Derek Minter: 1932-2015
Derek Minter, a motorcycle grand prix frontrunner inꩵ the 1950s and '60s, has died at the age of💫 82.
Minter may only hꩲave started 25 grands prix, but the Englishman finished on the podium eight times while entering the full range of 50cc, 1🎉25cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes.
During a ten-year period the versatile Minter raced Norto🥀n, MZ, Morini, Honda and Gilera machinery, claiming a best of fifth overall in the 1ꦛ958 500cc World Championship for Norton.
Derek Minter, a motorcycle grand prix frontrunner in the 1950s an꧅d '60s, ♏has died at the age of 82.
Minter may only have star🍸ted 2🦩5 grands prix, but the Englishman finished on the podium eight times while entering the full range of 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes.
During a ten-year period the versatile Minter raced Norton, MZ, Morini, Honda and Gilera machinery, claiming a best of fifth overall in the 1958 500cc World Championship for Norto♋n.
Minte🐬r, who began his motorsport career as a mechanic, later claimed what would be his only grand p🤡rix victory in the 1962 250cc Isle of Man TT, riding a Honda.
The following year saw Minter join Geoff Duke's 500cc Gilera team with the aim of trying to prize the crown away from Mike Hailwood. Minter toඣok two podiums 🤪in two races before serious injuries in a non-Grand Prix event at his local Brands Hatch circuit ended his season.
Minter made a (podium-less) return in the 350cc class🀅 for 1964, before tak൩ing his final rostrums in the 500cc class in '65 and '66. He retired after a further one-off appearance in 1967.
Born and raised in Kent, Minter was labelled the King of Brands, where he als🥀o has a straight named in his honour.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefron🍬t of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
