Leslie Graham

Robert Leslie Graham DFC (14 September 1911 – 12 June 1953) was a British motorcycle road racer who competed in the 1930s and 1940s.

After this he was approached by John Humphries (the son of OK-Supreme's founder) to join the firm, and was given a job assembling the OHC engines.

Les Graham, Andy McKay, and John Humphries soon became known as the Midlands trio of OK-JAP riders.

In summer of 1938 they raced in the South Eastern Championships on Layhams Farm "mountain mile" grass track.

In 1939 he entered the IOM TT riding a Rudge engine Chris Tattersal St. Annes (CTS), and was running fourth on the second last lap, when the gearbox broke.

Jock West was watching the race, and signed Les up to ride a Velo in 1940, but the War intervened, and that did not happen.

That year at Montlhery, Jock West, Les Graham, and French rider Georges Monneret broke 18 world records at speeds between 107 and 111 mph.

The final round was held at Monza in Italy where local hero Nello Pagani on a Gilera won.

In 1950, Graham finished 3rd behind Italian Umberto Masetti (Gilera) and new star Geoff Duke (Norton) of England.

[7] He also finished 8th in the 125 cc class in 1951 For 1952, Graham began with no points in round 1 in Switzerland, 2nd in the Isle of Man TT though a missed gear change and subsequent loss of power undoubtedly robbed him of a win.

He followed this with MV Agusta's first ever 500 cc win plus the fastest lap in front of an enthusiastic Italian crowd at Monza.

However, during Friday's Senior TT, he lost control of his bike at high speed, as he took the rise after the bottom of Bray Hill, and was killed instantly.

[9] Carlo Bandirola and the rest of the MV racing team withdrew from the Championship that year as a mark of respect.

Graham Memorial in 2018