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Ron Grant (motorcyclist)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by DJ Four Kebabs (talk | contribs) at 06:52, 16 September 2022 (Added more information regarding his career at Suzuki. (I am his son.)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ron Grant
Grant wearing Suzuki leathers at an American race meeting in 1968
NationalityUnited States United States
Born1940/1941
London, United Kingdom
Died27 December 1994
Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1964, 1967 US Team Suzuki member 1970 – 1974.
First race1964 250cc United States Grand Prix
Last race1967 Canadian Grand Prix
Team(s)Suzuki
Championships0
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
2 0 1 0 0 1

Ronald Grant (1940/1941 – 27 December 1994) was an American Grand Prix motorcycle road racer.[1] In the 1964 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, he became the first American rider to finish on the podium in a Grand Prix event, when he finished in second place behind Alan Shepherd at the 250cc United States Grand Prix, held at the Daytona International Speedway.[2]

Grant was born in London before moving to the United States to work. He earned a job with the Suzuki factory, racing for them in the AMA national championships. Later in 1978, due to his contribution on the project, Suzuki included the initials RG of Ron Grant onto the original model of the Suzuki RG 185, with the initials continued throughout all consecutive productions of the bike until this day. After his racing career ended, he helped boost the careers of Pat Hennen and Randy Mamola.[3] He returned to the UK to manage racing teams for Honda and Suzuki. Grant lived in Louth, Lincolnshire and was killed in a boating accident in Northern Ireland in 1994.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Ron Grant career statistics at MotoGP.com". motogp.com. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  2. ^ "1964 250cc United States Grand Prix Classification". motogp.com. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  3. ^ DeWitt, Norm (2010). Grand Prix Motorcycle Racers: The American Heroes. MBI Publishing Company. p. 203. ISBN 978-1-61060-045-3. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Ron Grant obituary". ozebook.com. Retrieved 3 March 2016.