Chas Mortimer

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Chas Mortimer
NationalityBritish
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1969 - 1979, 1984
First race1969 Isle of Man TT 125cc Lightweight TT
Last race1984 250cc South African Grand Prix
First win1971 Isle of Man TT 125cc Lightweight TT
Last win1976 Isle of Man TT 350cc Junior TT
Team(s)Yamaha
Championships0
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
107 7 39 3 5 730

Charles Mortimer (born 14 April 1949) is an English former professional motorcycle short-circuit road racer and race-school instructor. He competed in the Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world championships from 1969 to 1979.[1] He remains the only competitor to have won FIM Grand Prix races in the 125, 250, 350, 500 and 750 world championship classes.[2]

Motorcycle racing career[edit]

Born in Shere, Surrey, UK, Mortimer is the son of Charles Mortimer Senior, a former motorcycle road racer and proprietor of the Charles Mortimer Race School based at Brands Hatch race circuit, Kent. The school was originally named in 1963 as the Beart-Mortimer racing school, with engine tuner Francis Beart being a partner to Mortimer Senior which ended in 1965 due to Beart's other business involvements.[3] From 1966 the venues included Cadwell Park, Silverstone and Mallory Park.[4][5]

Mortimer began racing in 1965 on a Greeves Silverstone as used by the race school.[6] At 18 years of age in 1967, Mortimer was one of the school's instructors, with Paul Smart being another. Both were competitive riders sponsored by Charles Senior, riding from a stable of machines consisting of RDS Greeves 250s, a Bultaco 125 and an Aermacchi 350.[7] He competed for most of his career as a privateer riding Yamaha motorcycles. When Mortimer won the 1972 500cc Spanish Grand Prix on a Yamaha, it marked the first 500cc Grand Prix victory for the Japanese manufacturer.[2] He had his best Grand Prix season in 1973 when he finished second to Kent Andersson in the 125cc world championship.[1] Mortimer also competed successfully at the Isle of Man TT, with eight victories at the event.[8][9] In 1976, he won the Macau Grand Prix.

In the 1970s Mortimer operated a race school and ran a business in Reading, Berkshire importing motorcycle parts .[10][11] As of 2013 he is running a transportation company specialising in transportation of motorcycles.[6] His brother Robin Mortimer had a long career in motor sport. When he died in 2007, he was manager of RPM Motorsport with his son Alex as driver in GT class.[12]

Grand Prix motorcycle racing results[edit]

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Points Rank Wins
1969 125cc Villa ESP
-
GER
-
FRA
-
IOM
NC
NED
-
BEL
-
DDR
-
CZE
-
FIN
6
NAT
-
YUG
-
5 32nd 0
250cc Yamaha ESP
-
GER
-
FRA
-
IOM
NC
NED
-
BEL
-
DDR
-
CZE
-
FIN
9
ULS
5
NAT
-
YUG
-
8 22nd 0
1970 125cc Villa GER
-
FRA
-
YUG
-
IOM
NC
NED
-
BEL
6
DDR
-
CZE
-
FIN
-
NAT
-
ESP
-
5 31st 0
250cc Yamaha GER
3
FRA
-
YUG
7
IOM
4
NED
-
BEL
8
DDR
-
CZE
6
FIN
-
ULS
-
NAT
-
ESP
-
30 6th 0
350cc Yamaha GER
3
YUG
8
IOM
NC
NED
-
DDR
-
CZE
10
FIN
10
ULS
-
NAT
-
ESP
-
15 15th 0
1971 125cc Yamaha AUT
-
GER
7
IOM
1
NED
5
BEL
5
DDR
-
CZE
7
SWE
-
FIN
6
NAT
-
ESP
2
48 5th 1
250cc Yamaha AUT
-
GER
-
IOM
NC
NED
5
BEL
5
DDR
7
CZE
4
SWE
-
FIN
4
ULS
-
NAT
-
ESP
3
42 8th 0
1972 125cc Yamaha GER
2
FRA
2
AUT
-
NAT
2
IOM
1
YUG
2
NED
-
BEL
2
DDR
2
CZE
2
SWE
3
FIN
-
ESP
2
87 3rd 1
250cc Yamaha GER
7
FRA
-
AUT
5
NAT
-
IOM
14
YUG
-
NED
-
BEL
-
DDR
-
CZE
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
ESP
4
18 14th 0
350cc Yamaha GER
-
FRA
-
AUT
-
NAT
-
IOM
NC
YUG
-
NED
-
DDR
-
CZE
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
ESP
-
0 - 0
500cc Yamaha GER
-
FRA
-
AUT
-
NAT
-
IOM
-
YUG
2
NED
5
BEL
-
DDR
5
CZE
-
SWE
8
FIN
-
ESP
1
42 6th 1
1973 125cc Yamaha FRA
-
AUT
-
GER
-
NAT
-
IOM
-
YUG
2
NED
3
BEL
3
CZE
2
SWE
3
FIN
5
ESP
1
75 2nd 1
250cc Yamaha FRA
7
AUT
3
GER
-
IOM
-
YUG
5
NED
5
BEL
7
CZE
-
SWE
10
FIN
-
ESP
3
40 6th 0
500cc Yamaha FRA
-
AUT
-
GER
-
IOM
-
YUG
-
NED
-
BEL
-
CZE
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
ESP
4
8 24th 0
1974 250cc Yamaha GER
-
NAT
-
IOM
3
NED
6
BEL
-
SWE
4
FIN
-
CZE
8
YUG
1
ESP
-
41 6th 1
350cc Yamaha FRA
-
GER
-
AUT
2
NAT
5
IOM
NC
NED
-
SWE
6
FIN
-
YUG
-
ESP
5
29 5th 0
500cc Yamaha FRA
8
GER
-
AUT
-
NAT
-
IOM
NC
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
-
FIN
-
CZE
10
4 28th 0
1975 250cc Yamaha FRA
7
ESP
4
GER
-
NAT
-
IOM
1
NED
-
BEL
7
SWE
10
FIN
-
CZE
8
YUG
2
46 6th 1
350cc Yamaha FRA
-
ESP
-
AUT
-
GER
7
NAT
8
IOM
2
NED
9
FIN
-
CZE
-
YUG
3
31 6th 0
500cc Yamaha FRA
-
AUT
-
GER
-
NAT
-
IOM
3
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
-
FIN
4
CZE
6
23 11th 0
1976 250cc Yamaha FRA
12
NAT
4
YUG
5
IOM
3
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
5
FIN
-
CZE
-
GER
10
ESP
12
31 7th 0
350cc Yamaha FRA
-
AUT
8
NAT
-
YUG
2
IOM
1
NED
3
FIN
4
CZE
4
GER
-
ESP
Ret
54 3rd 1
500cc Yamaha FRA
13
AUT
-
NAT
-
IOM
NC
NED
-
BEL
7
SWE
3
FIN
-
CZE
9
GER
9
16 14th 0
1977 250cc Yamaha VEN
-
GER
-
NAT
-
ESP
-
FRA
-
YUG
-
NED
-
BEL
13
SWE
6
FIN
15
CZE
-
GBR
-
5 27th 0
350cc Yamaha VEN
-
GER
-
NAT
10
ESP
14
FRA
-
YUG
-
NED
12
SWE
-
FIN
12
CZE
-
GBR
-
1 36th 0
1978 250cc Yamaha VEN
-
ESP
10
FRA
7
NAT
-
NED
-
BEL
-
SWE
8
FIN
-
GBR
-
GER
7
CZE
-
YUG
-
12 18th 0
1979 250cc Yamaha VEN
9
GER
-
NAT
-
ESP
-
YUG
-
NED
-
BEL
2
SWE
-
FIN
-
GBR
-
CZE
-
FRA
-
14 13th 0
1984 250cc Yamaha RSA
23
NAT
-
ESP
-
AUT
-
GER
-
FRA
-
YUG
-
NED
-
BEL
-
GBR
-
SWE
-
RSM
-
0 - 0

Sources:[1][9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Chas Mortimer career statistics". motogp.com. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. ^ a b Oxley, Mat (February 2012). "All I ever wanted to do was race". Classic Bike (385): 78–84. ISSN 0142-890X. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  3. ^ Motor Cycle, 21 February 1963, pp.218-219. Tuners at work by David Dixon. "And for this season, more riders than in any post war year sent their machinery down Guildford way to Francis Beart during the winter. In 30 years, he has gained an enviable reputation." Accessed and added 2014-08-28
  4. ^ Motor Cycle, 28 October 1965, p.627. Racing Line by David Dixon. "Now that pressure of work has forced Francis Beart to give up his interest in the Beart-Mortimer Racing School at Brands Hatch, the name has been changed to the Charles Mortimer Racing School." Accessed and added 2014-08-12
  5. ^ Motor Cycle, 21 July 1966, p.101. What's On "Address of the Charles Mortimer Racing School is now 'Dewdney', Ewhurst Road, Shere, Surrey". Accessed and added 2014-08-12
  6. ^ a b [1] Archived 22 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine Chas Mortimer, official site. Retrieved 2013-06-22
  7. ^ Motor Cycle, 3 August 1967. p.1072/75. 'School for Road Racers'. "The instructors are now Charles II and Paul Smart, both of whom, rather confusingly, are also under Charles Mortimer I's sponsorship as riders in their own right." Accessed 2013-08-09
  8. ^ "Chas Mortimer profile". iomtt.com. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Chas Mortimer Isle of Man TT results". iomtt.com. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  10. ^ Motor Cycle News 4 February 1981, p.48 Advert. Chas Mortimer Yamaha Racing School. "Come and learn to race with the expert tuition of Chas Mortimer on one of our twelve race kitted RD400 Yamahas". Accessed and added 2014-10-04
  11. ^ Motor Cycle News 15 August 1979 p.52 Advert "Chas Mortimer Imports 12 Fern Walk, Calcot, Reading, Berkshire. Yamaha Racing Spares Parts". Accessed and added 2014-10-01
  12. ^ [2] The Telegraph online. Retrieved 2013-06-22


Sporting positions
Preceded by Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Winner
1976
Succeeded by