Geoff Duke: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
mNo edit summary
Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead.) #IABot (v2.0.9.5
 
(247 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1:
{{short description|British motorcycle racer}}
'''Geoff Duke [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]]''' (born [[29 March]] [[1923]] in [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]], [[Lancashire]]) was a British multi-time world champion [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Grand Prix]] [[motorcycle]] [[road racing|road racer]].
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox motorcycle rider
|image = Geoff Duke (1951).jpg
|caption = Geoff Duke (1951)
|name = Geoff Duke<br /><small>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}}}</small>
|nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British
|birth_date = {{birth date|1923|3|29|df=yes}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|2015|5|1|1923|3|29|df=yes}}
|birth_place = [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]], [[Lancashire]], England
|death_place = [[Isle of Man]]
|GP Active years = [[1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1950]]–[[1959 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1959]]
|GP Teams = [[Benelli (motorcycles)|Benelli]], [[BMW Motorrad|BMW]], [[Gilera]], [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]], [[NSU Motorenwerke|NSU]]
|GP Race Starts = 89
|GP Championships = 350&nbsp;cc - [[1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1951]], [[1952 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1952]]{{Clear}}500&nbsp;cc - [[1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1951]], [[1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1953]] - [[1955 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1955]]
|GP Race Wins = 33
|GP Podiums = 50
|GP Total Points = 359 (371)
|GP Poles = N/A
|GP Fastest laps = 29
|GP First race = [[1950 Isle of Man TT]]
|GP First win = [[1950 Isle of Man TT|1950 500&nbsp;cc Isle of Man TT]]
|GP Last win = [[1958 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1958]] 500&nbsp;cc [[Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|Swedish Grand Prix]]
|GP Last race = [[1959 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1959]] [[Italian motorcycle Grand Prix|Nations Grand Prix]]
|TT Contested = 9 ([[1949 Isle of Man TT|1949]] – [[1955 Isle of Man TT|1955]], [[1958 Isle of Man TT|1958]], [[1959 Isle of Man TT|1959]])
|TT Wins = 6
|TT First win = [[1949 Isle of Man TT|1949 Clubmans Senior TT]]
|TT Last win = [[1955 Isle of Man TT|1955 Senior TT]]
|TT Podiums = 8
}}
 
'''Geoffrey Ernest Duke''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (29 March 1923 – 1 May 2015), born in [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]], [[Lancashire]], was a British multiple [[motorcycle]] [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Grand Prix]] [[road racing]] world champion.<ref name="Geoff Duke career statistics at MotoGP.com">{{cite web |date=1923-03-29 |title=Geoff Duke |url=http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Geoff+Duke |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316205709/http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Geoff+Duke |archive-date=2015-03-16 |access-date=2015-05-02 |publisher=Motogp.com}}</ref> He raced several brands of motorcycle: [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]], [[Gilera]], [[BMW]], [[NSU Motorenwerke|NSU]] and [[Benelli (motorcycles)|Benelli]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GgyrCgAAQBAJ&q=Geoff+Duke+NSU&pg=PA17|title=Pilotes légendaires de la Moto|first=Hervé|last=Gouinguenet|date=15 October 2015|publisher=edi8|isbn=9791030100938|access-date=4 January 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> After retirement from competition, he was a businessman based in the Isle of Man.
The name of Geoff Duke is synonymous with motor sports, for he dominated motorcycle racing in the 1950s, winning [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|six world championships]] and five [[Isle of Man TT]] races. Duke came to prominence after winning the 1949 Senior Clubmans TT and the Senior Manx Grand Prix and was to become the very first post-war motorcycling 'superstar', popularly known amongst the racing fraternity simply as 'the Duke'.
He was signed up to the [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]] works team for the 1950 TT, finishing second in the Junior and breaking both lap and race records in the Senior.
 
==Sporting career==
After winning three World Championships for Norton he surprised everybody by moving abroad to Italian motorcycle manufacturer, [[Gilera]] in 1953. With Gilera, he had a string of three consecutive [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|500cc world championships]]. His support for a rider's strike demanding more start money led the [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] to suspend him for six months, dashing any hopes for a fourth consecutive title. In 1955 he was declared the first rider to lap the Isle of Man TT course at 100 mph, though this was later corrected to 99.97. As a consequence the official first 100 mph lap is credited to Bob McIntyre, also on a Gilera, in 1957. Duke was a non-starter due to injury. His final race was the 1959 Junior when he finished fourth on a Norton. In 1963 formed Scuderia Duke with Gilera to race the 1957 Gileras against the might of MV Augusta.
After reaching the status of Team Sergeant in the [[Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team]], The White Helmets,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2007/september/sept1807picturespecialmcnmeetsthewhitehelmets|title=Picture special: MCN meets veterans from the White Helmets army display team|publisher=MCN|date=2007-09-18|access-date=2015-05-06}}</ref> Duke was a prominent figure in racing in the 1950s, winning [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|six world championships]] and six [[Isle of Man TT]] races.<ref name="Geoff Duke career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> First entering the Isle of Man [[Manx Grand Prix]] in 1948, he retired after four laps of the Junior race. He came to prominence after the 1949 events, finishing second in the Junior race, after remounting due to a spill, and winning the Senior race with a record lap and race-average speeds.<ref name="Motor Cycle">[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], 5 November 1964, p.797. ''Help Club'' accessed 31 January 2015</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manxgrandprix.org/Mountain-Course-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=MGP49&race_seq=1 |title=Race Results - Manx Grand Prix Official Website |publisher=Manxgrandprix.org |access-date=2015-05-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manxgrandprix.org/Mountain-Course-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=MGP49&race_seq=2 |title=Race Results - Manx Grand Prix Official Website |publisher=Manxgrandprix.org |access-date=2015-05-02}}</ref> He also won the 1949 [[1949 Isle of Man TT#Clubmans Senior TT classification|Senior Clubmans TT]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Events/Races.aspx?meet_code=TT49&race_seq=2 |title=Race Results - Isle of Man TT Official Website |publisher=Iomtt.com |date=1929-03-29 |access-date=2015-05-02}}</ref> He signed to the [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]] works team for the [[1950 Isle of Man TT|1950 TT]], finishing second in the [[Junior TT]] and breaking both lap and race records in the [[Senior TT]].
[[File:500 cc klasse. Geoff Duke (Norton) winnaar, Bestanddeelnr 904-6709.jpg|thumb|left|Duke en route to victory at the 1951 500cc Dutch TT]]
 
After winning three World Championships for Norton, he moved abroad to Italian motorcycle manufacturer, [[Gilera]] in [[1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1953]].<ref name="Geoff Duke profile at crash.net">{{cite web |url=http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/racer_bio/157/geoff_duke.html |title=Geoff Duke &#124; MotoGP |publisher=Crash.Net |date=1923-03-29 |access-date=2015-05-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630054635/http://www.crash.net/motogp/racer_bio/157/geoff_duke.html |archive-date=30 June 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> With Gilera, he had a string of three consecutive [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World champions by year|500&nbsp;cc world championships]].<ref name="Geoff Duke career statistics at MotoGP.com"/> His support for a riders' strike demanding more start money led the [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] to suspend him for six months, dashing any hopes for a fourth consecutive title.<ref name="Geoff Duke profile at crash.net"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Geoff Duke Must Finish Six Months' Suspension |work=The Bulletin |page=8 |date=18 August 1956 |access-date=20 December 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KKxBAAAAIBAJ&pg=4656,1403324}}</ref> For 1953 he joined the [[Sports car racing|sports car]] racing team of [[Aston Martin]] (Feltham, Middlesex) to race the [[Aston Martin DB3|DB3]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hwmastonmartin.co.uk/aston-martin-news-article.asp?ArticleID=10 |title=Aston Martin And The Last 100 Years - Aston Martin News Details |publisher=Hwmastonmartin.co.uk |date=1913-01-15 |access-date=2015-05-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523170518/http://www.hwmastonmartin.co.uk/aston-martin-news-article.asp?ArticleID=10 |archive-date=23 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Teamed with [[Peter Collins (racing driver)|Peter Collins]], the pair led the [[12 Hours of Sebring]] until Duke's accident and resulting [[Did not finish|DNF]]. In [[1955 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1955]] he was declared the first rider to lap the Isle of Man TT course at 100&nbsp;mph, though this was later corrected to 99.97.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/competitors.aspx?ride_id=1057 |title=Geoff Duke - Competitors - Isle of Man TT Official Website |publisher=Iomtt.com |date=1929-03-29 |access-date=2015-05-02}}</ref> As a consequence the official first 100&nbsp;mph lap is credited to [[Bob McIntyre (motorcycle racer)|Bob McIntyre]], also on a Gilera, in 1957. Duke was a non-starter because of injury. His final race was the 1959 Nations Grand Prix.
Duke cut a distinctive figure on racing circuits as he was the first rider to wear one-piece leathers - he had enlisted his local tailor, to make the first of his now famous one-piece race suits. He was named Sportsman of the Year in 1951, awarded the [[Royal Automobile Club|RAC]] [[Segrave Trophy]] and, in recognition of his services to motorcycling, was awarded the [[Order of the British Empire]] in [[1953]].
 
Duke briefly dabbled in [[Formula One]], entering the [[1961 German Grand Prix]] in a private [[Cooper Car Company|Cooper]]-[[Coventry-Climax|Climax]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/1961/allemagne/engages.aspx|title=Germany 1961 - Race entrants &bull; STATS F1|website=www.statsf1.com|access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref> Although forced to withdraw from that event as his car was not yet ready, he did race in the non-championship [[1961 Kanonloppet|Kanonloppet]] at [[Karlskoga Motorstadion|Karlskoga]] two weeks later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/1961-hc/grand-prix-185.aspx|title=VII Kanonloppet &bull; STATS F1|website=www.statsf1.com|access-date=3 August 2020}}</ref>
Highly honoured by the [[Isle of Man]], where he made so many of his world record breaking rides, a point on the Mountain Course has been named after him. Three sharp bends at the 32nd Milestone between Brandywell and Windy Corner now carry the title 'Duke's'. The [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] named him a Grand Prix "Legend" in [[2002]]. After retiring from racing Duke became a successful businessman[http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/sport-champs7.html]
 
In [[1963 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1963]], he formed a racing team – ''Scuderia Duke'', with riders [[Derek Minter]] and [[John Hartle]] – to race the 1957 Gileras against [[Mike Hailwood]] riding the [[MV Agusta]].<ref name="Geoff Duke profile at crash.net"/>
==Motorcycle Grand Prix Results==
 
During 1964, Duke was appointed Competition Manager for [[Royal Enfield]] motorcycles, helping to develop their new [[Royal Enfield#250 cc models|GP250]] clubman's-category volume-production [[road racing|road racer]].<ref name="Sept 1964">[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], 3 September 1964. p.486 Lightweights stir it up during Manx Grand Prix practising. "''New from stem to stern, the model is in the care of Geoff Duke who is helping Royal Enfields with the racing design''". [image caption]: "''Manxman Dennis Craine chats with Royal Enfield's Jack Booker and Geoff Duke.''". Accessed 2015-07-02</ref><ref name= "64 Show">[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']], 19 November 1964. '[[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court Show]] Guide'. p.847 "''Geoff Duke demonstrates the riding position of the new Royal Enfield racer...''"Accessed 2013-08-18</ref><ref name= "65 Show">[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 9 September 1965. p.371 ''SLIM and LOW'' by David Dixon. ''Track test at Oulton Park of RE GP with Racing Manager Geoff Duke''. Accessed 2013-08-18</ref><ref>[http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16230/lot/593/ Royal Enfield 250GP at Bonhams] Retrieved 2013-08-18</ref>
 
For the 1965 [[International Six Days Enduro|International Six Days Trial]] held on the Isle of Man, Duke was instrumental in helping to devise the 1,000-mile course and sections held on an island measuring approximately 30 miles long by 10 miles wide, particularly using tracks which would be unavailable in mainland UK due to restrictive legislation, a problem which did not arise on self-governing Isle of Man. Additionally, the island had hotels easily able to cater for the visiting teams, followers and spectators with a traditional goodwill and enthusiasm towards motorcycle sport. Duke acted as Clerk of the Course to the [[Auto-Cycle Union|ACU]], the governing body of motorcycle sport in Great Britain including the Isle of Man, which interacted with the [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] international organisation.<ref>[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']] 28 January 1965 pp.104-107 ''Manx Recce. Peter Fraser weighs up the venue for this year's ISDT.'' Accessed 2015-06-12</ref>
 
In 1967, Duke acted as entrant for the class-winning [[Triumph Bonneville T120|Triumph Bonneville]] ridden by [[John Hartle]] in the 750&nbsp;cc capacity section of the newly introduced for 1967 [[1967 Isle of Man TT#1967 Isle of Man Production 750 cc TT final standings|''Production class'']], which required racing machines to be based on roadsters, complying with controlled specifications using selected adaptations only, available from the manufacturers as part-numbered inventory.<ref>[[The Motor Cycle|''Motor Cycle'']] 15 June 1967 pp.808-811 Diamond TT edition, race report. ''Production machine race. Super speeds on roadsters. [image caption] "John Hartle pilots the big Geoff Duke-entered Triumph through the right-hander at Quarter Bridge"''. Accessed 25 June 2015</ref>
 
==Personal life==
Duke was the most famous rider to adopt one-piece leathers - he had enlisted his local tailor, Frank Barker, to make the first of his now famous one-piece race suits. Duke had previously used a one-piece lining under his two-piece leather racing suit, to facilitate easy movement, for which he received "ribald remarks from my team-mates!"<ref>Duke, Geoff. In Pursuit of Perfection (1988). Osprey, London. {{ISBN|0-85045-838-2}}</ref> He was named Sportsman of the Year in 1951, and was awarded the [[Royal Automobile Club|RAC]] [[Segrave Trophy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/motoring/the-segrave-trophy |title=The Segrave Trophy |publisher=Royalautomobileclub.co.uk |access-date=2016-01-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/05/04/1950s-motorcycle-racing-star-geoff-duke-passes-at-92/ |title=1950s Motorcycle Racing Star Geoff Duke Passes at 92 |date=4 May 2015 |publisher=ultimatemotorcycling.com |access-date=2016-01-30 |archive-date=6 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206114955/https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2015/05/04/1950s-motorcycle-racing-star-geoff-duke-passes-at-92/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
He is also known to popularize the "centered" riding style, whereby keeping himself on the saddle while cornering and keeping his upper body on the same lean angle as the bike. He also dismissed the notion of the "body leaning out" riding style would only be a [[fad]]. It had since been proven false after his passing, mostly because he was riding on less powerful machinery with thinner all-weather tyres.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9gLDjKA_zg |title=Evolution of MotoGP Riding Styles - From Leaning Out to Elbow Dragging |date=2018-01-03 |last=Mike on Bikes |access-date=2024-07-30 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
 
Duke was appointed [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[1953 New Year Honours]] "for services to British Motor-Cycle racing."<ref>UK list: {{London Gazette |issue=39732 |date= 30 December 1952 |pages=13 |supp=y}}</ref>
 
He was one of many signatories in a letter to ''The Times'' on 17 July 1958 opposing 'the policy of apartheid' in international sport and defending 'the principle of racial equality which is embodied in the Declaration of the Olympic Games'.<ref> Brown, Geoff and Hogsbjerg, Christian. ''Apartheid is not a Game: Remembering the Stop the Seventy Tour campaign.'' London: Redwords, 2020, p. 16 {{ISBN|9781912926589}}</ref>
 
[[File:Geoff Duke funeral cortege 1 cropped.JPG|thumb|Duke's funeral cortege assembled at TT Grandstand]]
After retiring from racing, Duke became a businessman, initially in the motor trade and later in shipping services to the Isle of Man. In 1978, he was instrumental in setting up the [[Manx Line]] that introduced the first roll-on-roll-off ferry service to the island in competition with the 150-year-old [[Isle of Man Steam Packet Company]]<ref>{{cite web|author=John Moss |url=http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/sport-champs7.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041124154839/http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/sport-champs7.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=24 November 2004 |title=Ricky hatton, Andrew Freddy Flintoff, Paula Radcliffe, Geoff Duke, Stanley Matthews & David Lloyd - British Sportsmen and Sportswomen from the Northwest region |publisher=Manchester2002-uk.com |access-date=2015-05-02}}</ref> The [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] named him a [[MotoGP Hall of Fame|Grand Prix "Legend"]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+Legends |title=· MotoGP Legends |publisher=Motogp.com |access-date=2015-05-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028145312/http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+Legends/ |archive-date=28 October 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>
 
Highly honoured by the [[Isle of Man]], where he made so many of his world record breaking rides, a point on the mountain section of the [[Snaefell Mountain Course|TT Course]] was named after him in 2003. Three sharp bends at the 32nd Milestone between Brandywell and [[Windy Corner, Isle of Man|Windy Corner]] now carry the title 'Duke's'.<ref>[http://www.iomtt.com/TT-Database/Courses.aspx Isle of Man TT Official site] Retrieved 2015-06-12</ref>
 
He died, aged 92, at his home on the Isle of Man on 1 May 2015 after being ill for some time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Robin|title=Grand Prix and TT legend Geoff Duke has died|publisher=Bikesportnews.com|url=http://www.bikesportnews.com/news/news-detail/grand-prix-and-tt-legend-geoff-duke-has-died|date=2015-05-02|access-date=2015-05-02}}</ref> Duke's funeral cortege assembled at [[TT Grandstand]], Glencrutchery Road, Douglas, Isle of Man on 10 May, prior to a last lap of the [[Snaefell Mountain Course]], followed by a private family funeral service.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motorsport/32608927 Isle of Man TT champion Geoff Duke's coffin to take final lap] BBC Sport, 10 May 2015, Retrieved 2015-07-07</ref><ref>[http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/tt-legend-geoff-duke-makes-last-lap-of-mountain-course-1-7253685 TT legend Geoff Duke makes last lap of Mountain Course] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708153602/http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/tt-legend-geoff-duke-makes-last-lap-of-mountain-course-1-7253685 |date=8 July 2015 }} Yorkshire Evening Post, 10 May 2015, Retrieved 2015-07-07</ref>
 
==World Championship results==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
| '''Position'''
| width=20| 1
| width=20| 2
| width=20| 3
| width=20| 4
| width=20| 5
| width=20| 6
|-
| '''Points'''
| 8
| 6
| 4
| 3
| 2
| 1
|}
 
([[Template:Motorsport driver results legend|key]]) (Races in '''bold''' indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap. An empty black cell indicates that the class did not compete at that particular championship round.)
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year
! Class
! Motorcycle
! Classification
! Machine1
! 2
! Victories
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! Rank
! Points
|-
!rowspan=3| [[1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1950]]
!colspan=2|
| 350cc
! [[1950 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
| 2nd
|! [[Norton1950 Belgian (motorcycle) Grand Prix|NortonBEL]]
! [[1950 Dutch TT|NED]]
| 1
! [[1950 Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix|SUI]]
! [[1950 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
! [[1950 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
!
!
!
!colspan=2|
|-
! 350&nbsp;cc
| [[1950 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1950]]
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
| 500cc
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
| 2nd
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
| [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]]
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
| 3
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|
|
|
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''2nd'''
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''24 (28)'''
|-
! 500&nbsp;cc
| 1951
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
| 350cc
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
| [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]]
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| 5
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|
|
|
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''2nd'''
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''27'''
|-
!rowspan=3| [[1951 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1951]]
| 1951
!colspan=2|
| 500cc
|! [[List1951 ofSpanish motorcycle Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1stESP]]
|! [[Norton1951 Swiss (motorcycle) Grand Prix|NortonSUI]]
! [[1951 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
| 4
! [[1951 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]
! [[1951 Dutch TT|NED]]
! [[1951 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]]
! [[1951 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
! [[1951 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
!
!colspan=2|
|-
! 350&nbsp;cc
| 1952
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
| 350cc
|
| [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
| 4
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]'''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''32 (40)'''
|-
! 500&nbsp;cc
| 1952
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
| 500cc
|
| 7th
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
| 0
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]'''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''35 (37)'''
|-
!rowspan=3| [[1952 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1952]]
| 1953
!colspan=2|
| 500cc
|! [[List1952 ofSwiss motorcycle Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1stSUI]]
! [[1952 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
| [[Gilera]]
! [[1952 Dutch TT|NED]]
| 4
! [[1952 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]
! [[1952 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]
! [[1952 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
! [[1952 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
! [[1952 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]
!
!colspan=2|
|-
! 350&nbsp;cc
| 1954
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
| 500cc
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
| [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
| [[Gilera]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
| 5
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|
|
|
| style="background:#000;"|
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]'''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''32'''
|-
! 500&nbsp;cc
| 1955
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
| 500cc
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| [[Gilera]]
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
| 4
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
|
|
|
|
|
! 7th
! 12
|-
!rowspan=2| [[1953 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1953]]
| 1956
!colspan=2|
| 500cc
! [[1953 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
| 7th
|! [[Gilera1953 Dutch TT|NED]]
! [[1953 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]
| 1
! [[1953 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]
! [[1953 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]]
! [[1953 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
! [[1953 Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix|SUI]]
! [[1953 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
! [[1953 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]
!colspan=2|
|-
! 500&nbsp;cc
| [[1957 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1957]]
! [[Gilera]]
| 500cc
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
| 4th
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
| [[Gilera]]
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| 0
| style="background:#000;"|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]'''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''38'''
|-
!rowspan=2| [[1954 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1954]]
| 1958
!colspan=2|
| 500cc
! [[1954 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]]
| 3rd
! [[1954 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
| [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]]
! [[1954 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
| 1
! [[1954 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]
! [[1954 Dutch TT|NED]]
! [[1954 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]
! [[1954 Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix|SUI]]
! [[1954 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
! [[1954 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]
!colspan=2|
|-
! 500&nbsp;cc
| 1959
! [[Gilera]]
| 250cc
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| 10th
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
| [[Benelli]]
| style="background:#fff;"| C
| 0
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]'''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''40 (46)'''
|-
!rowspan=2| [[1955 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1955]]
| 1959
!colspan=2|
| 350cc
! [[1955 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix|ESP]]
| 5th
|! [[Norton1955 French (motorcycle) Grand Prix|NortonFRA]]
! [[1955 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
| 0
! [[1955 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]
! [[1955 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]
! [[1955 Dutch TT|NED]]
! [[1955 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
! [[1955 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
!
!colspan=2|
|-
! 500&nbsp;cc
| 1959
! [[Gilera]]
| 500cc
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
| 4th
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
| [[Norton (motorcycle)|Norton]]
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
| 1
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ''3''
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''[[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|1st]]'''
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| '''36'''
|-
!rowspan=2| [[1956 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1956]]
!colspan=2|
! [[1956 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
! [[1956 Dutch TT|NED]]
! [[1956 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]
! [[1956 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]
! [[1956 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
! [[1956 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
!
!
!
!colspan=2|
|-
! 500&nbsp;cc
! [[Gilera]]
|
|
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|
|
|
! 7th
! 8
|-
!rowspan=3| [[1957 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1957]]
!colspan=2|
! [[1957 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]
! [[1957 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
! [[1957 Dutch TT|NED]]
! [[1957 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]
! [[1957 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
! [[1957 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
!
!
!
!colspan=2|
|-
! 350&nbsp;cc
! [[Gilera]]
|
|
|
|
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|
|
|
! -
! 0
|-
! 500&nbsp;cc
! [[Gilera]]
|
|
|
|
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2
|
|
|
! 4th
! 10
|-
!rowspan=4| [[1958 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1958]]
!colspan=2|
! [[1958 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
! [[1958 Dutch TT|NED]]
! [[1958 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]
! [[1958 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]
! [[1958 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]]
! [[1958 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
! [[1958 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
!
!
!colspan=2|
|-
! 350&nbsp;cc
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ''1''
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
|
|
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''3rd'''
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''17'''
|-
!rowspan=2| 500&nbsp;cc
! [[BMW Motorrad|BMW]]
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|
|
|
|
|
|rowspan=2 style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''3rd'''
|rowspan=2 style="background:#ffdf9f;"| '''13'''
|-
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
|
|
|
|
|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 7
|
|
|-
!rowspan=5| [[1959 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1959]]
!colspan=2|
! [[1959 French motorcycle Grand Prix|FRA]]
! [[1959 Isle of Man TT|IOM]]
! [[1959 German motorcycle Grand Prix|GER]]
! [[1959 Dutch TT|NED]]
! [[1959 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix|BEL]]
! [[1959 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix|SWE]]
! [[1959 Ulster Grand Prix|ULS]]
! [[1959 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix|NAT]]
!
!colspan=2|
|-
!rowspan=2| 250&nbsp;cc
! [[NSU Motorenwerke|NSU]]
| style="background:#000;"|
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret
|
|
| style="background:#000;"|
|
|
|
|
!rowspan=2| 10th
!rowspan=2| 5
|-
! [[Benelli (motorcycles)|Benelli]]
| style="background:#000;"|
|
|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6
|
| style="background:#000;"|
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3
|
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 10
|
|-
! 350&nbsp;cc
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
|
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4
| style="background:#000;"|
| style="background:#000;"|
|
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3
|style="background:#efcfff;"| Ret
|
! 5th
! 10
|-
! 500&nbsp;cc
! [[Norton Motorcycle Company|Norton]]
|
|
|style="background:#cfcfff;"| 9
|
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3
| style="background:#000;"|
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3
|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3
|
! 4th
! 12
|}
 
==See also==
* [[Duke Road Racing Rankings]]
 
==References==
*[http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/sport-champs7.html Sports Champions]
 
===Footnotes===
[[Category:1923 births|Duke, Geoff]]
{{refbegin}}
[[Category:British motorcycle racers|Duke, Geoff]]
*All Grand Prix results are taken from Walker, pp.&nbsp;248–252
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire|Duke, Geoff]]
{{refend}}
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire|Duke, Geoff]]
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Segrave Trophy recipients|Duke, Geoff]]
[[Category:Living people|Duke, Geoff]]
[[Category:500cc World Championship riders|Duke, Geoff]]
[[Category:250cc World Championship riders|Duke, Geoff]]
 
===Books===
<BR>
*{{cite book| title=Geoff Duke: The Stylish Champion| first= Mick | last= Walker | author-link=Mick Walker (motorcycling) | publisher=MBI Publishing Company | year= 2007 | isbn=9781859835456 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sZZBswEACAAJ&q=9781859835456 | access-date= 2016-01-30}}
{{UK-sport-bio-stub}}
{{motorcycle-stub}}
 
{{500 cc/MotoGP Motorcycle World Champions}}
{{start box}}
{{350 cc Motorcycle World Champions}}
{{succession box |
{{MotoGP Legends}}
| before = [[Umberto Masetti]]
{{Authority control}}
| after = [[Umberto Masetti]]
| title = [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|500cc Motorcycle World Champion]]
| years = 1951
|}}
{{succession box |
| before = [[Umberto Masetti]]
| after = [[John Surtees]]
| title = [[List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions|500cc Motorcycle World Champion]]
| years = 1953-1955
|}}
{{end box}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duke, Geoff}}
[[es:Geoff Duke]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from St Helens, Merseyside]]
[[Category:British motorcycle racers]]
[[Category:English motorcycle racers]]
[[Category:500cc World Championship riders]]
[[Category:350cc World Championship riders]]
[[Category:250cc World Championship riders]]
[[Category:Isle of Man TT riders]]
[[Category:Motorcycle racing team owners]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Segrave Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:1923 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:500cc World Riders' Champions]]
[[Category:350cc World Riders' Champions]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]