Peter Middleton (motorcyclist)

Peter Middleton
Born
Peter Charles Middleton

3 December 1931
Doncaster, England
Died24 May 2019(2019-05-24) (aged 87)
Wakefield, England
Spouse(s)Patricia Hughes
(m, 1962; div, 1984)

Peter Middleton (3 December 1931 – 24 May 2019) was a British motorcycle racer in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He started his Manx Grand Prix career by finishing second in the 1957 Senior Newcomers race and two years later was the winner of the 1959 Junior MGP, before moving on to the Isle of Man TT for a further three years.[1] He was the 1962 Gold Cup winner at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough where he broke Geoff Duke's seven-year lap record with a 4-speed gearbox.[2][3]

Selected career statistics

Date Circuit / Race Laps Machine Pos. Notes
28 May 1957 Alton Towers 500cc 8 Norton 500 1st
3-7 June 1957 MGP Senior Newcomers 4 Norton 500 2nd
3-7 June 1957 MGP Senior 8 Norton 500 9th
14th Sept 1957 Oliver's Mount 16 Norton 500 2nd
20th Sept 1958 Oliver's Mount 16 Norton 500 1st
Sept 1958 MGP Senior 7 Norton 500 7th
Sept 1959 MGP Junior 7 Norton 350 1st
Sept 1959 MGP Senior 7 Norton 500 6th
Sept 1960 TT Junior 6 Norton 350 15th
Sept 1960 TT Senior 6 Norton 500 14th
6 Aug 1960 Ulster Grand Prix 20 Norton 350 9th
6 Aug 1960 Ulster Grand Prix 20 Norton 500 10th
3 Apr 1961 Cadwell Park Junior Solo Final 8 Norton 500 3rd
3 Apr 1961 Cadwell Park Easter Senior Final 12 Norton 500 3rd
22 May 1961 Cadwell Park Senior Solo Final 12 Norton 500 3rd
1 Apr 1962 Mallory Park (event 3) Final 20 Norton 350 5th
23 Apr 1962 Cadwell Senior Scratch Final 8 Norton 500 3rd
11 Jun 1962 Cadwell Junior Scratch Final 8 Norton 350 3rd
11 Jun 1962 Cadwell Senior Solo Scratch Final 8 Norton 500 2nd
17 Jun 1962 Oliver's Mount – "Cock 'o the North" 14 Norton 350 1st Fastest Lap
17 Jun 1962 Oliver's Mount – "Cock 'o the North" 14 Norton 500 1st Fastest Lap
24 Jun 1962 Ouston 350cc 12 Norton 350 1st
24 Jun 1962 Ouston 500cc 12 Norton 500 1st
6 Aug 1962 Cadwell Park Junior Scratch Final 8 Norton 350 1st Fastest Lap
6 Aug 1962 Cadwell Coronation Trophy Final 8 Norton 500 1st Fastest Lap
16th Sept 1962 Cadwell International Junior Final 12 Norton 350 2nd
16th Sept 1962 Cadwell International Championship Final 12 Norton 500 4th
22nd Sept 1962 Oliver's Mount Final 16 Norton 500 1st Fastest Lap

Death

Peter Middleton's grave.
Clough Lane Cemetery, Liversedge. West Yorkshire.

Middleton died of leukemia on 24 May 2019[4] at the Pinderfield's Hospital, Wakefield.

Tribute

"The Fastest Lap: A Tribute to Peter Middleton" is scheduled to be released on the 24th of May 2024 - the 5 year anniversary of his death. The film is being directed by Middleton's son, Pete Middleton and features several interviews including world championship riders, John Cooper and Mick Chatterton.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Peter Middleton Isle of Man TT Race Results – iomtt.com: The World's #1 TT Website". www.iomtt.com. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  2. ^ Rial, Stevie. "Scarborough Gold Cup/Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup Winners – Road Racing News". Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Oliver's Mount Circuit Records and Stats | Devitt". www.devittinsurance.com. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Peter Middleton RIP – Motorcycle Racing Nostalgia". The Autosport Forums. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  5. ^ "The Fastest Lap: A Tribute to Peter Middleton". IMDB.