There is a video on here called Stealing Speed about this, Degner stole the know how of the rotary valve induction system, expansion chamber exhausts and the addition of an extra transfer port to overcome poor lubrication and over heating. Suzuki bought all this tech for ten thousand pounds in 1962. It was said that in later years Degner died in a mysterious way, maybe the East Germans caught up with him?

Price tag

Top speed of Degner’s Suzuki was 120 mph. Not bad for 50cc

​@@RidinOnABigCogalmost twice as fast as my 250 haha

+Rosacruz01 Try on you tube STANLEY WOODS WINS SENIOR TT RACE 1926

What a relief it would be if it was lost

There is no bike sound ... ha ha

Agreed (and I'm a jazz fan). Although these were probably silent movies to begin with just the narrative would have been much better.

could some body photo shop the engines in? i agree these are silent movies.

Yup! Reading "Stealing Speed" (by Mat Oxley) now. What a great book and what a story!

Ernst Degner done a bunk out of E, GERMANY from the MZ team and went to Suzuki .Presto, Suzuki start to win races.

Yeah, the narration and editing missed on the details. It was quite a mishmosh of images. Too bad there was no actual accompanying sound.

This is great archive film but... no - Matchless only fielded a 500cc in the 1960s (Their sister company AJS had a 350cc 7R) and Norton 350cc and 500cc. although there was one famous privateer who had a 350 Norton sleeved down to 250cc - but I can't remember his name just now. The commentator is very mixed up and has no idea what he's talking about - but let's not detract from the fabulous film footage. We live in a world where there is too much criticism so I won't go there - just enjoy it.

No , they neither of them did !

MZ's rider Ernst Degner defected stealing MZ"s tech that they invented, rotary valve induction, expansion chamber exhausts and the addition of an extra transfer port. Degner sold this information to Suzuki in 1962 for ten thousand pounds. Look it up on here.....Stealing Speed.

Without sounding critical, I am pretty sure Matchless or Norton never made 125's and raced at the TT, I suppose continuity was in its infancy then but hey ho. I would have prefered to hear the bikes too instead of that dreadful music.

Peter Berndt those days were bloody dodgy! For a number of reasons 1) The safety in those days were pretty non existent, crap cork lined helmets, no body armour, thin leathers and just the odd bail on the corners, not the rubber fencing we have now. Marshaling was sporadic, a yellow duster if you were lucky and the odd telephone point not the tetra radio system in place now. 2) The bikes of that era were temperamental to say the least, those two stroke ran right on the edge of detonation and seizure. You rode with one hand covering the clutch lever because you had about half a second warning of the thing locking up solid and if you were anything other than totally upright it would throw off into what ever the scenery was about you. Yes the speeds are much faster now but the bikes are in a different class as far as reliability and if you do come off your safety gear and the circuit safety is much improved. That's not to say it isn't still very risky but given the choice I would opt for the modern era every time.

And not a paddock girl to be seen!

+Keith Williams Some very good points made well ,As for me now i,am a older "mentelman" i now get my island fix at the manx even better with the added classic tt but enjoyed a few over the years pre the new format , and the tt week fix done on itv 4 all bit to much for me now !! plus for price say 3/4 days can have 20 plus days at the manx and then to hear the likes of Suzuki supersix,s and eary aircooled and watercool yams at full "chat" down the sulby straight is one to grab while can broke my island code this year and got stuck when the tetra system was playing the not responding game on start up and with roads unopened spent hours at the 11 milestone by the old green box !! TILL JUST LIKE AT MY HOUSE HELP OF A YOUNGER MIND TOOK IT AWAY TO FIX LOL good vid have you seen on you tube TEAM COLLINS AND RUSSELL CLASSIC TT 2014

+George Lee have to make the most of all the practice time so even to this day can get a mix of class plus on the island a race can have many sub class as a time trail can all be done eg later day 125 lightweight 2 strokes run alongside 400/4 4 strokes/ hope helps

Still the best races in the world tony

+George Lee As seen my 1st in 1977 and been many many times since for both the tt and later in year Manx grand prix pus a few south100s on the small bit still road circuit in the south of the island only missing a handful of years think i may have to say YES IT IS and a lucky sob living so near ! i now tend to go the classic tt/mgp as now a older biker chap !! You may enjoy on you tube GRANDPRIX RACER plus TEAM COLLINS AND RUSSELL CLASSIC TT 2014 give them a watch happy biking to you in 2016

@@tonypate9174 If you look, you will see it said START OF THE 125CC RACE, And it showed EFFING Matchless single 4 strokes and Nortons, I have been watching the I.O.M TT for over 60 years, so dont try to correct me.Also they dont play American marching band on the Island. I know they used to race only 500 sidecars back in the 50s , but this film is showing Machless and Nortons claiming its the start of the 125, next they will show the Moto Guzzi v8 500 at the start of the 50 cc race.

@@albion2742 Yes not a good film and your EFFING point is ?

I think it means that they failed to qualify for the final (because of their times).

@@kirtleyburggraf8786 too slow

Better than that.

@@whalesong999 well they would want to be. Imagine any company being handed free of charge a 95% developed revolutionary product. Zero development costs.