Fergus Anderson

Fergus Kenrick Anderson (9 February 1909 – 6 May 1956) was a British professional motorcycle racer who competed in world championship road racing competitions from 1932 to 1956. He was one of the first British competitors to make his living racing motorcycles on the European continent, most prominently as a member of the Moto Guzzi factory racing team where he was a two-time Grand Prix World Champion.

Motorcycle racing career Anderson was born in Croydon, Surrey on 9 February 1909, the son of a Scottish naval architect. He was educated at Berkhamsted School, and as a young boy often attended motor races at the Brooklands Circuit.

Anderson entered his first major international motorcycle competition at the 1932 Spanish Grand Prix. He retired from the Junior race and placed 28th in the Senior TT.

After the outbreak of the Second World War, Anderson rejoined the Royal Navy where he served with the Small Vessels Pool, helping to ferry vessels from port to port along the British coastline.

Anderson (3) racing with Werner Haas (4) during the 1953 250cc Dutch TT.

After the war, Anderson eagerly returned to motorcycle racing, winning 73 races in 1947. Anderson finished in third place behind Bruno Ruffo (Moto Guzzi) and Dario Ambrosini (Benelli) at the 1949 250 cc Swiss Grand Prix, and finished the season ranked eighth in the inaugural 250 cc World Championship. The following weekend he entered the 1950 BRDC International Trophy run to Formula One regulations held at the Silverstone Circuit. Anderson faced off against a field of world-class competitors such as World Drivers' Champions Nino Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, however he was forced to abandon the race after 28 laps with a transmission failure.

Anderson signed a contract with the Moto Guzzi factory racing team in , and 10 September, he placed second to Ambrosini at the 250 cc Nations Grand Prix held at the Monza Circuit. He successfully defended his 350 cc World Championship in with four Grand Prix victories out of nine races.

Anderson won his second consecutive Mettet Grand Prix on 1 May 1955, however withdrew from the World Championships after his criticism of the FIM's organization provoked them to cancel his racing license. He became Moto Guzzi's race team manager, but quit over a dispute over having a freer hand at running the team. He returned to racing and was offered a ride by the BMW factory. He died on 6 May 1956 at the age of 47, after being thrown from his motorcycle during a race in Floreffe, Belgium. Anderson was buried at the cemetery nearest the site of his accident in Namur, Belgium.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results

Source:

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 250cc Moto Guzzi IOM- SUI3 ULS- NAT- 8 8th 0 1950 250cc Moto Guzzi IOM- SUI- ULS- NAT2 6 3rd 01951 250cc Moto Guzzi ESP- SUI- IOMNC BEL- NED- FRA4 ULS- NAT- 3 8th 0 500cc Moto Guzzi ESP- SUI1 IOM- BEL- NED- FRA- ULS- NAT- 8 7th 1 1952 250cc Moto Guzzi SUI1 IOM1 NED3 GER- ULS- NAT3 24 2nd 21953 250cc Moto Guzzi IOM1 NED2 GER- ULS3 SUI3 NAT- ESP3 22 4th 1 350cc Moto Guzzi IOM3 NED- BEL1 FRA1 ULS- SUI1 NAT2 ESP- 34 1st 3 500cc Moto Guzzi IOM- NED- BEL- GER- FRA- ULS- SUI- NAT- ESP1 8 9th 11954 250cc Moto Guzzi FRA- IOM5 ULS- NED- GER- SUI- NAT- 2 15th 0 350cc Moto Guzzi FRA- IOMNC ULS- BEL2 NED1 GER- SUI1 NAT1 ESP1 38 1st 4 500cc Moto Guzzi FRA- IOMNC ULS- BEL- NED2 GER5 SUI- NAT- ESP- 8 7th 0