Ralf Waldmann

Ralf Waldmann (14 July 1966 to 10 March 2018) was a German Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1996 he finished second to Max Biaggi in the 250cc world championship, and in 1997 he challenged Biaggi again, winning four races and finishing only two points behind the Italian. Kenny Roberts offered him a ride on a 500cc Modenas for 1998, but he finished 14th, and he returned to the 250 class the following year with the Aprilia team before retiring from motorcycle competition after the 2002 season. His final win, at the 2000 British Grand Prix, came after he recovered from more than a minute and a half behind in the wet to beat Olivier Jacque at the last corner by 0.3 seconds. In 2009 he joined Martin Wimmer in buying the motorbike maker MZ from the Hong Leong Group. He died in Ennepetal, Germany, on 10 March 2018.