1967 Suzuki TR50 Production Racer with Phil Aynsley
The ’60s saw Suzuki take the 50cc World Championship category by storm, eventually leading to the 1967 TR50
The 50cc class was added to the World Championships in 1962 and Suzuki entered with their works RM62, competing mainly against the Kreidler (the previous year’s European Championship winner) and Honda RC 110. Ernst Degner won on the RM62’s debut race at the IOM (after they missed the first two races of the season) and Degner went on to take the title.
Hugh Anderson took the title the following year on the RM63 with Suzuki filling five of the top six positions. Anderson again took the championship in ’64 and finished a close third (equal points) to Taveri in ’65, with Ralph Bryans winning. Suzuki took the championship again in ’66 with Hans-Georg Anscheidt and in ’67 took the first three places with Anscheidt, Yoshimi Katayama and Stuart Graham. 1968 was the last year Suzuki featured in the 50cc class as the company withdrew from racing before the season commenced. Anscheidt however, ran as a privateer and again finished the season in first place.
By 1968 the 50cc Suzukis had evolved from an 8hp single-cylinder to water-cooled twins producing 17.5hp. Prototype V3s were developed that made 19hp at 20,000rpm and had 16 speed gearboxes!
With such a successful history in the 50cc class it was no surprise that the company offered a production racer, the TR50. 40 were made in 1967 and this bike, number 33, was bought new by British rider Dick Sullivan in 1968. He campaigned it until 1974 after which it went to another owner, before being purchased by its current owner. It is now fitted with a works RK50 tank, tachometer and rear suspension units.
The air-cooled piston port motor made 8.5hp at 11,000rpm. The sand-cast engine cases housed a six speed gearbox. Unusually ignition was supplied by a half speed magneto, drive being taken from the clutch primary drive.
This Suzuki TR50 is part of the Team Classic Suzuki collection.
