4 replies to this topic

[Alan Lewis]

Four time Grand Prix winner of the 1970s, Australian John Dodds, has died, aged 80:

https://en.wikipedia..._(motorcyclist)

Edited by Alan Lewis, 02 February 2024 - 11:11.

[brands77]

Sad news. One of the very top privateers of the late 60s and 70s. FIM 750cc Champion in 1974 and I believe he played a big role in developing the Konig GP racer.

He had a very distinctive helmet design and was quite easy to spot in photos.

I think he retired to Germany and had a German wife.

There hasn't been much about it in the press yet. All I have been able to find is this https://countylocaln...torcyclesports/ and a brief report in Motorcycle News.

The first reports says he was born in England. I always thought he was Australian through and through, although I know sometimes he was listed as English in entry lists (for example, Rauch in the Motorrad Weltmeistershaft series lists him as English). Does anyone know the British/English connection was?

Edited by brands77, 03 February 2024 - 11:28.

[LittleChris]

Mat Oxley reported it on his X/Twitter account a few days ago.

 

https://twitter.com/...764991545970856

[Michael Ferner]

Sad to hear!

 

He certainly lived in Germany in the mid seventies, but I didn't know about the German wife, or that he still lived here - I don't recall anything on him in retirement in the German press - he just seemed to disappear! About him being born in Britain, I really don't know but would want to caution against assigned nationalities in German books, magazines or entry lists: it was common to list every person from Britain or the Commonwealth as English/England, no matter whether he was from Wales, Scotland, Zambia or New Zealand! The only possible deviation was to indiscriminately list people from Northern as well as Republic Ireland as Irish/Ireland, so that is mostly unhelpful as well! 

[greg1953]

I was at the big international at Silverstone, '73, the meeting where Kim Newcombe was killed, John Dodds was incredible through Woodcote, easily the fastest of the weekend.