John Surtees grew up around motorcycles: his father owned a motorcycle shop, and he became an apprentice at Vincent. Before moving to cars, he was already one of his generation’s outstanding motorcycle racers.
His first 500 cc world title came with MV Agusta in 1956. From 1958 through 1960 he won both the 350 cc and 500 cc championships each season, bringing his motorcycle total to seven.
He began racing in Formula 1 with Lotus in 1960 and became world champion with Ferrari in 1964. Surtees remains the only competitor to win both the premier-class motorcycle and F1 world championships.
The photograph captures a later chapter: Surtees, on the left, talking with Jackie Stewart at Zandvoort on 18 June 1971.