Domestic Bike racing in the 1980's

[rastapasta]

Evening All,

I just finished Whithams book and in it he mentions, pre BSB ie 70's/80's, as a disparate selection of Championships and, having tried to make sense of it all came across the following link

https://www.f1network.net/main/s180/st88159.htm

There were alot to choose from, it reminds me of how boxing is nowadays. Can anyone else recall as to who, for example would have been classified as the best 500cc rider or 'British Champion' in the 1980's or how would it have been clear. For instance, If you take 1983 for example the ACU Champion was Roger Marshall, and that same year the Shell Oils 500cc champion was also Roger Marshall, were these two separate Championships under the one race? in essence or completely separate in which case Roger Marshall tore the arse out of it that year. Despite it being so scattered, the likes of Wayne Gardner and Ron Haslem, ie storied names, raced in it for a number of years. It all seems fairly confusing. Someone needs to write a book on this.

Which one did Grandstand show?

Thanks so much in Advance.

[lazybike]

I vaguely remember Marshall being on a works 4 stroke Suzuki with Mick Grant and Chris Guy doing well on a RG500, can't remember what Gardner rode I think he'd moved off the Moriwaki by then, the early 80's was a long time ago