Peter Middleton (motorcyclist) explained

Peter Middleton
Birth Name:Peter Charles Middleton
Birth Date:3 December 1931
Birth Place:Doncaster, England
Death Place:Wakefield, England
Spouse: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

DateCircuit / RaceLapsMachinePos.Notes
28 May 1957Alton Towers 500cc8Norton 5001st
3-7 June 1957MGP Senior Newcomers4Norton 5002nd
3-7 June 1957MGP Senior8Norton 5009th
14th Sept 1957Oliver's Mount16Norton 5002nd
20th Sept 1958Oliver's Mount16Norton 5001st
Sept 1958MGP Senior7Norton 5007th
Sept 1959MGP Junior7Norton 3501st
Sept 1959MGP Senior7Norton 5006th
Sept 1960TT Junior6Norton 35015th
Sept 1960TT Senior6Norton 50014th
6 Aug 1960Ulster Grand Prix20Norton 3509th
6 Aug 1960Ulster Grand Prix20Norton 50010th
3 Apr 1961Cadwell Park Junior Solo Final8Norton 5003rd
3 Apr 1961Cadwell Park Easter Senior Final12Norton 5003rd
22 May 1961Cadwell Park Senior Solo Final12Norton 5003rd
1 Apr 1962Mallory Park (event 3) Final20Norton 3505th
23 Apr 1962Cadwell Senior Scratch Final8Norton 5003rd
11 Jun 1962Cadwell Junior Scratch Final8Norton 3503rd
11 Jun 1962Cadwell Senior Solo Scratch Final8Norton 5002nd
17 Jun 1962Oliver's Mount – "Cock 'o the North"14Norton 3501stFastest Lap
17 Jun 1962Oliver's Mount – "Cock 'o the North"14Norton 5001stFastest Lap
24 Jun 1962Ouston 350cc12Norton 3501st
24 Jun 1962Ouston 500cc12Norton 5001st
6 Aug 1962Cadwell Park Junior Scratch Final8Norton 3501stFastest Lap
6 Aug 1962Cadwell Coronation Trophy Final8Norton 5001stFastest Lap
16th Sept 1962Cadwell International Junior Final12Norton 3502nd
16th Sept 1962Cadwell International Championship Final12Norton 5004th
22nd Sept 1962Oliver's Mount Final16Norton 5001stFastest Lap

Death

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Peter Middleton Isle of Man TT Race Results – iomtt.com: The World's #1 TT Website. 15 August 2021. www.iomtt.com.
  2. Web site: Rial. Stevie. Scarborough Gold Cup/Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup Winners – Road Racing News. 15 August 2021. en-US.
  3. Web site: 2016-03-24. Oliver's Mount Circuit Records and Stats Devitt. 15 August 2021. www.devittinsurance.com. en.
  4. Web site: Peter Middleton RIP – Motorcycle Racing Nostalgia. 15 August 2021. The Autosport Forums. en.
  5. Web site: The Fastest Lap: A Tribute to Peter Middleton . IMDB.