Number Four
NUMBER FOUR
TOP MEN IN EUROPE:
B. R. Nicholls
MIKE DUFF
WE have a proverb that says “one swallow does not make a summer,” and if applied to racing one could say that two wins do not make a champion, but when the rider is the brilliant twenty-two-year-old Canadian Mike Duff, then it is only an indication of things to come.
Last season he won the Finnish Grand Prix and also another International race at Itarharjunajo where he set up a record lap. Whilst he was not successful on the short circuits of England, many experts noticed his forceful style and ability that took him into fourth place of the Belgian Grand Prix at an average speed of I 13.58 mph; he also had sixth place in the Ulster G. P. 350 class.
He was riding A.J.S. and Matchlr«^ machines during 1961 so spent the wintt. working at the factory gleaning all the gen he could, at the same time re-building both bikes in his spare time. It is essential for any rider in the Continental Circus to know his machines inside out as well as be able to ride them.
Will he make the grade in 1962? Well, he would not feature in this series if the answer to that question were ‘no,’ so watch the results for the name Mike Duff riding Ajay and Matchless this year. He has the ability to learn and the courage to reach the top of the tree and, to prove the point, this season has already won both classes of the Eifelrennen International meeting held on the upper loop of the difficult Nurburgring, with a 350cc class lap record for good measure.
