German motorcycle Grand Prix

The German motorcycle Grand Prix, first held in 1925, is since 1952 part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship.

History

The first two Großer Preis von Deutschland races were held at Berlin's AVUS before moving to the new the purpose-built Nürburgring which was used in its full 28 km configuration. No GP was held in 1932, in 1933 the AVUS was given another try, and since 1934, public roads near and through Hohenstein-Ernstthal in Saxony were in use, initially without the name Sachsenring which had been used elsewhere. It was adopted in 1937.

After the war, in 1949, two German states were founded, and the FIM introduced a motorcycle World Championship in which neither Germans nor German race tracks could participate due to still being banned. In the (Western) Federal Republic of Germany, a strong motorcycle industry (NSU, DKW etc.) emerged in the early 1950s, as cars were not yet affordable. With the Sachsenring being now in the (Eastern) German Democratic Republic (GDR), a new venue had to be selected. The Nürburgring was damaged and due to its length not very suitable. The Solitudering near Stuttgart had a challenging layout and due to proximity of a major city, the crowds were large, but the narrow roads had to be widened. In 1953, the Schottenring near Fulda was chosen, but due to lack of safety, it was partially boycotted, and only the small classes races had WC status. Attendance at the Nürburgring, which was by now used in its 22.8 km Nordschleife configuration, was disappointing. Former DKW and NSU factory rider and world record setter Wilhelm Herz promoted the Hockenheimring successfully. Thus, with Hockenheim (in odd-numbered years) and Solitude, two tracks in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg shared the German GP until the mid-1960s, when the Solitude was abandoned and replaced by the Nürburgring. There, the lesser known 7.7 km Südschleife was used twice, as in the Eifelrennen races which often attracted international entrants, but that part of the track was not rebuilt in 1970/71; thus in the even years from 1970 to 1980, the famous Nordschleife was used.

In that time, also the "Grand Prix of the GDR", held on the Sachsenring, was part of the WC from 1961 to 1972. It is referred to as East German GP, EGER for short on the Moto GP website. During that period the German GP was also referred to as West German GP (WGER), even though its name never changed.

The popularity of motorcycles sharply fell in late 1950s Germany, as now everyone aspired to get an automobile. Only BMW survived, dominating side car racing. The East German brand MZ had made groundbreaking progress in two stroke technology, but due to defecting personnel and other problems, they fell behind in the late 1960s. After West German Dieter Braun won the East German race on the Sachsenring in 1971, the crowd sung the (West) German anthem, the Deutschlandlied.[1] To prevent further "demonstrations", the East German politicians, otherwise eager to gain international recognition, sacrificed the event's World Championship status, limiting entry of riders from Western states from 1972 onwards. With mainly riders from other Eastern bloc socialist states taking part, it was still called Großer Preis der DDR until 1977, when it was renamed Großer Preis des ADMV der DDR after the motorsports governing body.

In 1974, the event on the improved Nürburgring Nordschleife was boycotted by championship contenders as the track had not been fitted with enough straw bales. Traditionally, the Eifelrennen hosted motorcycle and automobile racing on the same weekend. Safety demands became problematic, as drivers asked for armco and catch fences, while rider safety requires unobstructed surroundings, with walls of straw bales in front of obstacles. With Agostini and others holding out, German amateur riders took all wins. The Eifelrennen in spring became an automobile event, and the GP became a separate event in August.

A few years later, in 1980, the last German GP was held on the Nordschleife, with the new GP track taking over in 1984.

The additional 1986 Baden-Württemberg Grand Prix (at Hockenheim) counted towards the WC only for 80cc and 125cc classes.

In 1998, after having become rather unpopular first at Hockenheim and then at Nürburgring due to the style of the promoters, the German motorcycle Grand Prix moved to new promoters, and to the shortened purpose-built Sachsenring where it became a sell-out event since.

Track gallery

Winners of the motorcycle Grand Prix of Germany

A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship.

Year Track Moto3 Moto2 MotoGP Report
2015 Sachsenring United Kingdom Danny Kent Belgium Xavier Siméon Spain Marc Márquez Report
2014 Sachsenring Australia Jack Miller Switzerland Dominique Aegerter Spain Marc Márquez Report
2013 Sachsenring Spain Álex Rins Spain Jordi Torres Spain Marc Márquez Report
2012 Sachsenring Germany Sandro Cortese Spain Marc Márquez Spain Dani Pedrosa Report
Year Track 125 cc Moto2 MotoGP Report
2011 Sachsenring Spain Héctor Faubel Spain Marc Márquez Spain Dani Pedrosa Report
2010 Sachsenring Spain Marc Márquez Spain Toni Elías Spain Dani Pedrosa Report
Year Track 125 cc 250 cc MotoGP Report
2009 Sachsenring Spain Julián Simón Italy Marco Simoncelli Italy Valentino Rossi Report
2008 Sachsenring France Mike Di Meglio Italy Marco Simoncelli Australia Casey Stoner Report
2007 Sachsenring Hungary Gábor Talmácsi Japan Hiroshi Aoyama Spain Dani Pedrosa Report
2006 Sachsenring Italy Mattia Pasini Japan Yuki Takahashi Italy Valentino Rossi Report
2005 Sachsenring Finland Mika Kallio Spain Dani Pedrosa Italy Valentino Rossi Report
2004 Sachsenring Italy Roberto Locatelli Spain Dani Pedrosa Italy Max Biaggi Report
2003 Sachsenring Italy Stefano Perugini Italy Roberto Rolfo Spain Sete Gibernau Report
2002 Sachsenring France Arnaud Vincent Italy Marco Melandri Italy Valentino Rossi Report
Year Track 125 cc 250 cc 500 cc Report
2001 Sachsenring Italy Simone Sanna Italy Marco Melandri Italy Max Biaggi Report
2000 Sachsenring Japan Youichi Ui France Olivier Jacque Brazil Alex Barros Report
1999 Sachsenring Italy Marco Melandri Italy Valentino Rossi United States Kenny Roberts, Jr. Report
1998 Sachsenring Japan Tomomi Manako Japan Tetsuya Harada Australia Michael Doohan Report
1997 Nürburgring Italy Valentino Rossi Japan Tetsuya Harada Australia Michael Doohan Report
1996 Nürburgring Japan Masaki Tokudome Germany Ralf Waldmann Italy Luca Cadalora Report
1995 Nürburgring Japan Haruchika Aoki Italy Max Biaggi Australia Daryl Beattie Report
1994 Hockenheim Germany Dirk Raudies Italy Loris Capirossi Australia Michael Doohan Report
1993 Hockenheim Germany Dirk Raudies Italy Doriano Romboni Australia Daryl Beattie Report
1992 Hockenheim Italy Bruno Casanova Italy Pierfrancesco Chili Australia Michael Doohan Report
1991 Hockenheim Germany Ralf Waldmann Germany Helmut Bradl United States Kevin Schwantz Report
Year Track 80 cc 125 cc 250 cc 350 cc 500 cc Report
1990 Nürburgring GP-Strecke Italy Doriano Romboni Netherlands Wilco Zeelenberg United States Kevin Schwantz Report
1989 Hockenheim Germany Peter Öttl Spain Àlex Crivillé Spain Sito Pons United States Wayne Rainey Report
1988 Nürburgring GP-Strecke Spain Jorge Martínez Italy Ezio Gianola Italy Luca Cadalora United States Kevin Schwantz Report
1987 Hockenheim Germany Gerhard Waibel Italy Fausto Gresini Germany Anton Mang United States Eddie Lawson Report
1986 Nürburgring GP-Strecke Spain Manuel Herreros Italy Luca Cadalora Venezuela Carlos Lavado United States Eddie Lawson Report
1985 Hockenheim Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger Austria August Auinger Germany Martin Wimmer France Christian Sarron Report
1984 Nürburgring GP-Strecke Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger Spain Ángel Nieto France Christian Sarron United States Freddie Spencer Report
Year Track 50 cc 125 cc 250 cc 350 cc 500 cc Report
1983 Hockenheim Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger Spain Ángel Nieto Venezuela Carlos Lavado United States Kenny Roberts Report
1982 Hockenheim Italy Eugenio Lazzarini Germany Anton Mang Germany Manfred Herweh United States Randy Mamola Report
1981 Hockenheim Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger Spain Ángel Nieto Germany Anton Mang Germany Anton Mang United States Kenny Roberts Report
1980 Nürburgring Nordschleife Switzerland Stefan Dörflinger France Guy Bertin South Africa Kork Ballington South Africa Jon Ekerold Italy Marco Lucchinelli Report
1979 Hockenheim Germany Gerhard Waibel Spain Ángel Nieto South Africa Kork Ballington South Africa Jon Ekerold Netherlands Wil Hartog Report
1978 Nürburgring Nordschleife Spain Ricardo Tormo Spain Ángel Nieto South Africa Kork Ballington Japan Takazumi Katayama Italy Virginio Ferrari Report
1977 Hockenheim Germany Herbert Rittberger Italy Pier Paolo Bianchi France Christian Sarron Japan Takazumi Katayama United Kingdom Barry Sheene Report
1976 Nürburgring Nordschleife Spain Ángel Nieto Germany Anton Mang Italy Walter Villa Italy Walter Villa Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1975 Hockenheim Spain Ángel Nieto Italy Paolo Pileri Italy Walter Villa Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1974 Nürburgring Nordschleife [2] Germany Ingo Emmerich Germany Fritz Reitmaier Germany Helmut Kassner Germany Helmut Kassner Germany Edmund Czihak Report
1973 Hockenheim Netherlands Theo Timmer Sweden Kent Andersson Finland Jarno Saarinen Finland Teuvo Länsivuori United Kingdom Phil Read Report
1972 Nürburgring Nordschleife [3] Netherlands Jan de Vries Italy Gilberto Parlotti Japan Hideo Kanaya Finland Jarno Saarinen Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1971 Hockenheim Netherlands Jan de Vries United Kingdom Dave Simmonds United Kingdom Phil Read Italy Giacomo Agostini Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1970 Nürburgring Nordschleife [4] Spain Ángel Nieto Australia John Dodds Australia Kel Carruthers Italy Giacomo Agostini Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1969 Hockenheim Netherlands Aalt Toersen United Kingdom Dave Simmonds Sweden Kent Andersson Italy Giacomo Agostini Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1968 Nürburgring Südschleife [5] Germany Hans-Georg Anscheidt United Kingdom Phil Read United Kingdom Bill Ivy Italy Giacomo Agostini Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1967 Hockenheim Germany Hans-Georg Anscheidt Japan Yoshimi Katayama United Kingdom Ralph Bryans United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1966 Hockenheim Germany Hans-Georg Anscheidt Switzerland Luigi Taveri United Kingdom Mike Hailwood United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Rhodesia Jim Redman Report
1965 Nürburgring Südschleife[6] United Kingdom Ralph Bryans New Zealand Hugh Anderson United Kingdom Phil Read Italy Giacomo Agostini United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Report
1964 Solitude United Kingdom Ralph Bryans Rhodesia Jim Redman United Kingdom Phil Read Rhodesia Jim Redman United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Report
1963 Hockenheim New Zealand Hugh Anderson Germany Ernst Degner Italy Tarquinio Provini Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman Report
1962 Solitude Germany Ernst Degner Switzerland Luigi Taveri Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman Report
1961 Hockenheim Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Miro Zelnik East Germany Ernst Degner Japan Kunimitsu Takahashi Czechoslovakia Frantisek Stastny Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking Report
1960 Solitude Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking United Kingdom John Surtees Report
1959 Hockenheim Italy Carlo Ubbiali Italy Carlo Ubbiali United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom John Surtees Report
1958 Nürburgring Nordschleife[7] Italy Carlo Ubbiali Italy Tarquinio Provini United Kingdom John Surtees United Kingdom John Surtees Report
1957 Hockenheim Italy Carlo Ubbiali Italy Carlo Ubbiali Italy Libero Liberati Italy Libero Liberati Report
1956 Solitude Italy Romolo Ferri Italy Carlo Ubbiali United Kingdom Bill Lomas Republic of Ireland Reg Armstrong Report
1955 Nürburgring Nordschleife[8] Italy Carlo Ubbiali Germany Hermann Paul Müller United Kingdom Bill Lomas United Kingdom Geoff Duke Report
1954 Solitude Austria Rupert Hollaus Germany Werner Haas Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Ray Amm United Kingdom Geoff Duke Report
1953 Schottenring Italy Carlo Ubbiali Germany Werner Haas Italy Carlo Bandirola Germany Walter Zeller Report
1952 Solitude Germany Werner Haas Germany Rudi Felgenheier Republic of Ireland Reg Armstrong Republic of Ireland Reg Armstrong Report
1951 Solitude Germany Hermann Paul Müller Italy Enrico Lorenzetti United Kingdom Geoff Duke United Kingdom Geoff Duke Report
Year Track 175 cc 250 cc 350 cc 500 cc Report
1939 Sachsenring Italy Nello Pagani Germany Walter Hamelehle Italy Dorino Serafini Report
1938 Sachsenring Germany Ewald Kluge United Kingdom John White Germany Georg Meier Report
1937 Sachsenring Germany Ewald Kluge United Kingdom Harold Daniell Germany Karl Gall Report
1936 Sachsenring (Hohenstein-Ernstthal) Republic of Ireland H. G. Tyrell Smith United Kingdom Freddie Frith United Kingdom Jimmie Guthrie Report
1935 Sachsenring (Hohenstein-Ernstthal) Germany Walfried Winkler United Kingdom Walter Rusk United Kingdom Jimmie Guthrie Report
1934 Sachsenring (Hohenstein-Ernstthal) Republic of Ireland H. G. Tyrell Smith United Kingdom Jimmie Simpson Germany Otto Ley Report
1933 AVUS United Kingdom Charlie Dodson Germany Ernst Loof Germany Josef Stelzer Report
1932
1931 Nürburgring Nordschleife Switzerland Elvetio Toricelli Republic of Ireland H. G. Tyrell Smith Republic of Ireland Stanley Woods Report
1930 Nürburgring Nordschleife United Kingdom Les Crabtree United Kingdom Jimmie Guthrie United Kingdom Graham Walker Report
1929 Nürburgring Nordschleife Germany Arthur Geiß United Kingdom Syd Crabtree United Kingdom Wal Handley Republic of Ireland H. G. Tyrell Smith Report
1928 Nürburgring Nordschleife Germany Arthur Geiß United Kingdom Syd Crabtree Italy Pietro Ghersi United Kingdom Charlie Dodson Report
1927 Nürburgring Nordschleife Germany Willy Henkelmann United Kingdom Cecil Ashby United Kingdom Jimmie Simpson United Kingdom Graham Walker Report
1926 AVUS Germany Kurt Friedrich United Kingdom Jock Porter United Kingdom Jimmie Simpson Germany Josef Stelzer Report
1925 AVUS Austria Willy Zick United Kingdom Cecil Ashby Italy Miro Maffeis Germany Paul Köppen Report

Winners of the motorcycle Grand Prix of the GDR

A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship.

Year Track 50 cc 125 cc 250 cc 350 cc 500 cc Report
1972 Sachsenring Netherlands Theo Timmer Sweden Börje Jansson Finland Jarno Saarinen United Kingdom Phil Read Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1971 Sachsenring Spain Ángel Nieto Spain Ángel Nieto Germany Dieter Braun Italy Giacomo Agostini Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1970 Sachsenring Netherlands Aalt Toersen Spain Ángel Nieto United Kingdom Rod Gould Italy Giacomo Agostini Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1969 Sachsenring Spain Ángel Nieto United Kingdom Dave Simmonds Italy Renzo Pasolini Italy Giacomo Agostini Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1968 Sachsenring United Kingdom Phil Read United Kingdom Bill Ivy Italy Giacomo Agostini Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1967 Sachsenring United Kingdom Bill Ivy United Kingdom Phil Read United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Italy Giacomo Agostini Report
1966 Sachsenring Switzerland Luigi Taveri United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Italy Giacomo Agostini Czechoslovakia Frantisek Stastny Report
1965 Sachsenring United Kingdom Frank Perris Rhodesia Jim Redman Rhodesia Jim Redman United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Report
1964 Sachsenring New Zealand Hugh Anderson United Kingdom Phil Read Rhodesia Jim Redman United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Report
1963 Sachsenring New Zealand Hugh Anderson United Kingdom Mike Hailwood United Kingdom Mike Hailwood United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Report
1962 Sachsenring Netherlands Jan Huberts Switzerland Luigi Taveri Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Report
1961 Sachsenring East Germany Ernst Degner United Kingdom Mike Hailwood Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking Report
1960 Sachsenring East Germany Ernst Degner New Zealand John Hempleman Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman New Zealand John Hempleman Report
1959 Sachsenring East Germany Werner Musiol Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking New Zealand John Hempleman Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Gary Hocking Report
1958 Sachsenring East Germany Ernst Degner East Germany Horst Fügner Switzerland Luigi Taveri United Kingdom Dickie Dale Report

References

  1. Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1-874557-83-7
  2. "Image: nurburgring740428.jpg, (555 × 800 px)". progcovers.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  3. "Image: nurburgring720430.jpg, (561 × 800 px)". progcovers.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  4. "Image: nurburgring700503.jpg, (554 × 800 px)". progcovers.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  5. "Image: nurburgring680421.jpg, (566 × 800 px)". progcovers.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  6. "Image: nurburgring650425.jpg, (563 × 800 px)". progcovers.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  7. "Image: nurburgring58_4.jpg, (562 × 800 px)". progcovers.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  8. "Image: nurburgring55_3.jpg, (568 × 800 px)". progcovers.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
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