Kel Carruthers

World 250cc Motorcycle Champion

Kelvin ‘Kel’ Carruthers was our third road race world motorcycle champion and the first not to be killed in the year following his championship.

Kel combined his 1969 World 250cc championship with a win in the 250 TT at the Isle of Man.

After dominating the traditional Easter motorcycle race meeting at Bathurst – one year he won every GP category and the production race – he left for Europe in 1966.

After five years in Europe, which included seven wins and 22 top three finishes from 56 starts, Kel went to America to race with Yamaha and to tutor a young Californian, Kenny Roberts.

With Kel running the team and tuning Kenny’s Grand National championship bikes, they won two championships in a series which included everything from flat track to road racing.

In 1978 it was on to the 500cc world championship class in Europe where Kenny had never seen any of the tracks, nor ever raced in the rain.

With Kel’s tuning and guidance they ousted champion Barry Sheene, winning three consecutive world championships.

Kel also guided Eddie Lawson to a 500cc championship.