We commemorate the death of GP rider Bill Ivy, who died 50 years ago today. Ivy won 21 Grand Prix in the sixties and was the 1967 125 champion.
Born on 27 August 1942 in Maidstone (Kent, UK), William David Ivy started his career at the end of the fifties on a 50cc Itom on the circuit of Brands Hatch.
He raced on the Isle of Man for the first time in 1962, and took part in races on circuits over the UK with different machines (Honda, Bultaco, Yamaha, Norton and Matchless). At the end of 1965 he took part in his first Grand Prix races.
A charismatic rider, team mate and opponent of Phil Read, he died on 12 July 1969 following a crash at Sachsenring.
His death raised a huge sadness in the paddock. He was not 33.