Kork Ballington

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Kork Ballington
Nationality	South African
Grand Prix motorcycle racing career
Active years	1976 - 1982
Teams	Kawasaki
Grands Prix	56
Championships	250cc - 1978, 1979 350cc - 1978, 1979
Wins	31
Podium finishes	46
Pole positions	19
Fastest laps	16
First Grand Prix	1976 350cc Nations Grand Prix
First win	1976 350cc Spanish Grand Prix
Last win	1980 250cc British Grand Prix
Last Grand Prix	1982 500cc West German Grand Prix

Hugh Neville (Kork) Ballington (born April 10, 1951) is a Rhodesian-born South African four-time Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion.

Ballington had used his domestic production racing experience as a springboard to gain entry into the British racing scene. He raced an over-the-counter Yamaha twin for several years before taking a well-earned place on the Kawasaki factory racing team. In the 250 and 350 classes, Ballington swept away the competition on his Kawasakis in 1978 and 1979, capturing consecutive double world championships.

In 1980, he campaigned Kawasaki's new KR500 but developing a new bike proved to be difficult in the premier class. After three years in the 500cc class, he couldn't repeat the success he enjoyed in the smaller classes and retired from competition.

Kork now lives with his family in Brisbane, Australia.

[edit] Motorcycle Grand Prix Results

Year	Class	Classification	Machine	Victories
1976	250cc	13th	Yamaha	0
1976	350cc	12th	Yamaha	1
1977	250cc	6th	Yamaha	1
1977	350cc	5th	Yamaha	2
1978	250cc	1st	Kawasaki	4
1978	350cc	1st	Kawasaki	6
1979	250cc	1st	Kawasaki	7
1979	350cc	1st	Kawasaki	5
1980	250cc	2nd	Kawasaki	5
1980	500cc	12th	Kawasaki	0
1981	500cc	8th	Kawasaki	0
1982	500cc	9th	Kawasaki	0

Preceded by Mario Lega

250cc Motorcycle World Champion 1978-1979

Succeeded by Anton Mang

v • d • e 350 cc Motorcycle World Champions     1949 - F. Frith 1950 - B. Foster 1951 - G. Duke 1952 - G. Duke 1953 - F. Anderson 1954 - F. Anderson 1955 - B. Lomas 1956 - B. Lomas 1957 - K. Campbell 1958 - J. Surtees 1959 - J. Surtees 1960 - J. Surtees 1961 - G. Hocking 1962 - J. Redman 1963 - J. Redman 1964 - J. Redman 1965 - J. Redman 1966 - M. Hailwood 1967 - M. Hailwood 1968 - G. Agostini 1969 - G. Agostini 1970 - G. Agostini 1971 - G. Agostini 1972 - G. Agostini 1973 - G. Agostini 1974 - G. Agostini 1975 - J. Cecotto 1976 - W. Villa 1977 - T. Katayama 1978 - K. Ballington 1979 - K. Ballington 1980 - J. Ekerold 1981 - A. Mang 1982 - A. Mang

v • d • e 250 cc Motorcycle World Champions     1949 - B. Ruffo 1950 - D. Ambrosini 1951 - B. Ruffo 1952 - E. Lorenzetti 1953 - W. Haas 1954 - W. Haas 1955 - H. Müller 1956 - C. Ubbiali 1957 - C. Sandford 1958 - T. Provini 1959 - C. Ubbiali 1960 - C. Ubbiali 1961 - M. Hailwood 1962 - J. Redman 1963 - J. Redman 1964 - P. Read 1965 - P. Read 1966 - M. Hailwood 1967 - M. Hailwood 1968 - P. Read 1969 - K. Carruthers 1970 - R. Gould 1971 - P. Read 1972 - J. Saarinen 1973 - D. Braun 1974 - W. Villa 1975 - W. Villa 1976 - W. Villa 1977 - M. Lega 1978 - K. Ballington 1979 - K. Ballington 1980 - A. Mang 1981 - A. Mang 1982 - J. Tournadre 1983 - C. Lavado 1984 - C. Sarron 1985 - F. Spencer 1986 - C. Lavado 1987 - A. Mang 1988 - S. Pons 1989 - S. Pons 1990 - J. Kocinski 1991 - L. Cadalora 1992 - L. Cadalora 1993 - T. Harada 1994 - M. Biaggi 1995 - M. Biaggi 1996 - M. Biaggi 1997 - M. Biaggi 1998 - L. Capirossi 1999 - V. Rossi 2000 - O. Jacque 2001 - D. Kato 2002 - M. Melandri 2003 - M. Poggiali 2004 - D. Pedrosa 2005 - D. Pedrosa 2006 - J. Lorenzo 2007 - J. Lorenzo