Hugh Anderson inducted as MotoGP Legend
After COVID-related delays of more than two years, Hugh Anderson has finally become a MotoGP Legend, with the 86-year-old inducted at a special ceremony in his native New Zealand this past October.
Anderson had been named as a MotoGP Legend back in 2020, along with Jorge Lorenzo and Max Biaggi, but all three had the ceremonies welcoming them into the Hall of Fame postponed to this year.
Normally, MotoGP Legends are inducted at their “home” MotoGP round, but with no New Zealand GP, Anderson was expected to receive his Legends medallion at this year’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Instead, a special ceremony was held at the Hampton Downs circuit in New Zealand, where MotoGP Race Director Mike Webb and pitlane reporter Simon Crafar, both fellow Kiwis, conducted proceedings in front of 100 guests that included Anderson’s extended family, members of the Hamilton Motorcycle Club and other members of the NZ racing fraternity.
Born in Huntly on New Zealand’s North Island in 1936, Anderson made his grand prix debut as a 24-year-old in 1960, initially on AJS and Norton machinery, in the 350cc and 500cc classes respectively, before joining the Suzuki factory team in 1961.
One race start on Suzuki’s 250cc bike in ’61 translated to more starts for the factory team in 1962, but in the 50cc and 125cc categories, while continuing to race British bikes in the larger classes.
Following his first race win in 1962, a focus on the 50cc and 125cc classes for 1963 saw Anderson dominate, winning both world championships and finishing on the podium in all bar two of the races he completed that season.
Anderson went back-to-back in the 50cc class in 1964 and finished third in the 125cc class in the same year. In 1965, that finishing order was reversed, with a third in the 50cc class and the world championship in the 125cc class.
Despite appearing at the peak of his powers, Anderson’s next season would be his last in grand prix racing, leaving after 1966 with a total of 25 race wins (17 x 125cc, 8 x 50cc) and four world championships – two each in 50cc and 125cc – all achieved on Suzukis.
New Zealand’s most successful GP rider continued racing for decades afterwards, including the Manx Grand Prix, motocross, historic competition and numerous national events, and was still running demonstration laps on classic machinery into his ’70s.
Awarded an MBE for his services to motorsport in 1994, Anderson was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame a year later. In 2014, Anderson published an autobiography, Being There.
"I'm incredibly grateful to Dorna for making me a MotoGP Legend,” Anderson said at the special ceremony on 7 October.
“It is an honour for my career and World Championships to be recognised in the Hall of Fame, and I want to thank Dorna and Carmelo, and all my family, friends and supporters for this honour and their support over all these years.
“I'm also very thankful for this ceremony to have been organised in New Zealand, it has been a very special day."
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, who joined the ceremony via video link, welcomed the New Zealander into the MotoGP Hall of Fame that now boasts 36 members.
"It is a great honour for us to nominate you as a MotoGP Legend and see you become part of MotoGP’s Hall of Fame. I remember you racing in the Championship, because I am also old enough to remember that!
“It is a great pleasure for us, and I hope to see you soon, and to see you be with us as much as you can. We will always cherish those riders whose careers paved the way for our sport to become what it is."
Anderson joins MotoGP Hall of Fame members that include Giacomo Agostini, Wayne Gardner, Barry Sheene, Mick Doohan, Angel Nieto, Mike Hailwood, Nicky Hayden, John Surtees, Jorge Martinez, Franco Uncini, Phil Read, Casey Stoner, Daijiro Kato, Kenny Roberts, Marco Lucchinelli, Alex Criville, Jim Redman and Kevin Schwantz.
