Fergus Anderson

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Fergus Anderson
Fergus Anderson.jpg
Anderson in 1954
NationalityBritish
Born(1909-02-09)9 February 1909
Croydon, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Died6 May 1956(1956-05-06) (aged 47)
Floreffe, Belgium
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1949 – 1954
First race1949 250 cc Swiss Grand Prix
Last race1954 350 cc Spanish Grand Prix
First win1951 500 cc Swiss Grand Prix
Last win1954 350 cc Spanish Grand Prix
Team(s)Moto Guzzi
Championships350 cc – 1953, 1954
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
26 12 24 0 11
Isle of Man TT career
TTs contested5 (1939, 1951 – 1954)
TT wins2
First TT win1952 Lightweight TT
Last TT win1953 Lightweight TT
Podiums3

Fergus Kenrick Anderson (9 February 1909 – 6 May 1956) was a British professional motorcycle racer. He was a two-time Grand Prix World Champion.[1] His name appears on the Nazis' "most wanted" list drawn up prior to their intended invasion of Britain (published online as "Hitler's Black Book" by Forces War Records).[2]

Anderson was one of the first riders from Great Britain to make his living racing motorcycles on the European continent. In 1950 he signed with Moto Guzzi and competed in the 250 cc class. He convinced Moto Guzzi to build a 350 cc bike, initially of 320 cc but later a full 350. He raced to the 1953 world championship in the bike's first year of competition. Anderson became the oldest competitor in FIM history to win a Grand Prix race when, he won the 1953 Spanish Grand Prix at the age of 44 years and 273 days.[3] He repeated this feat as 350 cc champion again in 1954. His 350 cc world championship wins were the first by a non-British bike.

He retired from racing to become Moto Guzzi's team manager, but quit over a dispute over having a freer hand at running the team. He returned to racing and was offered a ride by the BMW factory. He died in 1956 after being thrown from his bike at a race in Floreffe, Belgium.[4]

Motorcycle Grand Prix results[1][]

1949 point system

Position 1 2 3 4 5 Fastest lap
Points 10 8 7 6 5 1

Points system from 1950 to 1968

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6
Points 8 6 4 3 2 1

5 best results were counted up until 1955.

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Points Rank Wins
1949 250cc Moto Guzzi IOM
- 		SUI
3 		ULS
- 		NAT
- 		8 8th 0
1950 250cc Moto Guzzi IOM
- 		SUI
- 		ULS
- 		NAT
2 		6 3rd 0
1951 250cc Moto Guzzi ESP
- 		SUI
- 		IOM
NC 		BEL
- 		NED
- 		FRA
4 		ULS
- 		NAT
- 		3 8th 0
500cc Moto Guzzi ESP
- 		SUI
1 		IOM
- 		BEL
- 		NED
- 		FRA
- 		ULS
- 		NAT
- 		8 7th 1
1952 250cc Moto Guzzi SUI
1 		IOM
1 		NED
3 		GER
- 		ULS
- 		NAT
3 		24 2nd 2
1953 250cc Moto Guzzi IOM
1 		NED
2 		GER
- 		ULS
3 		SUI
3 		NAT
- 		ESP
3 		22 4th 1
350cc Moto Guzzi IOM
3 		NED
- 		BEL
1 		FRA
1 		ULS
- 		SUI
1 		NAT
2 		ESP
- 		34 1st 3
500cc Moto Guzzi IOM
- 		NED
- 		BEL
- 		GER
- 		FRA
- 		ULS
- 		SUI
- 		NAT
- 		ESP
1 		8 9th 1
1954 250cc Moto Guzzi FRA
- 		IOM
5 		ULS
- 		NED
- 		GER
- 		SUI
- 		NAT
- 		2 15th 0
350cc Moto Guzzi FRA
- 		IOM
NC 		ULS
- 		BEL
2 		NED
1 		GER
- 		SUI
1 		NAT
1 		ESP
1 		38 1st 4
500cc Moto Guzzi FRA
- 		IOM
NC 		ULS
- 		BEL
- 		NED
2 		GER
5 		SUI
- 		NAT
- 		ESP
- 		8 7th 0

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Fergus Anderson career statistics". motogp.com. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Hitler's Black Book – information for Fergus Anderson". forces-war-records.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  3. ^ "MotoGP: Rossi Beats Bayliss and is the Oldest Rider to Win". gpone.com. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Fergus Anderson career profile at Motorsport Memorial". motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
Sporting positions
Preceded by 350cc Motorcycle European Champion
1947 		Succeeded by
Preceded by 350cc Motorcycle World Champion
1953—1954 		Succeeded by
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