Changing times
The 250cc title chase
Like the 125s (as featured last month), the 250s were out on the Mountain Course for the first time in years* for the Lightweight 250cc TT and their GP season opener.
Lunchtime rain had stopped when the lone figure of Tarquinio Provini bumped off his reluctant Morini, to be pursued moments later by the MVs of Luigi Taveri and Carlo Ubbiali. But it was Gary Hocking (MV) who took the win, breaking 1954’s lap record from a standing start to take the lead, leaving Ubbiali and Provini to battle for second. Records tumbled every lap, with Carlo setting the final new best at 95.466mph. At the flag it was Hocking from Ubbiali and Provini with the Hondas of Bob Brown, Moto Kitano and Naomi Taniguchi completing the places.
At Assen, ‘expected’ order resumed with an MV one-two-three for Ubbiali, Hocking, Taveri, but there were mechanical problems. Hocking led for most of the race before his MV stuck in a high gear. John Hempleman’s MZ spluttered in fourth running rich, Ernst Degner’s MZ was sick in sixth with Mike Hailwood their filling astride an ageing Mondial. Gary and Carlo led on the fast Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, lapping at over 113mph, with
