The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc.
Mike Hailwood, having left the MV Agusta team to ride for Honda, stormed to the 250 crown, winning the first eight races of the season, as Phil Read struggled with Yamaha's new v-four race bike.
Hailwood would make it a double when he also claimed the 350 class ahead of MV Agusta's Giacomo Agostini.
All started well with Redman winning the first two races of the year however, Honda's hopes were dashed when he crashed in the rain in Belgium and broke his wrist.
This gave Agostini the championship lead, which he held despite Hailwood taking three of the last six races.