John Hartle


John Hartle was an English professional road racer who competed in national, international and Grand Prix motorcycle events.

Motorcycling career

Born in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, Hartle began racing in 1952 when working for Eric Bowers Motorcycles, riding a BSA Gold Star at Brough Aerodrome, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Gaining more experience at other nearby short circuits including Cadwell Park and Oulton Park in 1953, he also finished in three out of four races entered in the 1953 and 1954 Isle of Man Manx Grand Prix.
He rode for the works Norton team during the 1955 season and again in 1956 in what would be factory team's last year in Grand Prix racing, returning to ride for Eric Bowers in 1957.
MV Agusta signed him in 1958 at the urging of John Surtees. He ended the season as runner-up to Surtees in the 500 and 350 classes. In 1960 he won his first Isle of Man TT race, the Junior TT event. After being released by MV Agusta, he then rode for Geoff Duke's privateer Gilera team, alongside Derek Minter.
In his early career Hartle was sponsored for non-championship races by Eric W Bowers Coaches and later Comerfords, a large London retailer of roadgoing and sporting motorcycles, until his retirement in 1964.
He returned to racing during 1967, winning the Isle of Man inaugural Production Race 750 category for road-based machines on a Triumph Thruxton Bonneville, and scoring World Championship points in both 350 cc and 500 cc races.
Hartle was killed in 1968 after crashing at the Oliver's Mount circuit in Scarborough.
Hartle was proud of his connection with his hometown of Chapel-en-le-Frith, always carrying the coat of arms as his 'pudding basin' helmet emblem with the Latin motto Cava et Spera, which translates to 'Caution and Hope'. He was recognised in his hometown in 2010 by a blue wall-plaque attached to the building which now stands where he used to live.

John Hartle Trophy

The John Hartle Trophy is an annual award at the Isle of Man TT Races. The trophy is presented to the winner of the Superstock TT.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results

YearClassTeam1234567891011PointsRankWins
1955350ccNortonFRA
-		IOM
6		GER
-		BEL
-		NED
-		ULS
2		NAT
-		79th0
1955500ccNortonESP
-		FRA
-		IOM
13		GER
-		BEL
-		NED
-		ULS
2		NAT
-		67th0
1956350ccNortonIOM
3		NED
-		BEL
-		GER
-		ULS
3		NAT
-		88th0
1956500ccNortonIOM
2		NED
-		BEL
-		GER
-		ULS
1		NAT
-		143rd1
1957250ccMV AgustaGER
-		IOM
-		NED
-		BEL
1		ULS
-		NAT
-		85th1
1957350ccNortonGER
2		IOM
NC		NED
6		BEL
-		ULS
4		NAT
6		115th0
1958350ccMV AgustaIOM
NC		NED
2		BEL
2		GER
2		SWE
-		ULS
2		NAT
2		242nd0
1958500ccMV AgustaIOM
NC		NED
2		BEL
3		GER
2		SWE
-		ULS
3		NAT
-		202nd0
1959350ccMV AgustaFRA
3		IOM
2		GER
-		BEL
-		SWE
2		ULS
-		NAT
-		162nd0
1959500ccMV AgustaFRA
-		IOM
NC		GER
-		NED
-		BEL
-		ULS
-		NAT
-		0–0
1960350ccMV AgustaFRA
-		IOM
1		NED
-		ULS
2		NAT
3		183rd1
1960500ccNortonFRA
-		IOM
2		NED
-		BEL
8		GER
-		ULS
1		NAT
5		163rd1
1961250ccHondaESP
-		GER
-		FRA
-		IOM
-		NED
-		BEL
NC		DDR
-		ULS
NC		NAT
NC		SWE
-		ARG
-		0–0
1963350ccGileraGER
-		IOM
2		NED
-		BEL
-		ULS
-		DDR
-		FIN
-		NAT
-		JPN
-		66th0
1963500ccGileraIOM
2		NED
1		BEL
-		ULS
2		DDR
-		FIN
-		NAT
-		ARG
-		203rd1
1964500ccNortonUSA
3		IOM
-		NED
-		BEL
-		GER
-		DDR
-		ULS
-		FIN
-		NAT
-		414th0
1967350ccAermacchiGER
-		IOM
7		NED
-		DDR
-		CZE
-		ULS
-		NAT
-		JPN
-		0–0
1967500ccMatchlessGER
-		IOM
6		NED
-		BEL
-		DDR
2		CZE
5		ULS
2		NAT
6		CAN
-		223rd0
1967500ccNortonFIN
2		223rd0
1968500ccMetisseGER
-		ESP
-		IOM
NC		NED
-		BEL
-		DDR
-		CZE
-		FIN
-		ULS
3		NAT
-		416th0