Ernst Degner

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Ernst Degner
Nationality	German
Grand Prix motorcycle racing career
Active years	1957 - 1966
Teams	MZ, Suzuki
Grands Prix	57
Championships	50cc - 1962
Wins	15
Podium finishes	38
Career points	269
Pole positions	N/A
Fastest laps	N/A
First Grand Prix	1957 125cc West German Grand Prix
First win	1959 125cc Nations Grand Prix
Last win	1965 50cc Belgian Grand Prix
Last Grand Prix	1966 Isle of Man 50cc Ultra-Lightweight TT

Ernst Degner (civil: Ernst Eugen Wotzlawek * 22 September 1931 in Gliwice, Upper Silesia, † 10 September 1983 in Arona, Teneriffe) was a German Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.

Degner won the 1962 50 cc World Championship, but he may be better known for escaping from the former East Germany in the boot (trunk) of a car to reach West Germany in 1961.^[1] He brought with him many of the industrial secrets of the competitive East German manufacturer MZ. The Japanese company, Suzuki hired him and almost overnight, their racing machines became more competitive, thanks to Degner's expertise with two-stroke engines.

After surviving a terrifying crash at Suzuka, the double-apex right-hand curves past the esses were named for him.

[edit] References

• Ernst Degner career profile at Motorsport Memorial

v • d • e 50 cc Motorcycle World Champions     1962 - E. Degner 1963 - H. Anderson 1964 - H. Anderson 1965 - R. Bryans 1966 - H. Anscheidt 1967 - H. Anscheidt 1968 - H. Anscheidt 1969 - Á. Nieto 1970 - Á. Nieto 1971 - J. Vries 1972 - Á. Nieto 1973 - J. Vries 1974 - H. Kessel 1975 - Á. Nieto 1976 - Á. Nieto 1977 - Á. Nieto 1978 - R. Tormo 1979 - E. Lazzarini 1980 - E. Lazzarini 1981 - R. Tormo 1982 - S. Dörflinger 1983 - S. Dörflinger