In a few days, Canadian rider Miguel Duhamel will be welcomed into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame. A native of Montreal and current resident of Las Vegas, he is one of the three most famous drivers in Canada, with his father Yvon and Mike Duff.
Mike Duff is a true legend in his own right. Second in the 250 World Championship in 1965 on Yamaha behind Phil Read, third in the 350 World Championship in 1964 on AJS, Michelle Ann Duff (born Michael Alan Duff) was the victim of a very serious accident in Japan in 1967, which required numerous operations. His recovery was documented in a short film, Ride for Your Life, from the National Film Board of Canada, directed by Robin Spry. She then underwent sexual reassignment surgery, then recounted her life as a woman in Make Haste, Slowly: The Mike Duff story.
Miguel Duhamel learned to ride a minimoto with his brother Mario and his sister Gina, in the paddocks of the circuits where their father Yvon rode official Kawasaki H1Rs and H2Rs at the height of his glory. Miguel won 28 Supersport races in the United States, which still constitutes the record. He also won five times in the Daytona 200, a record he shares with Scott Russell.
One of the most famous Canadian crazy drivers in Europe was Yvon Duhamel, who showed European journalists how to dive into a hotel swimming pool while driving a car. This type of distraction was not common on the old continent at the time.
If Mike Duff had a splendid career in GP, with three victories, at Spa in 250 in 1964, at Assen in 125 in 1965 and in 250 at Imatra the same year, on the other hand Miguel Duhamel made thirteen appearances there, including twelve in 1992 in finishing 12th in the World Championship for Yamaha France, the second for a single wild card in MotoGP at Gresini in 2007 at Laguna Seca.
His father Yvon made two appearances in GP, the first when he was completely unknown, then the second at the peak of his career, finishing twice in the top 5: Fourth in the 1967 Canadian Grand Prix in 250 on Yamaha, and fifth in the Dutch Grand Prix in 1975 on a 250 Kawasaki.
