Anton Mang

In his 14 years of Grand Prix, Anton Mang won five World Championship titles and 42 race victories. Mang was the last man to win the 350cc title in 1982, after which it was removed from the World Championship. Anton Mang retired in 1988 after leaving behind a trail of achievements.

In 1975 Mang got his lucky break and he won the German 350cc Championship on a Yamaha and also made his Grand Prix debut in Austria. He finished the race in the sixth position.

In the 1976 season, Mang claimed a victory in the West Germany Grand Prix on a 125cc Morbidelli machine, and also won three podium positions on the same machine in the following season. He was then hired by Kawasaki to ride in the 250cc and 350cc categories for the 1978 season. Mang won his second Grand Prix in the 250cc British GP race at Silverstone.

1980 was the season that established as a strong force for the World Championship, and the German went on to win four 250cc races and six podium positions, going on to win his first World Championship title. He finished as runner up in the 350cc category.

The 1981 season was particularly impressive where Man brought in 15 Grand Prix victories, wining 10 from 11 races in the quarter-litre class and five more race wins in the 350cc class, and became a much deserving double World Champion. He won the final 350cc title in the 1982 season and finished in the runner up position, having lost out the title by a single point, in the 250cc category. Mang left Kawasaki in 1982, and ended a highly productive partnership.

In 1983, Mang tried out in the 500cc category but failed to make an impact, suffering from an injury from a skiing accident, earlier in the year. The following season Mang moved back to the 250cc class.

1985 witnessed Mang signing up with Honda, and he remained focused solely on the quarter liter category. This was a productive move as he finished in second position at the end of the season, and then went on to win 8 races in the 1987 season, for which he received his final World Championship title. At the end of the 1988 season, Man retired from the sport.