 at Governor's Bridge in 1979

[@barryolaith]

There's Mike Hailwood lapping the TT course at an average speed of 114mph without all the histrionics of climbing all over the bike you see wannabe's today performing on the public road every weekend, in their speed hump leathers and knee sliders. Ridiculous.

[@nigelhore66]

The Dunlop tyre technicians were saying on TT radio that they had never seen the tyre sidewalls of his bike worn so high. Mike was fantastically neat, tidy and always on the same line. Very much like John McGuinness.

[@gimmieliberty6514]

marshal on a cb900f superdream

[@cyclist3969]

Yes, some traveling marshals (marshals are safety reps who circuit at high-speed throughout the race) were on Honda 900 - fours, Some traveling marshals were circuiting on Honda CX500 V-twins!

[@lriper4702]

Is he riding a 2stroke? Where is the Ducati?

[@eventcone]

Mike rode the Ducati in the Formula 1 race (for road based machinery). This is the Senior race, for machines of up to 500cc. He is riding a Suzuki RG500 two stroke, as riden by Barry Sheene that year in the 500cc World Championship.

[@erhardbaehni1832]

he drove in more then 1 race ... the ducati let him down ..the battery did come loose .. have been able to sit on the bike #14 and make a photo while it was in the paddock..

[@cyclist3969]

@@erhardbaehni1832 The 1979 Italian factory-supplied "improved" Ducati was very inferior to the 1978 Steve Wynne machine, Hailwood made pre-race statements with complaints about the frame and engine, perhaps if the 1978 specification bike had started on the grid!

[@cyclist3969]

@@eventcone The Hailwood RG500 was an ex-GP bike, but not one of the front runners in the GP500 series, I cannot remember the name of the GP500 rider who had campigned the bike

[@luceliojosedacosta8893]

CORREU NESTAS CONDICOES MAIS QUE PERIGOSAS E MORREU EM LONDRES TEMPOS DEPOIS, AO COLIDIR COM UM MOTORISTA BEBADO. VAI ENTENDER!

[@downunderthunder2538]

What a great guy

[@luisvillarrealheredero1326]

Legend