20 Facts About Tom Phillis

Thomas Edward Phillis was an Australian professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.

Tom Phillis was the first person to win a World Championship motorcycle race on a Japanese machine.

Tom Phillis was born in Sydney and grew up in Marrickville where his father was a despatch rider.

Tom Phillis became a keen bicycle racer, but retired from that sport after a serious crash at Henson Park.

Tom Phillis's father was supportive, and when he was 17, Phillis bought his first bike, a 1939 High Cam Sunbeam B25.

In 1952, Tom Phillis was called up for six months National Service, which he served in the Royal Australian Air Force.

Tom Phillis was well-liked, modest and known for his dry sense of humour.

Tom Phillis took his first win in the fourth event he entered, again riding the Velocette in the 2nd division Junior Clubman's race at the Mount Druitt circuit on 21 November 1954.

Tom Phillis was lauded as "Star of the Day" at his first appearance at Thruxton, where he won the 500cc Senior event after a race-long battle with Derek Powell and set a new 500cc lap record.

Tom Phillis repeated this "double" shortly afterwards at the International Vastkustloppet road race on the Falkenberg circuit near Skrea in Sweden, establishing himself as one of the top privateers in Europe.

On 1 May 1959, Tom Phillis won the prestigious, pre-season Mettet Grand Prix invitational race.

Tom Phillis was fifth in the 350cc Formula 1 TT, and retired from the Junior TT on the last lap with a broken con-rod while positioned at eleventh place.

Tom Phillis was seventh at the end of the first lap of the Senior TT, but struggled with torrential rain and high winds and eventually finished sixteenth.

Tom Phillis took part in the Senior TT on his Norton, and worked his way up from eighth on the first lap to finish fourth, behind Surtees, Hartle and Hailwood.

Tom Phillis was back for the Commonwealth Trophy meeting at Thruxton a month later, breaking the lap record and winning the 350cc race, and finishing third in the Commonwealth Trophy.

Tom Phillis fell off his 125cc Honda in Ulster while lying fourth, but did better at Brands Hatch a fortnight later, chasing Mike Hailwood throughout, despite being hampered by "a gearbox full of neutrals".

Tom Phillis began 1961 with equal prowess, when at the Victorian Grand Prix event at Phillip Island, he won the 250 and 350cc events on a Honda and the Senior A-grade race and 500cc events on a Norton, setting lap records for 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes.

Tom Phillis went on to win the FIM 1961 125cc World Championship.

Tom Phillis finished second to Mike Hailwood in the 250cc class.

Tom Phillis was cremated and his ashes were scattered at the TT race course startline.