My hero from before I had a licence, went to the island back in 1978 when he made his comeback on the Sports Motorcycles Ducati.
Can remember on the ferry in the bar on the way over it came over the radio he had broken the lap record in practise whole bloody bar erupted in celebration, have got some pics somewhere when he finished the senior, front of the bike his lid and visor were a mass of dead flies.
Traded my Suzuki water bucket in for a Ducati soon after, wish I’d never sold it.
I can recommend the book by Ted Macauley simply titled Hailwood, bloody good read.
Taken before his time unfortunately.
RIP Mike the bike.