The first Polish rider in the Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Ryszard Mankiewicz was born in 1937. He was living with his parents nearby the race track in Poznan, where the famous motorcycle competition „Golden Helmet” were organized.

Grass track was often visited by many European riders and attracted over 30.000 spectators. Being a child, Ryszard Mankiewicz was visiting the race track with his father quite often. At that time he was not even dreaming about wearing such a „Golden Helmet” in the future. He started racing in 1953 when he was 16 years old.

His first victory came in 1955, when he became an Area Champion in Motorcycle Rally. In 1956 he won his first (out of six) Polish Champion Title in street racing. His best achievements on the grass tracks were winning „XX Golden Helmet” in 1962 in Poznan, and taking second position in final race in the International Grass Competition in Teterow 1966 (Germany). From 1964 he started participation in international competitions, and soon after that – in qualification to Motorcycle Racing World Championship.

The best season for Ryszard was 1969, He was classified 7th. in the general World Championship classification. In one of the rounds on Emola Track - Italy (number 28), He was fourth.

In the season of 1973, he first starts on YAMAHA TZ 250 motorcycle, which proven itself to be very reliable.

As you can see on this pictures, the circumstances were much different than they are now!