‘We’ll miss his dry Yorkshire humour in the paddock’ – the sad passing of Don Padgett

Don Padgett, a regular competitor in the Manx Grand Prix during the 1960s and 70s, and who with his elder brother Peter put their motorcycle dealership of Padgett’s of Batley well and truly on the road racing map, passed away on Monday, November 13.

Troubled by health problems during recent years, Don had divided much of his time between his adopted home at Onchan, on the Isle of Man, and Portugal.

Padgett’s of Batley has been synonymous with road racing for generations, and from 1965 until 1980 the founding brothers, along with Peter’s sons Clive and Gary, were regular competitors in the Island’s Southern 100 held each July on the Billown circuit.

Peter and Don first lined up beside each other on the Castletown starting grid in 1965 on what were to become the famous Padgett Yamahas. Peter rode each year up to and including 1970, when he took a best eighth place in that year’s 350cc race, but Don, after taking a sabbatical in 1968-9, achieved his best Southern 100 results in 1972, with a third in the 350cc race and a second in the solo championship race.

Read more in January’s issue of OBM – on sale now!