Gary Hocking
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| Motorcycle Grand Prix Career | |
| Nationality |  Rhodesian |
|---|---|
| Active years | 1958 - 1962 |
| Team(s) | MZ, MV Agusta |
| Grands Prix | 38 |
| Championships | 350cc - 1961 500cc - 1961 |
| Wins | 19 |
| Podium finishes | 33 |
| Pole positions | N/A |
| Fastest laps | N/A |
| First Grand Prix | 1958 500cc Dutch TT |
| First win | 1959 250cc Swedish Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1962 500cc Isle of Man TT |
| Last Grand Prix | 1962 500cc Isle of Man TT |
Gary Stuart Hocking (September 30, 1937 - December 21, 1962) was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.
Hocking was born in Caerleon, Newport, Wales but was raised in Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe. As a teenager, he began racing motorcycles on grass tracks. Before long, he had moved on to road racing circuits.
He left Rhodesia to compete in Europe in 1958 and made an immediate impact, finishing 3rd behind the works MV Agustas at the Nürburgring. In 1959, he was offered a ride by the East German MZ factory and finished 2nd in the 250cc championship. MV Agusta offered him full factory support for the 1960 season and he repaid their confidence by finishing 2nd in the 125cc, 250cc and 350cc classes. Following the retirement from motorcycle racing by defending champion, John Surtees in 1961, Hocking became MV Agusta's top rider and went on to claim dual World Championships in the 350cc and 500cc classes.
Hocking was affected deeply by the death of his friend, Tom Phillis at the 1962 Isle of Man TT. After winning the Senior TT, he announced his retirement from motorcycle racing and returned to Rhodesia. He felt motorcycle racing was too dangerous and decided a career in auto racing would be safer. Ironically, later that year he was killed during practice for the Natal Grand Prix at the Westmead Circuit in Natal, South Africa. His car, a Lotus 24, went straight on a fast curve and somersaulted after hitting a ditch. He was 25 years old.
[edit] Motorcycle Grand Prix results
| Year | Class | Classification | Machine | Victories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 500cc | 6th | Norton | 0 |
| 1959 | 125cc | 9th | MZ | 0 |
| 1959 | 250cc | 2nd | MZ | 2 |
| 1959 | 350cc | 4th | Norton | 0 |
| 1959 | 500cc | 5th | Norton | 0 |
| 1960 | 125cc | 2nd | MV Agusta | 0 |
| 1960 | 250cc | 2nd | MV Agusta | 2 |
| 1960 | 350cc | 2nd | MV Agusta | 2 |
| 1961 | 250cc | 8th | MV Agusta | 1 |
| 1961 | 350cc | 1st | MV Agusta | 4 |
| 1961 | 500cc | 1st | MV Agusta | 7 |
| 1962 | 350cc | 8th | MV Agusta | 0 |
| 1962 | 500cc | 5th | MV Agusta | 1 |
| Preceded by John Surtees |
500cc Motorcycle World Champion 1961 |
Succeeded by Mike Hailwood |
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Categories: 1937 births | 1962 deaths | Welsh motorcycle racers | Motorcycle racers who have driven F1 cars | 125cc World Championship riders | 250cc World Championship riders | 350cc World Championship riders | 500cc World Championship riders | Isle of Man TT Riders | People from Newport | Rhodesian people | Motorcycle racers killed while racing | Racecar drivers killed while racing | Motorcycle stubs
