John Watson

[brian b]

I have just heard the very sad news that John Watson passed away last Thursday.
My condolences to Sharon and family.
When I get details of funeral arrangements I will update this post.
John raced throughout the 1970's and was a very well respected rider,his notable successes were winning the Southern 100 in 1972 & 1976

[gerih]

R.I.P John.

[lang]

Very sorry to hear this sad news, I raced against John many times, he was a top competitor - very fast and usually at the front of the pack.
R I P

[steve-e]

From Phil Edge, S100 Club press release.

Sad new has reached Southern 100 Racing that former double Southern
100 Sidecar Champion John Watson passed away on Thursday 16 th April
after a short illness.
From Leeds, John made his Southern 100 debut in 1970 with Melvyn
Beanland as his passenger, taking 12 th place in the Championship race in
what was their second race around the Billown Course, returning the
following year with similar successes.
A change of passenger in 1972 saw John Wright in the ‘hot seat’ and
coming away from that year’s Southern 100 not only as the Sidecar race
winners, but as Sidecar Champions having taken the chequered flag in the
feature race on Championship Day on their Windle outfit.
The two John’s competed together at the July races in 1973 and 1974,
each year taking podium places.
Taking a sabbatical in 1975, the Yorkshireman once again entered the
1976 Southern with a new passenger, Brian Hoyle and repeated his
success of four years earlier, taking the victors laurels in the opening
sidecar race and lifting the Sidecar Championship Trophy for the second
time on their Laverda powered machine.
John and Brian were to stay together for their annual trips to the Southern
100 in 1977 & 1978 where the pairing won the first sidecar race and
finished runner-up to Allen Steele and Tony Barrow in 1978.
John Watson and Brian Hoyle made their final Southern 100 appearance
on a Yamaha Sidecar in 1979 taking a third place in the sidecar race and a
fifth place in the Championship race.
The Committee, officials and all involved with the Southern 100 pass on
their condolences to Sharon and family.
Funeral arrangements to follow.

[brian b]

John's funeral will take place at St. Mary's Church,Church Lane,Micklefield,Leeds LS 25 next Wednesday 29th April at 11.00am

[Dave Mallon]

John you will be very sadly missed R.I.P.