Ralph Bryans (7 March 1941 – 6 August 2014) was a

Grand Prix Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to: Arts and entertainment ...

motorcycle

road racer Road racing is a form of motorsport racing held on a paved road surface. The races can be held either on a closed circuit or on a street circuit utilizing temporarily closed public roads. Originally, road races were held almost entirely on publ ...

from Northern Ireland. Bryans was Ireland's only Grand Prix world champion, winning the

50 cc The 50 cc class was the ultra-lightweight class in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, and formed part of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) World Championships from 1962 until 1983; when the class was replaced by 80 cc. History a ...

title in

1965 Events January–February * January 14 – The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lyndo ...

Racing career

Bryans started road-riding on a BSA Bantam when working as a sixteen-year-old apprentice fitter. He entered his first race, the 1959 Tandragee 100, on a borrowed

Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...

199 cc. For the 1960 season, he fitted a Triumph Terrier 150 cc engine to his Bantam frame, winning the 1960 Irish 200 cc Championship. For the 1961 season Bryans then progressed to a 1958 350 cc Manx Norton provided by sponsor James Wilson, an insurance broker, further-learning his skills in company of established racers Tommy Robb,

Dick Creith Dick Creith (born 28 August 1938) was a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Bushmills. He competed in only two Grand Prix races during his career, the 1964 and 1965 500cc Ulster Grand Prix. He won the 1965 500cc Ulster Grand Prix. He ...

and George Purvis. In 1962, Bryans first entered the Isle of Man TT and later in the Ulster Grand Prix was placed ninth in 350 cc class riding his Wilson- Norton and tenth in the 500 cc class on a Reg Dearden Manx Norton. In December 1962, Bryans arranged to ride Joe Ryan Nortons during 1963, when he was first noticed by

Jim Redman James Albert Redman, (born 8 November 1931) is a British-born Zimbabwean former professional motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1959 to 1966. Redman is notable for being a six-time Grand Prix road racing world c ...

at the Ulster Grand Prix. Bultaco signed Bryans after 'guest riding' their machines in Spain, but allowed Bryans to take advantage of a later offer from Honda to ride works machines in

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch ...

, during which he was placed second in the 50 cc class and third in the 125 cc TT races.

Motor Cycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, ...

, 25 June 1964. ''Meet Ralph Bryans'' by David Dixon. p.128/129. Accessed 2014-01-24 In

, Bryans won three races along with two second-place finishes to win the 50cc world championship for the Honda factory racing team. After a short illness Bryans died at his home in Scotland at age 72 on 6 August 2014.Belfast biking world champ Ralph Bryans dies at 72
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Belfast Telegraph The ''Belfast Telegraph'' is a daily newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland, by Independent News & Media. Its editor is Eoin Brannigan. Reflecting its unionist tradition, the paper has historically been "favoured by the Protestant po ...

'', 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-08

Motorcycle Grand Prix results

( key) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryans, Ralph British motorcycle racers Motorcycle racers from Northern Ireland 500cc World Championship riders 350cc World Championship riders 250cc World Championship riders 125cc World Championship riders 50cc World Championship riders Isle of Man TT riders 1941 births 2014 deaths Motorsport people from Belfast