Leslie Graham

Robert Leslie (Les) Graham (14/09/1911 to 12/06/1953) Raced motorcycles in the 30s. After war service in the RAF, a bomber pilot who won the DFC for bravery, he returned to racing in the 40s as a member of the Factory AJS racing team.

With the inauguration of the motorcycle World Championships in 1949, (This was 1 year before the Formula 1 Car World championships began) Les was the 1st winner of the prestigious 500cc class.

Leading by 90 secs the 1st round, the I.O.M TT, with only a few miles to go the magneto drive sheared and he pushed home to finish 9th. He won round 2 in Switzerland & set fastest lap (in year 1 fastest laps counted for 1 point). Round 3 was the Dutch TT. 2nd to Nello Pagani. Round 4 a non finsh in Belgium. Round 5 was the Ulster GP with a win & fastest lap. The final round was in Italy where local hero Nello Pagani on a Gilera won. A riders best 3 finishes counted. Les had 2 wins & a second, Pagani had 2 wins & a 3rd. Les took the title though Pagani's overall score was higher. In 1950 Les finished 3rd behind Italian Umberto Masetti (Gilera) & new star Geoff Duke (Norton) of England. Frustrated by a lack of development with the AJS, in 1951 Les joined the Italian MV Agusta team to ride & develop their 500cc 4 cylinder machine(s). No points were scored in that year.

For 1952 no pts in round 1 (Swiss GP), 2nd in the I.O.M though a missed gear change & subsequent loss of power undoubtably robbed him of a win. Reg Armstrong (Ireland) riding a factory Norton snatched victory, though as he crossed the finish line when his chain broke. No points in the Dutch TT nor the Belgian GP; 4th & fastest lap in West Germany. Non finish but fastest lap in the Ulster (Tyre tread problems with his Dunlops) followed by MVs first ever 500cc win + fastest lap in front of an enthusiastic Italian crowd at Monza. This was followed by win 2, in Spain. The result was 2nd to Masetti (Gilera) in the championship.

1953 & pre season Les was tipped to win the championship again. Alas this was not to be. In the Friday's Senior TT in the Isle of Man Les lost control of the bike at high speed as he took the rise after the bottom of Bray Hill & was killed instantly. This was 1 day after his 1st ever TT win, the 125cc class. This race had been postponed for bad weather for that Wednesday.

Les finished 8th in the 1951 125cc championships (MV)& 4th in 1952. His win in 1953 gave him 5th place (posthumously). He was 3rd in the 1952 250cc Championship using Velocette and Benelli machines.

by Brian Clark