Jim Redman and Mike Hailwood study the time sheets in the pit lane with Michihiko Aika.

Jim Redman will go down in history as the rider who introduced the sensational Honda Six to the world when he was entrusted with its world championship debut at at Monza in September 1964.

Although ironically the arrival of the Six didn’t reflect in his world championship roll of honour, as the two-strike challenge, spearheaded by Yamaha, initially kept the success of the RC164 at bay, Redman enjoys the accolade of being the Japanese manufacturer’s most successful ever rider with six world championships.

His Honda career stretched from 1960 to 1966 after which the company withdrew from the smaller classes and Redman took his cue to retire.

His relationship with company founder Soichiro Honda and chief engineer, Michihiko Aika, were the cornerstone of his success with the all-conquering factory team in its golden era.

After establishing himself as Honda team leader in the early Sixties on 250, 350 and 500cc four cylinder machines, he was chosen to blood the 250cc Honda Six in grand prix racing, and, after a hasty shakedown in Japan following the Finnish Grand Prix, he and chief engineer Aika brought the new creation back to Milan as “hand luggage” on a scheduled flight!

History now confirms the disappointment of that high-profile debut but Redman stuck to his task and by the time Mike Hailwood joined the Honda team in 1966, the Six was well and truly sorted and ready for its glorious partnership with the ever-talented star.