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1959 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Surtees (pictured in 1958) won all races to retain his 350cc and 500cc World Championship title.
Carlo Ubbiali (pictured in 1956) successfully defended his 125cc World Championship title. He also became the 250cc World Champion in 1959.

The 1959 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 11th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of seven Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 17 May, with French Grand Prix and ended with Nations Grand Prix in Italy on 6 September.

1959 Grand Prix season calendar

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Round Date Grand Prix Circuit 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Sidecars 500cc winner Report
1 17 May France French Grand Prix Charade Circuit United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom John Surtees SwitzerlandGermanyScheidegger/Burkhardt Report
2 6 June Isle of Man Isle of Man TT Snaefell Mountain Italy Tarquinio Provini Italy Tarquinio Provini United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom John Surtees Germany Schneider / Strauß Report
3 14 June West Germany German Grand Prix Hockenheimring Italy Carlo Ubbiali Italy Carlo Ubbiali United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom John Surtees Switzerland Germany Camathias / Cecco Report
4 27 June Netherlands Dutch TT TT Circuit Assen Italy Carlo Ubbiali Italy Tarquinio Provini Australia Bob Brown United Kingdom John Surtees Switzerland Germany Camathias / Cecco Report
5 5 July Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps Italy Carlo Ubbiali Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking United Kingdom John Surtees Germany Schneider / Strauß Report
6 26 July Sweden Swedish Grand Prix Råbelövsbanan Italy Tarquinio Provini Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking United Kingdom John Surtees Australia Bob Brown Report
7 8 August Northern Ireland Ulster Grand Prix Dundrod Circuit United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom John Surtees Report
8 6 September Italy Nations Grand Prix†† Monza East Germany Ernst Degner Italy Carlo Ubbiali United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom John Surtees Report

† Race did not count towards the World Championship.

†† The Nations Grand Prix also held a non-championship 175 cc race, won by the Italian, Francesco Villa.

Standings

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Scoring system

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Points were awarded to the top six finishers in each race. Only the four best races were counted in all five classes: the Sidecars, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc championships.

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th 
Points 8 6 4 3 2 1

500cc final standings

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Pos Rider Machine FRA
France
MAN
Isle of Man
GER
Germany
HOL
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
ULS
Northern Ireland
NAC
Italy
Pts
1 United Kingdom John Surtees MV Agusta 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 32 (56)
2 Italy Remo Venturi MV Agusta 2 2 3 5 2 22 (24)
3 Australia Bob Brown Norton 9 3 3 2 4 5 4 17 (22)
4 United Kingdom Geoff Duke Norton 9 3 3 3 12
5 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking Norton 3 Ret Ret 2 Ret Ret 10
6 United Kingdom Bob McIntyre Norton 5 2 8
7 United Kingdom Alistair King Norton 2 6 7
8 United Kingdom Dickie Dale BMW 4 Ret Ret 4 8 7 Ret 6
9 United Kingdom Terry Shepherd Norton 5 Ret 4 5
10 New Zealand John Hempleman Norton 17 5 Ret Ret 8 5 4
11 United Kingdom Derek Powell Matchless 4 14 3
12 Australia Ken Kavanagh Norton DNS 4 Ret Ret 3
13 South Africa Paddy Driver Norton 6 6 Ret Ret Ret 6 3
14 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman Norton Ret Ret 5 9 Ret Ret 2
15 United Kingdom Bob Anderson Norton 8 Ret Ret 6 1
16 Australia Ron Miles Norton 12 12 6 11 1
17 Germany Alois Huber BMW 6 1
18 Australia Tom Phillis Norton 7 16 Ret Ret 7 Ret 0
19 Germany Hans-Günter Jäger BMW 11 10 7 16 8 0
20 Germany Ernst Hiller BMW 8 Ret 7 0
21 United Kingdom Geoff Tanner Norton Ret 7 9 11 0
22 United Kingdom Alan Shepherd Matchless 7 9 0
23 United Kingdom George Catlin Matchless 8 0
= Netherlands Anton Elbersen BMW 8 0
25 United Kingdom Ralph Rensen Norton 10 9 10 0
26 Austria Karl Untersteggaber Norton 9 0
27 United Kingdom Derek Minter Norton Ret Ret 10 0
= New Zealand Peter Pawson Norton 10 Ret Ret 0
29 Italy Paolo Campanelli Norton 10 0
30 France Jacques Insermini Norton Ret 11 0
= United Kingdom Brian Setchell Norton 11 0
= Sweden Evert Carlsson BMW 11 0
33 Belgium Raymond Bogaerdt Norton Ret 12 0
34 France Jacques Collot Norton 12 0
= Italy Vasco Loro Norton 12 0
= United Kingdom Stephen Murray Matchless 12 0
37 United Kingdom Mike Hailwood MV Agusta / Norton Ret 13 Ret 0
= Italy Alfredo Milani Gilera Ret Ret 13 0
39 France Guy Ligier Norton 13 0
= Germany Rudolf Gläser Norton 13 0
= United Kingdom Robin Fitton Norton Ret 13 0
= United Kingdom Bill Smith Matchless 13 0
43 France Yvon Callede Norton 14 0
= United Kingdom Ewan Haldane Norton 14 0
= France Charly Maubert Norton 14 0
= Belgium Jules Nies Matchless 14 0
47 United Kingdom Don Chapman Norton Ret 15 0
48 France Maurice de Polo Norton 15 0
= Belgium Raymond Hanset Norton 15 0
= United Kingdom Bob Rowbottom Norton 15 0
51 United Kingdom Tommy McLeod Norton 16 0
= France Albert Montagne Norton 16 0
53 France Jean-Pierre Bayle Norton Ret Ret 17 0
= New Zealand Stan Cameron Matchless Ret 17 0
55 United Kingdom Joe Wright Norton 17 0
56 United Kingdom Harry Grant Norton / Matchless 18 22 0
= United Kingdom Jimmy Jones Norton 18 0
58 United Kingdom William McCosh Matchless 19 0
= United Kingdom Fred Stevens AJS 19 0
60 Northern Ireland Martin Brosnan Norton 20 0
= United States Ed LaBelle BMW 20 0
62 United Kingdom George Northwood Norton 21 0
= United Kingdom Willie White Norton 21 0
64 United Kingdom Vernon Cottle Norton 22 0
66 United Kingdom Frank Gordon Norton 23 0
67 Northern Ireland Ernie Oliver AJS 24 0
68 Northern Ireland Jack Shannon BSA 25 0
69 United Kingdom John Brown Norton 26 0
- Australia Eric Hinton Norton Ret Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Jimmy Buchan Jr Norton Ret Ret 0
- Australia Jack Findlay Norton Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom John Hartle MV Agusta Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Llewelyn Ranson Norton Ret Ret 0
- Italy Ernesto Brambilla MV Agusta Ret 0
- United Kingdom Jack Brett Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Jack Bullock Matchless Ret 0
- United Kingdom Louis Carr Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Eric Cheers Norton Ret 0
- Italy Artemio Cirelli Gilera Ret 0
- United Kingdom Barry Cortvriend Matchless Ret 0
- United Kingdom George Costain Norton Ret 0
- Italy Adolfo Covi Norton Ret 0
- Northern Ireland Dick Creith Norton Ret 0
- Northern Ireland Davy Crawford Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Bruce Daniels Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Bertie Farlow Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Ray Fay Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Peter Ferbrache Matchless Ret 0
- Northern Ireland Bob Ferguson Norton Ret 0
- United States Ralph Fox AJS Ret 0
- United Kingdom Joe Glazebrook Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Roger Graham Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Owen Greenwood Triumph Ret 0
- Italy Francesco Guglielminetti Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Tom Hesketh Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Tommy Holmes BSA Ret 0
- United Kingdom Roy Ingram Norton Ret 0
- Northern Ireland Len Ireland Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Den Jarman Norton Ret 0
- Germany Lothar John BMW Ret 0
- Germany Host Kassner Norton Ret 0
- Italy Luigi Marcelli Norton Ret 0
- Northern Ireland Angus Martin Norton Ret 0
- Italy Giuseppe Mantelli Gilera Ret 0
- Italy Emanuele Maugliani Gilera Ret 0
- Northern Ireland Robert McCracken Norton Ret 0
- Switzerland Fritz Messerli Ret 0
- United Kingdom Syd Mizen Norton Dunstall Ret 0
- United Kingdom Albert Moule Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Frank Perris Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Harry Plews AJS Ret 0
- Austria Ladislaus Richter Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Bill Robertson Norton Ret 0
- Germany Walter Scheimann Norton Ret 0
- Germany Toni Schmitz Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Ray Spence Norton Ret 0
- Canada Don Tickle Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Alan Trow Norton Ret 0
- Italy Dino Valbonesi Gilera Ret 0
- France Michel Valentin Ret 0
- Netherlands Martinus van Son Norton Ret 0
- Italy Roberto Vigorito Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Arthur Wheeler AJS Ret 0
- United Kingdom Lewis Young Norton Ret 0
- Italy Benedetto Zambotti Gilera Ret 0
Pos Rider Bike FRA
France
MAN
United Kingdom
GER
Germany
HOL
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
ULS
Ulster
NAC
Italy
Pts
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

350cc Standings

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Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom MV Agusta 48 6
2 United Kingdom John Hartle United Kingdom MV Agusta 16 0
3 Australia Bob Brown Australia Norton 14 0
4 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking Rhodesia Norton 12 0
5 United Kingdom Geoff Duke United Kingdom Norton 10 0
6 Italy Remo Venturi Italy MV Agusta 6 0
7 United Kingdom Dickie Dale United Kingdom AJS 6 0
8 New Zealand John Hempleman New Zealand Norton 6 0
9 United Kingdom Bob Anderson United Kingdom Norton 5 0
10 United Kingdom Alistair King United Kingdom Norton 4 0
= Italy Ernesto Brambilla Italy MV Agusta 4 0
12 South Africa Paddy Driver South Africa Norton 4 0
13 United Kingdom Mike Hailwood United Kingdom AJS 2 0
= Australia Tom Phillis Australia Norton 2 0
15 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman Rhodesia Norton 2 0
16 United Kingdom Terry Shepherd United Kingdom Norton 1 0
= United Kingdom Dave Chadwick United Kingdom Norton 1 0
= Italy Gilberto Milani Italy Norton 1 0

250cc Standings

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Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Carlo Ubbiali Italy MV Agusta 28 2
2 Italy Tarquinio Provini Italy MV Agusta 16 2
= Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking Rhodesia MZ 16 2
4 East Germany Ernst Degner East Germany MZ 14 0
5 United Kingdom Mike Hailwood United Kingdom Mondial 13 0
6 Italy Emilio Mendogni Italy Morini 10 0
7 United Kingdom Derek Minter United Kingdom Morini 7 0
8 United Kingdom Tommy Robb United Kingdom GMS-MZ 7 0
9 East Germany Horst Fügner East Germany MZ 6 0
10 United Kingdom Geoff Duke United Kingdom Benelli 5 0
11 United Kingdom Dave Chadwick United Kingdom MV Agusta 4 0
12 Italy Libero Liberati Italy Morini 3 0
13 West Germany Horst Kassner West Germany NSU 2 0
= United Kingdom Phil Carter United Kingdom NSU 2 0
= Switzerland Luigi Taveri Switzerland MZ 2 0
16 Austria Rudi Thalhammer Austria NSU 1 0
= United Kingdom Dickie Dale United Kingdom Benelli 1 0
18 West Germany Günter Beer West Germany Adler 1 0

125cc

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Riders' standings

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Pos. Rider Bike MAN
Isle of Man
GER
Germany
NED
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
SWE
Sweden
ULS
Northern Ireland
NAT
Italy
Pts
1 Italy Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta 5 1F 1F 1 2F 2F 30 (38)
2 Italy Tarquinio Provini MV Agusta 1 2 2F 1 5 28 (30)
3 United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Ducati 3 3 3 4 1F 20 (23)
4 Switzerland Luigi Taveri MZ 2F 14
Ducati 3 3
5 East Germany Ernst Degner MZ 6 3 1 13
6 Italy Bruno Spaggiari Ducati 5 2 8
7 United Kingdom Derek Minter MZ 5 4 4 8
8 Australia Ken Kavanagh Ducati 6 5 5 4 8
9 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking MZ 2 7
MV Agusta 6
10 East Germany Horst Fügner MZ 4 4 6
11 East Germany Werner Musiol MZ 3 4
12 Italy Francesco Villa Ducati 4 3
13 Italy Alberto Pagani Ducati 5 2
14 Japan Naomi Taniguchi Honda 6 1
14 West Germany Karl Kronmüller Ducati 6 1
14 Sweden Ulf Svensson Ducati 6 1
14 United Kingdom Arthur Wheeler Ducati 6 1
Pos. Rider Bike MAN
Isle of Man
GER
Germany
NED
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
SWE
Sweden
ULS
Northern Ireland
NAT
Italy
Pts
Race key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
Annotation Meaning
P Pole position
F Fastest lap
Rider key
Colour Meaning
Light blue Rookie rider

Constructors' standings

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Each constructor is awarded the same number of points as their best placed rider in each race.

Pos. Constructor MAN
Isle of Man
GER
Germany
NED
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
SWE
Sweden
ULS
Northern Ireland
NAT
Italy
Pts
1 Italy MV Agusta 1 1 1 1 1 2 32 (46)
2 East Germany MZ 2 6 4 4 3 2 1 24 (31)
3 Italy Ducati 3 3 2 3 4 1 3 22 (33)
4 Japan Honda 6 1
Pos. Constructor MAN
Isle of Man
GER
Germany
NED
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
SWE
Sweden
ULS
Northern Ireland
NAT
Italy
Pts

References

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  • Haefliger, Werner. "Lightweight class". FIM MotoGP Results 1949–2023 Guide (2024 ed.). pp. 35–37. ISBN 978-2-9701086-8-9.
  • Büla, Maurice & Schertenleib, Jean-Claude (2001). Continental Circus 1949-2000. Chronosports S.A. ISBN 2-940125-32-5
  • "The Official MotoGP website". Archived from the original on 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2010-07-06.