- Ernst Degner
Infobox Former Grand Prix motorcycle rider
Caption =
Name = Ernst Degner
Nationality = flagicon|Germany German
Years = 1957 - 1966
Teams = MZ,Suzuki
Races = 57
Championships = 50cc - 1962
Wins = 15
Podiums = 38
Points = 269
Poles = N/A
Fastest laps = N/A
First race = 1957 125cc German Grand Prix
First win = 1959 125cc Nations Grand Prix
Last win = 1965 50cc Belgian Grand Prix
Last race = 1966 Isle of Man 50ccUltra-Lightweight TT Ernst Degner (born Ernst Eugen Wotzlawek on
22 September 1931 inGleiwitz ,Upper Silesia , Germany - died 10 September 1983 inArona ,Teneriffe , Spain) was a German Grand Prixmotorcycle road racer.After getting expelled after World War II, his family wound up in the
German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Degner raced successfully for the competitive East German manufacturer MZ which usedtwo-stroke engines, for which MZ's engineerWalter Kaaden discovered principles regarding how sound waves andexpansion chamber s effect engine tuning.After the
Berlin Wall had been built in August 1961, Degner arranged an escape (Republikflucht ) of his family from the GDR in the boot (trunk) of a car on the weekend he himself was racing in theSwedish motorcycle Grand Prix . In that race, he could have secured the WC, but his engine failed, and he defected via Denmark to (West) Germany. After this was discovered, the East Germans accused him of deliberately destroying his engine.The Japanese company
Suzuki hired him (and his knowledge), and in 1962 Degner won Suzuki's first World Championship in the50 cc class. cite web
url = http://www.superbikeplanet.com/000908a.htm
title = Racing behind the Iron Curtain
accessdate = 8 November
accessyear = 2006
author = Evan Williams
publisher = SuperbikePlanet.com]After surviving horrific burns following a terrifying crash at
Suzuka Circuit , the double-apex right-hand curves past the esses were named for him. Due to his burns he became dependant on medication, and died from an overdose.References
* [http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Ernst+Degner Ernst Degner career statistics at MotoGP.com]
* [http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/LWFWIW/focusLWFWIW.php?db=LWF&db2=ms&n=362 Ernst Degner career profile at Motorsport Memorial]
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