Often, spoilsport marks a season, but then disappear. You know, the “outsiders” are those drivers that few expect, but who are ultimately very fast and even battle with the best, most of the time without winning the championship but finishing well placed. These are the Cal Crutchlow, John Zarco or again, Enea Bastianini. Today, we are going to pay tribute to the first of its kind, the one who, even if he never won a single race, made the favorites tremble: Robert N. Brown.
In his life, nothing predestined him to occupy this place in the world championship. Born in Sydney in 1930, he left his taxi business in Australia to devote himself to his passion:
motorcycle competition.
He gained popularity after his notable debut in 1955, and his handlebars allowed him to perform well occasionally. A golden opportunity presented itself in 1957.
Free Free yourself, favorite for the 500cc world champion title on Gilera, doesn't want to run
Tourist trophy, which he considers too dangerous. From the 1950s, the number of deaths frightened a lot of pilots, and we understand them. The Italian firm, determined to line up at the start, chose the Australian as a replacement. Bob Brown did not miss the opportunity, and finished third, in 350cc and 500cc;
he even gets ahead
John Surtees in the most prestigious of categories!
Bob Brown at Assen in 1959. Photo: ANEFO
Unfortunately, this performance came to nothing because Gilera, like many other Italian manufacturers, withdrew from the world championship at the end of the year. Here he is back on private machines. Our thief races three categories per weekend, and he plays at the front every time.. In 1959, on Norton, he excelled against the MV Agusta much superior. Surtees is totally crushing the season, but in 350cc as in 500cc, he is the first of the riders who does not ride the Italians. At TT Assen, he had the luxury of beating Remo Venturi in 500cc for second place. Clearly, he is one of the top drivers of this season, and there is no doubt that he would have tickled
Surtees if it was equipped with the same equipment. In both classes, he is ahead
Gary Hocking (350cc and 500cc world champion 1961) and Geoff Duke (six-time world champion).
That puts you in good stead.
Almost 30 years old, Brown is relatively young and can still aspire to great things in 1960. Now a Honda driver in 125cc and 250cc, he is even more formidable in 500cc, but again, his Norton does not play in the same league as the MV Agusta from Surtees. With three podiums in the first four races, he is in the game, until this terrible accident in Stuttgart, on the Solitude circuit. During the 250cc test session, Bob slowly fell when entering the pits, but unfortunately, this loss of control proves fatal. After colliding with a fence, a serious injury to his skull took the edge off his condition.
With 13 podiums in 29 races, Bob is undoubtedly one of the best drivers to have never won, with the Colin Edwards and other Johann zarco. Doubly a victim of his time, due to the dangerousness of the tracks but also the MV Agusta domination, today we must pay tribute to the Australian who certainly has not been forgotten by his competitors.
Did you know this driver? Tell us in the comments!
Cover photo: ANEFO
