Top Men In Europe:

TOP MEN IN EUROPE:

ALAN SHEPHERD

B. R. Nicholls

FEW RIDERS make meteoric rises to fame in the motorcycle game, for the skill required to race successfully comes only with experience coupled with natural ability. 28-year-old Alan Shepherd started racing in 1956 and his first major success came two years later when he won the junior Manx Grand Prix on the AJS. Two days later he was leading the Senior race when he broke a chain on the last lap.

Following a mediocre season in 1959, Alan started the 1960 season in grand style by winning the North West 200 road race by a couple of lengths from Bob McIntyre. But his finest ride was in the 350 class of the Ulster Grand Prix where he rode an AJS and, in staying with John Surtees’ M.V., Alan set a new lap record. His moment of glory ended after four laps when the timing chain broke. But the M.V. camp could not believe the four had been beaten by the British single and protested. The engine was measured and was of course under 350cc.

In 1961 Alan started badly with a crash in Italy which spoilt a contract to ride M.Z. machinery but the association with the East German concern has continued and Alan has ridden their two-strokes as often as possible. Politics, however, have prevented him doing a full season which might have meant a world title.

For the past two years Alan has been runner-up in the world 500cc road race title‘but has only won one grand prix and that was the Finnish in 1962. His ambition is to win the 500cc title but that opportunity will not arise in 1964 although it might well do so in 1965. Plans for 1964 are still uncertain hut whatever he rides there is no doubt Alan will he doing his best to win. •