Phil Read Obituary

Phil Read, MBE was a professional motorcycle racer from England. From 1961 to 1976, he competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

Phil Read MBE, passed away on October 6, 2022, at his home in England. His family released this statement: It is with incredible sadness that the Read family reports the passing of Phil Read MBE while peacefully asleep on the morning of October 6th, 2022, at his home in Canterbury, England.

Phillip William Read was born on January 1, 1939, in the large Bedfordshire town of Luton. Read enjoyed riding his motorcycle and worked as an apprentice fitter at Brown and Green, a Luton-based manufacturer of industrial machinery.

His first road bike was a Velocette KSS, which he began riding when he was sixteen years old, in 1955, followed by a BSA Gold Star DBD32.

Read is notable for being the first competitor to win world championships in three different classes: 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc.

Despite being overshadowed by his contemporary, Mike Hailwood, he won seven FIM Grand Prix world championships in road racing. Read was named a FIM Legend in 2013 for his achievements in motorcycle racing.