Except where otherwise stated, the images shown here are the personal property of Phil Read MBE and may not be reproduced without his permission.
Please contact info@philread.org for more information.

Phil's father Robert Read was a Flight Engineer in the RAF.

If anyone can tell us about the plane or recognises the three guys in the photo, please get in touch.

Phil's father Robert Read during his time as a college lecturer

Phil aged 17 on the Duke BSA outside his family home in Luton. The bike was the ex-Alan Rutherford BSA 500 which he had campaigned the previous year.

Any more information on Alan Rutherford or the Duke BSA would be welcomed (tried Google and there's nothing out there!)

A painting of Phil riding the Kirby 350 AJS.

Any more information on this bike would be welcomed.

"The Yamaha RD56 made its debut at newly built Suzuka circuit in 1962 on the occasion of 'The First Suzuka All Japan Road Race Championship Event'. Since 1963, RD56 took part in the World Championship Grand Prix 250 class for 3 years. In 1963, Japanese riders such as Fumio Itoh, Yoshikazu Sunako and Hiroshi Hasegawa matured this model. Fuel bubbling problem caused by engine vibration which occurred in its first year was solved by modifying mounting of float chamber. In 1963 F. Itoh's win at the Belgian GP, the first GP win for Yamaha, arose expectations for the coming years. But in 1964, Yamaha ace rider F. Itoh crashed at the Singapore GP, a non-championship event, prior to the season opening and suffered head injury. Later Itoh disappeared from the GP scene due to this accident. When the season opened, Yamaha's newcomer Phil Read showed his potential. Read won five races this year and presented Yamaha its first World Championship Title. In 1965, Read won seven races and Mike Duff won one race. By these wins Yamaha defended the World Championship 250cc title that year"
Picture and Text  © Seevert Works 2001

Phil (in the foreground) relaxes at the 1966 Finnish GP with Giacomo Agostini, Mike  Hailwood and Bill Ivy

Phil won the 125cc race (Yamaha), Hailwood the 250 (Honda) and Ago the 350 and the 500cc races (MV)

What does that say on Mike's t-shirt???

Shown leading Mike Hailwood.
Phil was riding the Yamaha factory four cylinder 250, Mike on the legendary Honda 250-6.

Phil on the four cylinder 250cc Yamaha leading Bill Ivy

What a great picture this is!

For a period, Phil lived in Guernsey and sported the Guernsey crest on his helmet.

Phil was riding the 250-4 Yamaha. This photo was taken coming up to the Bungalow, where a puncture forced his retirement.

The race was won by Kel Carruthers.

Phil on the 350 production Yamaha (air cooled).

Model TD2 or TD3? (Please let us know if you have any more info on this bike)

Phil was riding the 250-4 Benelli.

Again, the race was won by Kel Carruthers (Benelli) when Phil failed to finish.

This is an extract from "Motor Cycle" dated 1st April 1970.

It wasn't a joke - he slid into the 350 Yamaha and broke a bone in his wrist.

This was the first race of the Italian motorcycling calendar.

Phil on the rostrum having just won the 500cc GP at Imatra

He went on to take the 1974 500cc World Championship for MV Agusta with four wins.

Phil in action at Brno.

He went on to win the 500cc GP on the four cylinder MV Agusta

On the MV Agusta 500-4

Note that Phil is racing with the No.2 even though he was World Champion at the time. It was the practice in those days (still is?) to allow the No.1 plate to the current British Champion.

Who was that in 1974?

Same race as above.

Winner.

On the start line at Brands Hatch in 1974.
Phil is the World Champion (No.1). Ago on his right - both on MV 500-4s.
The partially hidden bike (No.3?) on the far left is Barry Sheene on the Suzuki twin (?).

If anyone knows anything about the mechanic in blue overalls on the left or the identity of the rider on the "Jeff's Motor Spares" Norton on the right, please let us know.

MV500-4.

MV500-4

Race of the Year on the privateer Yamaha 750

The Island was stripped of World Championship status in 1977 and responded with the Formula 1 - a one race World Championship. The 1000cc four stroke Honda was based on their successful endurance racers of the time (and forerunner of their CB900 DOHC road bike).

Montage of the above with Phil on the winner's rostrum.

Many authorities don't count the TT Formula 1 as a "real" World Championship - hence the discrepancy between Phil's eight World Championships (or seven as some would have it).

On the TT Formula 1 Honda

What about this then! Phil and his wife Angie in a magazine ad for his branded fairings.

"With a Phil Read fairing you don't need to wear anything else!"

Taken at the Gilera Evening, Yorkshire Air Museum on 23rd September 2000. In black behind Phil is Umberto Masetti (1926-2006) who won Gilera's first world championship in 1950 on the 500-4. Also, pillion to Phil Read is Bill Lomas (1928-2007), two-times world champion in 1955 and 1956 on the 350 Moto Guzzi.

Phil's iconic helmet design was inspired by that campaigned by Lomas at the time.

Photo by Doug Peel.

International Classic GP motorcycle racing with Phil on the Duke BSA

International Classic GP motorcycle racing with Phil on the Duke BSA replica

Phil riding the Paton in Belgium.

Phil riding the Paton at a memorial event.

Phil with Nobby Clarke and Steve Whynne. Phil is sitting on the 1953 MV Agusta 500-4

Phil is clearly impressed by the volume produced by Ago's MV 500 Replica.

Grid girls :)

Riding the Paton

Phil with Ferry Brouwer - former Yamaha GP mechanic, original importer of Arai helmets to Europe in the early '80s and manager of the Yamaha Classic Racing Team.

The partnership continues to this day with the Arai Chaser Phil Read Replica helmet.

A nice portrait of Phil.

Get your "PR Replica" cap on our Shop page!

Phil raises a shower of sparks from the Matchless G30 as he chases Jamie Whitham.

Photo © Mark Steadman 2009

Riding the ex-Kenny Roberts Yamaha OW54

Photo © Mark Steadman 2009

With Brian and Shirley (and the Yamaha)

A famous photo showing Giacomo Agostini (1), John Surtees (J1S), Phil Read (29), John Cooper (5) and Gianfranco Bonera (1).

They all like to be No 1 don't they!

Phil and Ago with Jay Leno in LA.