Dieter Braun

Dieter Braun
Dieter Braun in 1975
Nationality	German
Born	(1943-02-02) 2 February 1943 (age 81) Ulm, Germany
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1968 – 1977 First race 1968 125cc West German Grand Prix Last race 1976 350cc German Grand Prix First win 1969 125cc Yugoslavian Grand Prix Last win 1976 250cc Yugoslavian Grand Prix Team(s) Suzuki, Yamaha Championships 125cc – 1970 250cc – 1973 Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 112 14 49 0 9 904

Dieter Braun (born 2 February 1943) is a German former professional motorcycle road racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1968 to 1976. He won the 1970 FIM 125cc World Championship for Suzuki. In 1973, he rode a Yamaha TZ 250 to the 250 cc FIM world championship.^[1]

Braun was born in Ulm, Bavaria. His victory at the 1970 Isle of Man TT was notable because he was one of only seven riders to have won an Isle of Man TT race in their first attempt.^[2] Due to the circuit's 37.7 mile length, it usually takes competitors two or three attempts before they learn its nuances.

Braun is also known for an incident that occurred immediately after he won the East German Grand Prix in the 1971 season. As the West German national anthem was being played during the winner's ceremony, the East German crowd began singing the words to the anthem. The East German government reacted by making the following year's East German Grand Prix an invitation only race, and in 1973, the race was stricken from the Grand Prix calendar.^[3]

He also raced in cars, entering five races with Team Warsteiner Eurorace in the 1975 European Formula Two Championship (effectively starting the race on four of that occasions).

Braun's career ended after a serious accident at the 1977 350cc Austrian Grand Prix at the Salzburgring.^[4]