Cecil Sandford


Cecil Charles Sandford is a British former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He competed in the FIM motorcycle Grand Prix world championships from 1950 to 1957. Sandford is a two-time FIM road racing world champion and a two-time winner at the Isle of Man TT.
After the death of Carlo Ubbiali in 2020, Sandford is the last surviving motorcycle world champion across all classes from the 1950s.

Motorcycle racing career

Born in Blockley, Gloucestershire, Sandford began his career riding in local scramble and grass track events. In 1950 he was offered a place on the AJS factory racing team alongside the reigning world champion, Les Graham. He followed Graham to the MV Agusta team and won the 1952 FIM 125cc title, bringing Agusta their first world championship. In the 1957 season, he won a second world championship, this time in the 250 class riding for the Mondial team.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results

Points system from 1950 to 1968
Position123456
Points864321


YearClassTeam123456789PointsRankWins
1950350ccAJSIOM
-		BEL
-		NED
-		SUI
-		ULS
5		NAT
6		313th0
1951250ccVelocetteESP
-		SUI
5		IOM
-		BEL
-		NED
-		FRA
-		ULS
-		NAT
-		212th0
1951500ccVelocetteESP
-		SUI
2		IOM
-		BEL
4		NED
-		FRA
-		ULS
-		NAT
-		99th0
1952125ccMV AgustaIOM
1		NED
1		GER
3		ULS
1		NAT
-		ESP
3		281st3
1953125ccMV AgustaIOM
3		NED
3		GER
-		ULS
2		NAT
-		ESP
2		202nd0
1953500ccMV AgustaIOM
-		NED
-		BEL
-		GER
-		FRA
-		ULS
-		SUI
-		NAT
5		ESP
-		215th0
1954125ccMV AgustaIOM
3		ULS
5		NED
-		GER
5		NAT
-		ESP
-		88th0
1955250ccMoto GuzziIOM
2		GER
3		NED
5		ULS
5		NAT
-		123rd0
1955350ccMoto GuzziFRA
-		IOM
3		GER
4		BEL
4		NED
-		ULS
4		NAT
-		135th0
1956125ccMondialIOM
-		NED
4		BEL
-		GER
6		ULS
-		NAT
-		413th0
1956350ccDKWIOM
4		NED
4		BEL
3		GER
4		ULS
-		NAT
5		135th0
1957125ccMondialGER
-		IOM
5		NED
4		BEL
3		ULS
-		NAT
-		96th0
1957250ccMondialGER
3		IOM
1		NED
2		BEL
3		ULS
1		NAT
4		261st2