1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The 1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the inaugural F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of six Grand Prix races in five classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecars 600cc. It began on 17 June, with Isle of Man TT and ended with Nations Grand Prix on 4 September.

1949 Grand Prix season calendar

Round Date Grand Prix Circuit 125cc winner 250cc winner 350cc winner 500cc winner Sidecars 600cc winner Report
1 17 June Isle of Man Isle of Man TT Snaefell Mountain Republic of Ireland Manliff Barrington United Kingdom Freddie Frith United Kingdom Harold Daniell Report
2 3 July Switzerland Swiss Grand Prix Bremgarten Italy Nello Pagani Italy Bruno Ruffo United Kingdom Freddie Frith United Kingdom Leslie Graham United Kingdom Oliver / Jenkinson Report
3 9 July Netherlands Dutch TT Assen Italy Nello Pagani United Kingdom Freddie Frith Italy Nello Pagani Report
4 17 July Belgium Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps United Kingdom Freddie Frith United Kingdom Bill Doran United Kingdom Oliver / Jenkinson Report
5 20 August Ulster Ulster Grand Prix Clady United Kingdom Maurice Cann United Kingdom Freddie Frith United Kingdom Leslie Graham Report
6 4 September Italy Nations Grand Prix Monza Italy Gianni Leoni Italy Dario Ambrosini Italy Nello Pagani Italy Frigerio / Dobelli Report

Standings

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top five finishers in each race with an extra point for the race finisher with the fastest lap. All rounds counted towards the championship in the 125cc, 250cc and Sidecar categories, while in the 350cc and 500cc championships, only the best three results counted.

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   Fastest lap 
Points 10 8 7 6 5 1

500cc final standings

Pos Rider Machine MAN
Isle of Man
SUI
Switzerland
HOL
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
ULS
Ulster
NAT
Italy
Pts
1 United Kingdom Leslie Graham AJS 10 1 2 Ret 1 Ret 30 (31)
2 Italy Nello Pagani Gilera 4 1 5 3 1 29 (40)
3 Italy Arciso Artesiani Gilera 2 3 2 Ret 2 25 (32)
4 United Kingdom Bill Doran AJS 8 Ret 1 4 3 23
5 United Kingdom Artie Bell Norton 4 Ret 4 4 2 20 (26)
6 United Kingdom Harold Daniell Norton 1 3 6 7 17
7 United Kingdom Johnny Lockett Norton 2 Ret 5 Ret Ret 13
8 Italy Enrico Lorenzetti Moto Guzzi 10 3 7
9 Republic of Ireland Ernie Lyons Velocette 3 7
10 Italy Gianni Leoni Moto Guzzi 6 Ret 6 4 6
11 New Zealand Syd Jensen Triumph 5 Ret 9 5
12 United Kingdom Freddie Frith Velocette Ret 5 Ret Ret 5
13 Italy Bruno Bertacchini Moto Guzzi Ret Ret 5 5
14 United Kingdom Jock West AJS 5 5
15 United Kingdom Ken Armstrong AJS 6 0
= United Kingdom Cromie McCandless Norton 6 0
= United Kingdom Fred Stevens Triumph 6 0
18 United Kingdom Ken Bills Velocette 7 Ret 10 0
19 United Kingdom Harry Turner Norton 18 7 0
20 Italy Umberto Masetti Gilera 7 Ret 0
21 Republic of Ireland Reg Armstrong AJS 7 0
= Italy Felice Benasedo Moto Guzzi 7 0
23 Australia Harry Hinton Norton 9 8 16 0
24 Australia George Morrison Norton 31 Ret 8 Ret 0
25 Switzerland Roger Richoz Norton 8 0
= Italy Ricardo Sabbadini Moto Guzzi 8 0
= Republic of Ireland James Scott Triumph 8 0
28 Italy Oscar Clemencich Gilera 9 Ret 15 0
29 Italy Sante Geminiani Moto Guzzi 9 0
= Switzerland Hans Kaufmann Gilera 9 0
31 Italy Dante Bianchi Moto Guzzi 10 0
= Switzerland Georges Cordey Norton 10 0
= Republic of Ireland Ernie Callahan Triumph 10 0
34 United Kingdom Arthur Wheeler Triumph Ret Ret 11 0
35 United Kingdom Phil Heath Norton 11 Ret 0
36 Italy Adelmo Mandolini Moto Guzzi 11 0
= Switzerland Benoit Musy Moto Guzzi 11 0
= Netherlands Drikus Veer Triumph 11 0
38 United Kingdom Oliver Scott Norton Ret 12 15 0
39 United Kingdom Bill Beevers Norton 16 12 Ret Ret Ret 0
40 Italy Antonio Dalle Fusine Gilera 12 Ret 0
= United Kingdom Bill Petch Triumph 12 Ret 0
42 Italy Lodovico Facchinelli Gilera 12 0
43 United Kingdom Edward Nicholls Triumph 13 9 0
44 United Kingdom Guy Newman Norton 13 0
= Hungary Nandor Puhony Gilera 13 0
= Italy Orlando Valdinoci Gilera 13 0
= Belgium Albert Vertriest Triumph 13 0
48 Italy Alfeo Maramotti Moto Guzzi 14 0
= Australia Eric McPherson AJS 14 0
= Netherlands Jacques Schot Norton 14 0
= Hungary László Szabó Gilera 14 0
= Belgium Jules Tacheny Triumph 14 0
53 United Kingdom Roy Evans Norton 15 0
= Netherlands Gerard Hoek BMW 15 0
55 United Kingdom Jack Bailey Triumph 17 Ret 0
56 United Kingdom Johnny Hodgkin Norton 19 0
57 United Kingdom Dick Addie Norton 20 0
58 United Kingdom Albert Moule Triumph 21 0
59 United Kingdom George Paterson Triumph 22 0
60 United Kingdom Bob Matthews Norton 23 0
61 United Kingdom George Hayden Norton 24 0
62 United Kingdom John Purnell Norton 25 0
63 United Kingdom Lesly Hill Norton 26 0
64 United Kingdom Arthur Fenn Norton 27 0
65 United Kingdom Harry Francis Norton 28 0
66 United Kingdom Eric Hardy Norton 29 0
67 United Kingdom Jack Brett Norton 30 0
68 United Kingdom Lennart Fenning Norton 32 0
69 United Kingdom Rob Weston Norton 33 0
70 United Kingdom Joe Glazebrook Triumph 34 0
71 United Kingdom Joe Dent Norton 35 0
- United Kingdom Bob Foster Moto Guzzi Ret Ret Ret Ret 0
- Italy Carlo Bandirola Gilera Ret Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Eric Briggs Norton Ret Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Les Dear Norton Ret Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Ted Frend AJS Ret Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Fergus Anderson Moto Guzzi Ret Ret 0
- Republic of Ireland Wilf Billington Norton Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Norman Croft Triumph Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Frank Fry Norton Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Eric Oliver Norton Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom Ernie Thomas Triumph Ret Ret 0
- United Kingdom David Whitworth Triumph Ret Ret 0
- Italy Dario Ambrosini Gilera Ret 0
- United Kingdom Syl Anderton Triumph Ret 0
- United Kingdom Syd Barnett Norton Ret 0
- France Jean Behra Moto Guzzi Ret 0
- Italy Aldo Bernardoni Gilera Ret 0
- United Kingdom Ernie Braine Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Charlie Brett Velocette Ret 0
- Italy Aldo Brini Gilera Ret 0
- Republic of Ireland Gerard Carter Norton Ret 0
- Spain Javier de Ortueta Norton Ret 0
- Belgium Roland Dumond Moto Guzzi Ret 0
- Czech Republic Juhan Franta Moto Guzzi Ret 0
- Belgium Auguste Goffin Triumph Ret 0
- United Kingdom Arthur Good Norton Ret 0
- Switzerland Hans Haldemann Moto Guzzi Ret 0
- Netherlands Piet Knijnenburg BMW Ret 0
- Belgium Roger Laurent Moto Guzzi Ret 0
- United Kingdom Sid Lawton Triumph Ret 0
- United Kingdom Reg Lee Norton Ret 0
- Belgium Leon Martin Gilera Ret 0
- Republic of Ireland Reginald MacDonald Triumph Ret 0
- Isle of Man Tommy McEwans Triumph Ret 0
- Italy Armando Miele Gilera Ret 0
- United Kingdom Stan Miller Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Bert Myers Triumph Ret 0
- United Kingdom Billy Graham Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Ashley Len Parry Norton Ret 0
- Netherlands Hub Pellikaan BMW Ret 0
- United Kingdom Henry Pinnington Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Charlie Salt Norton Ret 0
- Italy Emilio Soprani Gilera Ret 0
- Netherlands Jan Veer Triumph Ret 0
- United Kingdom Roy Walker Norton Ret 0
- United Kingdom Tom Wycherley Norton Ret 0
Pos Rider Bike MAN
Isle of Man
SUI
Switzerland
HOL
Netherlands
BEL
Belgium
ULS
Ulster
NAT
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

Constructors' 500cc World Championship

Pos Constructor Isle of Man Switzerland Netherlands Belgium Ulster Italy Pts
1 United Kingdom AJS 6 1 2 1 1 3 32 (48)
2 Italy Gilera 2 1 2 3 1 31 (46)
3 United Kingdom Norton 1 3 4 4 2 Ret 25 (37)
4 Italy Moto Guzzi Ret 6 10 3 Ret 4 13
5 United Kingdom Velocette 3 5 Ret 10 12
6 United Kingdom Triumph 5 Ret 11 9 8 Ret 5
Germany BMW 15 0

350cc final standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 United Kingdom Freddie Frith United Kingdom Velocette 33 5
2 Republic of Ireland Reg Armstrong Ireland AJS 18 0
3 United Kingdom Bob Foster United Kingdom Velocette 16 0
4 Australia Eric McPherson Australia AJS 16 0
5 United Kingdom Johnny Lockett United Kingdom Norton 14 0
6 United Kingdom David Whitworth United Kingdom Velocette 12 0
7 United Kingdom Leslie Graham United Kingdom AJS 8 0
8 Republic of Ireland Ernie Lyons Ireland Velocette 8 0
9 United Kingdom Charlie Salt United Kingdom Velocette 8 0
10 United Kingdom Bill Doran United Kingdom AJS 7 0
250cc runner-up Dario Ambrosini.

250cc final standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Bruno Ruffo Italy Moto Guzzi 24 1
2 Italy Dario Ambrosini Italy Benelli 19 1
3 United Kingdom Ronald Mead United Kingdom Norton 13 0
4 United Kingdom Maurice Cann United Kingdom Moto Guzzi 11 1
5 Italy Claudio Mastellari Italy Moto Guzzi 11 0
6 Republic of Ireland Manliff Barrington Ireland Moto Guzzi 10 1
7 United Kingdom Tommy Wood United Kingdom Moto Guzzi 9 0
8 United Kingdom Fergus Anderson United Kingdom Moto Guzzi 8 0
9 Italy Gianni Leoni Italy Moto Guzzi 8 0
10 Italy Umberto Masetti Italy Benelli 7 0

125cc final standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 Italy Nello Pagani Italy Mondial 27 2
2 Italy Renato Magi Italy Morini 14 0
3 Italy Umberto Masetti Italy Morini 13 0
4 Italy Carlo Ubbiali Italy MV Agusta 13 0
5 Italy Gianni Leoni Italy Mondial 11 1
6 Italy Oscar Clemencich Italy Mondial 8 0
7 Italy Umberto Braga Italy Mondial 7 0
8 Italy Celeste Cavaciuti Italy Mondial 7 0
9 Italy Franco Bertoni Italy MV Agusta 6 0
10 Italy Giuseppe Matucci Italy MV Agusta 5 0

Sidecar final standings

Place Rider Number Country Machine Points Wins
1 United Kingdom Eric Oliver / Denis Jenkinson UK Norton 27 2
2 Italy Ercole Frigerio / Lorenzo Dobelli Italy Gilera 18 1
3 BelgiumUnited Kingdom Frans Vanderschrick / Martin Whitney Belgium/United Kingdom Norton 16 0
4 Italy Ernesto Merlo / Aldo Veglio Italy Gilera 13 0
5 Italy Albino Milani / Ezio Ricotti Italy Gilera 12 1
6 Switzerland Hans Haldemann / Herbert Läderach Switzerland Norton 8 0
7 Switzerland Roland Benz / Max Hirzel Switzerland BMW 6 0
8 Switzerland Jakob Keller / Ernst Brutschi Switzerland Gilera 6 0
9 United Kingdom Pip Harris / Neil Smith United Kingdom Norton 5 0

References

  • 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 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2010-07-06.