Don Smith (motorcyclist)

Don Smith (29 December 1937 – 6 October 2004), was a British International motorcycle trials rider. He was born in London. Smith was the first FIM Trials World Champion in 1964 when the championship was known by its original title of Challenge Henry Groutars. Smith again won the title in 1967, before winning a final time in 1969. He died in a hospital on 6 October 2004 at the age of 66.[1]

Don Smith
Nationality British
Born(1937-12-29)29 December 1937
London, England
Died6 October 2004(2004-10-06) (aged 66)
Current teamRetired

Biography

Don Smith was the winner of what is regarded as the Inaugural FIM Trial World Championship in 1964, at the time known as the Challenge Henry Groutars Championship. He won ahead of German rider Gustav Franke,[1] taking wins at the French and German rounds. The following year he finished in 8th place in the championship. 1966 saw Smith back on form with a 2nd place finish behind rival Franke.

For the 1967 season Smith turned the tables on Franke, taking his factory Greeves to wins in Switzerland and Belgium and taking back the title. Smith left the Greeves camp at the end of 1967 and switched to the Montesa for the 1968 season, finishing 6th.[2]

The Challenge Henry Groutars was renamed the European Trials Championship for 1969, and this year saw Smith take his final championship title win, this time ahead of countryman Denis Jones and Sammy Miller.[3] 1970 was to be Smith's final year of competing in the European Championships and he ended the season in 8th place, with a season best of 3rd in Belgium behind Miller and Laurence Telling.

World Trials Championship

[4]

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Points Rank
1964 Greeves BEL
3		 FRA
1		 GER
1		 70 1st
1965 Greeves FRA
5		 BEL
21		 19 8th
1966 Greeves GER
-		 FRA
2		 BEL
1		 47 2nd
1967 Greeves SWI
1		 BEL
1		 GER
2		 FRA
3		 92 1st
1968 Montesa SWI
3		 GER
-		 BEL
-		 FRA
-		 GBR
4		 7 6th
1969 Montesa SUI
2		 FRA
5		 GER
2		 BEL
1		 GBR
2		 SWE
6		 51 1st
1970 Montesa GER
4		 FRA
-		 GBR
6		 BEL
3		 IRL
-		 SPA
10		 FIN
-		 SWE
-		 POL
-		 24 8th

Honors
  • Challenge Henry Groutars Trials Champion 1964, 1967 (later to become the World Championship)
  • European Trials Champion 1969

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References
  1. "Don Smith News". trialscentral.com. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  2. "Don Smith". twnclub.ch. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  3. "European Trials 1969". trialonline.org. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  4. "FIM World Championship". trialonline.org. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
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