A star of the 1980s, Germany’s Anton Mang retired in 1988 after 14 years of Grand Prix participation which had seen him win five World titles, racking up 42 race victories along the way. He was the last man to win the 350cc title, in 1982, when the class was last featured as part of the World Championship.

The year of 1975 saw his breakthrough to the big time, as he triumphed in the German 350cc Championship on a Yamaha and made his Grand Prix debut in Austria, finishing the race in sixth position.

Victory at the 1976 West Germany Grand Prix onboard a 125cc Morbidelli machine, followed by three podiums with the same bike the next season eventually led to his recruitment by Kawasaki to ride in the 250cc and 350cc categories in ’78. That year he earned his second Grand Prix win – and the first of many with Kawasaki – in the 250cc British GP race at Silverstone.

However, it was not until 1980 that he became a true force on the World scene, as the dawn of a new decade saw the German announce himself with four 250cc race wins and six additional podiums to secure his first World title – whilst in the 350cc class he finished runner-up.

A spectacular 1981 season brought Mang 15 Grand Prix wins - 10 from 11 races in the quarter litre class and five more in the 350cc category - as he deservedly became a double World Champion.

He took the aforementioned final 350cc title in 1982 and in the 250cc championship he finished runner-up by a solitary point despite five race wins. That was also the final year of Mang’s fruitful relationship with Kawasaki.

He tried his hand at 500cc racing with Suzuki in 1983 but failed to impress after a skiing injury early in the year and he returned to 250cc racing with Yamaha the following season.

In 1985 he joined Honda, focussing solely on the quarter litre class, and it was to prove to be a successful move as came second that season, before winning eight races in 1987 for his final World title, ahead of his retirement at the end of the 1988 campaign.