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Competitor Profile: Bill Webster

TT Career Summary

Position56891112142663DNF
No of times1211211119

MGP Career Summary

Position16
No of times1

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Biography

Bill Webster first rode in the 1946 Lightweight 250 Manx Grand Prix finishing 16th on his Excelsior machine. The following year, he rode a similar marque into 11th position in the Lightweight 250 TT and taking 26th in the Junior on a Norton. 1948 to 1952 were years to forget for the Cheshire based, although Liverpool born motorcycle dealer, with eight races resulting in seven retirements and a rather lowly 63rd finishing position in the Junior of 1950. Having become a long time friend of Les Graham, Bill was one of the first people in Britain to obtain racing machines from the Italian MV Agusta factory. Riding these 'little' 125cc machines he finished 6th in the 1953 TT; 8th in 1954 and a best ever 5th in the 1955 races all on the Clypse course. During the same years, riding a Velocette in the Lightweight 250cc races, he gained 9th; 14th and 6th finishing positions. 1953,1954 and 1955 also saw "Websterini" collect the TT Club Team Awards for the Nantwich & DMC - sharing the honours with Fron Purslow, Cecil Sandford, Bill Lomas and Bill Maddrick. 1956 proved to be another year to forget, failing to finish in both of the races he entered. In the Lightweight 125cc TT of 1957, Bill took 11th place on the MV and in his final TT in 1958, again in the Ultra Lightweight class he took the chequered flag in 12th place. Although the racing leathers had been 'hung-up' Bill did not desert the sport, becoming very involved with Count Agusta as 'British Team Manager' and was instrumental in getting John Surtees, John Hartle and Mike Hailwood signed to the Italian factory. Having sold his succesful motorcycle business to the Kings of Oxford Group, he formed Italian Importers in 1960 bringing the Aermacchi racing machines into the UK and providing machines to many of the top riders of the time, including Stuart Graham in his early days. "Websterini's" as he became affectionately known died of a heart attack at Mallory Park in 1963, whilst watching some of his proteges.

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