Archive: John Surtees wins the 1960 Senior TT

This is John Surtees in 1960, en route to winning the Senior TT. His MV Agusta was easily the fastest bike compared to the following gaggle of Norton singles, with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes and 35.2 seconds, at an average speed of 102.44mph.

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MV Agusta team-mate, John Hartle, was second, three minutes behind, at a speed of 100.44mph. Hartle reversed those positions in the Junior.

Outclassed by the MVs, Mike Hailwood and his Norton came a remarkable third, just three minutes behind Hartle, with an average speed over the six laps of 98.29mph. Just think about that – 226 miles at almost 100mph average, on a single-cylinder Norton with 1960s suspension and tyres.

Talented riders and amazing bikes aside, spare a thought also for the photographer, shooting the fastest bike in Grand Prix racing, coming head-on, with a glass plate camera – no autofocus, no motordrive, slow shutter speeds and, oh, sitting on a grass bank on top of a mountain… 

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