Ralph Bryans
Ralph Bryans demonstrating a Honda in 2008
Nationality	British
Born	(1941-03-07)7 March 1941 Belfast,Northern Ireland
Died	6 August 2014(2014-08-06) (aged 73) Scotland
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1962 -1967 First race 1962 50ccIsle of Man TT Last race 1967 350ccJapanese Grand Prix First win 1964 50ccDutch TT Last win 1967 250ccJapanese Grand Prix Team Honda Championships 50cc -1965 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 62 10 40 0 7

Ralph Bryans (7 March 1941^[1] – 6 August 2014) was aGrand Prixmotorcycleroad racer fromNorthern Ireland. Bryans was Ireland's onlyGrand Prix world champion, winning the50 cc title in1965.^[2][3]

Bryans started road-riding on aBSA Bantam when working as a sixteen-year-old apprentice fitter. He entered his first race, the 1959Tandragee 100, on a borrowedAmbassador 199 cc. For the 1960 season, he fitted aTriumph 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 ccManx Norton provided by sponsor James Wilson, aninsurance broker, further-learning his skills in company of established racersTommy Robb,Dick Creith and George Purvis. In 1962, Bryans first entered theIsle of Man TT and later in theUlster 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 byJim Redman 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 in1964, during which he was placed second in the 50 cc class and third in the 125 cc TT races.^[4] In1965, Bryans won three races along with two second-place finishes to win the 50cc world championship for the Honda factory racing team.^[3]

After a short illness Bryans died at his home in Scotland at age 72 on 6 August 2014.^[2][5]

(key) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)

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• 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

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