Roger Barker A short life
n the earlier Junior TT he worked his way up to 8th place behind a string of works machines but was forced to retire with machine gremlins. Just three weeks earlier, he had celebrated his 30th birthday. Following the Isle of Man, Roger lined up for the Dutch TT at Assen on June 29th. He only gained a start when English Guzzi star Bill Lomas crashed in practice and was unable to start, but Roger made the most of the opportunity, finishing eighth in both the 350 and 500 races. Two weeks later was the fourth round of the Championships, at the fast and dangerous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, but on the same day there was an international event in East Germany which offered much better starting money for the impoverished privateers. Roger and his travelling companion Dick Thompson were soon on the road to East Germany to compete in
