Two names will be added to the Hall of Fame this year. The two world champions Hans-Georg Anscheidt and Andrea Dovizioso are officially named MotoGP legends.
Dovizioso’s award will take place at the Italian Grand Prix in Mugello. And the honoring of the German Anscheidt goes on the Sachsenring on the stage.
Anscheidt was born in 1935 in Königsberg, today’s Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. He became one of the most successful drivers in the class up to 50 cc displacement. This class was held from 1962 to 1983 (and continued as an 80s class until 1989).
Anscheidt began his career with Enduro and Speedway races. From 1959 he drove circuit races in the 50 class. After successes at European level, Anscheidt competed with Kreidler in the new World Championship class in 1962.
He also won the season opener at Montjuic Park in Barcelona. Anscheidt celebrated a second win of the season at the Nations Grand Prix in Monza. The German Ernst Degner won the World Championship with four victories on a Suzuki.
Anscheidt also won three races in 1963 (Montjuic, Charade, Tempere). Again he was narrowly beaten in the World Championship, this time by Hugh Anderson (Suzuki). 1964 was more difficult, there was only one win in Montjuic. After 1965, Anscheidt finally switched from Kreidler to Suzuki.
38 riders have been named Official MotoGP Legends so far
That was the start of his run of success. In 1966, 1967 and 1968 Anscheidt was world champion in the 50 class. He won his first two world titles as a Suzuki works rider, but his third as a privateer. At the end of 1968 he ended his career as reigning world champion.
Anscheidt is one of nine motorcycle world champions from Germany. During his playing days he was the fourth world champion from Germany after Werner Haas, Hermann Paul Müller and Degner. Anscheidt won 14 of his 48 Grands Prix and claimed 34 podiums.
“It’s a great pleasure for me to become a MotoGP legend. I didn’t expect it, because the 50 class only came years after the other classes in the world championship and it’s long gone,” says Anscheidt happily late honor.
“The 50’s were very special to me because before that I had ridden bigger off-road bikes and had to learn to deal with these small, wobbly beasts with their narrow powerband and skinny two-inch tires that had no room for error .”
“In 1961 the top speed of our Kreidlers in the European Championship was 140 km/h. When I competed in Spa for the last time in 1968, my Suzuki even reached 205 km/h. It was an amazing development in those early years.”
“I’m very happy and I’ll do everything I can to come to the Sachsenring with my son. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the paddock, so I’m very excited to see the World Championship again. I know from TV that that the races are very close!”
With Anscheidt and Dovizioso, 38 riders have been named official MotoGP Legends so far. Next to Anton Mang, Anscheidt is the second German on this roll of honor.