Bill Doran

William Doran (, 12 November 1916 – 9 September 1973) was an English professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Born in Tottington near Bury in Lancashire, he started racing in 1946, finishing in 23rd position in his first Manx Grand Prix and placed second in the 1948 Senior TT race on private Nortons.

Doran became a works AJS rider from 1949, winning the 1949 Belgian Grand Prix on an AJS Porcupine, until his retirement after suffering a head injury in a serious crash in August 1953 at Rouen. He won two Grand Prix races during his career.

Doran had part of the Isle of Man TT course named after him. He was proud because, at the time of dedication, he was the only living recipient with a named section. The accident occurred on the left-hand bend after Ballig Bridge and was renamed Doran's Bend.

In late 1952 at the London Motorcycle Show, Doran approached the Italian company Gilera for a works ride for the 1953 season. However, in a letter dated November 27, 1952 Gilera replied to the request stating the positions on their team were filled for the coming season so Doran started the 1953 season on his now obsolete AJS scoring three points paying finishes before the career ending crash at Rouen.

After retirement from racing in 1954, Doran opened a motorcycle business in Wellington, Shropshire, with former AJS race-chief Matt Wright, selling new motorcycles collected from the Birmingham factories in a pick-up vehicle driven by Doran's wife Peggy, daughter of Herbert Ratcliffe, Isetta and Messerschmitt three-wheelers were also collected from Luton airport.

Known physically by his jutting chin, Doran died of a heart attack in September 1973 aged 56. After a funeral service at Wrockwardine Parish Church on 14 September 1973, he was cremated at Emstrey Crematorium, Shrewsbury.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results 1949 point system: Position 1 2 3 4 5 Fastest lap Points 10 8 7 6 5 1 Points system from 1950 to 1968: Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points 8 6 4 3 2 1 5 best results were counted up until 1955.

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Points Rank Wins 1949 350cc AJS IOMNC SUI3 NED- BEL- ULS- 7 10th 0 500cc AJS IOM8 SUI- NED- BEL1 ULS4 NAT3 23 4th 1 1951 350cc AJS ESP- SUI- IOMNC BEL5 NED1 FRA3 ULS5 NAT4 19 2nd 1 500cc AJS ESP- SUI- IOM2 BEL- NED- FRA2 ULS6 NAT6 14 4th 0 1952 500cc AJS SUI2 IOM- NED- BEL- GER- ULS- NAT- ESP- 6 12th 0 1953 350cc AJS IOM5 NED6 BEL- GER- FRA- ULS- SUI- NAT- 3 14th 0 500cc AJS IOM5 NED6 BEL- GER- FRA- ULS- SUI- NAT- ESP- 3 13th 0