The 1960 Isle of Man switches all races to the Snaefell Mountain Course and the Italian MV Agusta team proceeds to kick ass in all four solo classes.
The legendary John Surtees* takes the six-lap 500cc Senior with a flawless ride aboard his MV four-cylinder, nicknamed "fire engine". He would lead from start to finish and in the process raise the lap record to 104.08mph.
His MV teammate, and countryman, John Hartle fought off the Norton contingent to finish second, with Mike Hailwood heading the pursuers in third place. Norton's finished the 500cc by blasting across the line with eight bikes in a row, third place to tenth, Mike Hailwood to Ralph Renson. What a sight, and sound.
Surtees' luck ran out in the six lap 350cc Junior, which resulted in the first-time TT victory for Hartle. Surtees was ahead for the first four laps, but slowed when he lost third gear. Hartle took full advantage to win easily, with Surtees holding off the Scotsman Bob McIntyre on a Joe Potts AJS.
Surtees' luck ran out in the six lap 350cc Junior, which resulted in the first-time TT victory for Hartle. Surtees was ahead for the first four laps, but slowed when he lost third gear. Hartle took full advantage to win easily, with Surtees holding off the Scotsman Bob McIntyre on a Joe Potts AJS.
Rhodesian Gary Hocking would join MV in 1960, just a year after his TT debut, and was impressive in the five-lap 250cc Lightweight race, leading throughout in front of another all-Italian epic between Carlo Ubbiali and Tarquinio Provini. On the last lap Ubbiali, riding for MV, smashed the lap record, much to the dismay of his great rival aboard his Moto-Morini.
Carlo Ubbiali made his intensions clear right from the start of the three-lap 125cc Ultra-Lightweight race by shattering the old lap record. The race turned into another MV sweep, with Hocking second and Luigi Taveri (riding under the Swiss flag), who had joined MV from MZ third.
*It turned out to be John Surtees last TT before going on to his career in car racing. It was an apt swansong.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
