UNITED KINGDOM: BARRY DITCHBURN RIDING A SUZUKI WING POWERBIRK INTERNATIONAL RACE AT BRANDS HATCH.

Record ID: 337400

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: BARRY DITCHBURN RIDING A SUZUKI WING POWERBIRK INTERNATIONAL RACE AT BRANDS HATCH.
  • Date: 1st November 1976
  • Summary: 1. GV Bikes at starting grid 0.03 2. SV Crowd 0.06 3. GV PAN Start of race 0.11 4. GV Crowd in stands 0.14 5. GV Bikes taking corner 0.21 6. GV Place board 0.22 7. GV PAN Bike number 5 (Phil Read) leading, followed by number 3 (Barry Ditchburn) and others taking corner 0.43 8. GV PAN number 3 leading, followed by othe
  • Embargoed: 16th November 1976 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BRANDS HATCH, U.K.
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVAC79S7MLGENWDHPAX219FWE16K
  • Story Text: After a closely fought battle between the biggest names in motor cycle racing, Barry Ditchburn of Britain won the "Gauloises" Powerbike International Race on Sunday (31 October).

    SYNOPSIS: Riding his 738cc Suzuki, Ditchburn shared the front line on the starting grid with his closest rivals -- Phil Read on a 749cc Yamaha, Mick Grant riding for Kawasaki, Barry Sheene also on a Suzuki and the legendary Giacomo Agostini of Italy on a 350cc M.V. Augusta.

    It was Read who led the pack away early in the race, on bike number five, one of over 40 contestants taking part in this last race of the season at Brands Hatch in England. But Ditchburn tailed him every inch of the way and try as he might, Read couldn't shake him.

    A few minutes later Ditchburn passed Read to take the lead -- which he was to hold for the rest of the 12 lap race -- an invitation event for bikes with engines over 250cc, but not exceeding 1000cc. Behind the leaders, Mick Grant and Barry Sheene, both of Britain, numbers six and seven, were having their own battle for third place.

    Towards the end of the race the field thinned out a little, with the crowd's hero, Agostini, lost in the pack, and at no time within reach of the leaders.

    Satisfaction for Barry Ditchburn as he takes the chequered flag -- and disappointment for Phil read in second place in the last race of his 20-year career. Both riders shared the lap record of 96.80 miles per hour. Barry Sheene was third.
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