Former Isle of Man TT Racer Dies, Aged 88
Mike Kelly, a former Isle of Man TT competitor and podium finisher at the Manx GP, has passed away
Mike Kelly, formerly known for racing at the Isle of Man TT in the 1950s and ’60s, was also a podium finisher at the Manx GP, but the 88-year-old has sadly passed away in Australia.
According to the Isle of Man Today, Kelly suffered from dementia following a stroke. The former racer was from the Isle of Man and secured a top five result at the 1960 Senior TT race, which was won by Phil Read, who went on to claim several wins at the legendary road race.
The top five finish for Kelly came just one year after making his debut at the event, while also going on to achieve podiums at the Manx GP before taking up the role of Manx MCC committee member and deputy clerk of the course.
Once he was fully retired from his racing and clerk of the course commitment, Kelly and his wife Patricia would spend half a year living on the Isle of Man and in Australia, where he eventually passed away.
A statement from Patricia to the TT Riders Association said: “It is with great sadness that I have to tell you that I lost my best friend and the love of my life. My husband, Mike Kelly, passed away at 7:10am Australian time.
“After many years of declining health and several months of extreme pain, he is now at peace. Mike was a hero to many of the youngsters and not so young in the ’50s and ’60s.
“Now he will be with his beloved parents and his daughter Roz, who was taken from us at far too young an age. Enjoy your freedom from pain, my love. You will always be my hero. I’ll join you one day XXX.”
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
