Simson

After the defection of Degner, the eastgerman authorities tightened the grip on the possibilities given to the supported racedepartment of MZ. That meant that the MZ RE50 only saw one race, the 1962 East-German GP at Sachsenring. Hereafter the Simson engined racers in the 50cc category were entered by private riders only. One of the more successful privateers were Bernd Göpfert, who always had a notable sized Simson lettering on his racebikes. From Zwickau, Bernd Göpfert started 50cc racing with a self- made engine with a MZ transmission and later in a chassis of own construction. He began to take on special jobs from Simson- werke in Suhl, and in his workshop a small series of Geländesport machines were constructed. One of the GS engines were used in his new roadracer where good results were reached even among the many machines, with "imported" race- engines, taking part of the east- german championship. Quite an achievent when taking into con- sideration that important raceparts, like racetires, aluminum- rims etc. were extremely hard to come by in the Socialist countries. Later, by chance, he bought one of the two MZ RE50 as a rolling chassis, which made a good basis for his third Simson engined racebike. With 18inch aluminium rims and Dunlop race tires! This Simson made him the best DDR finisher in the 1969 Sachsenring GP.
A typical example of the GS (Geländesport) engine in a roadrace frame:
	Later Bernd Göpfert became the initiator of a new factory backed attack on the 50cc world championship races.
Early version of the 541 type engine turned race engine: discvalve intake and Watercooled - not yet with a dryclutch.
Final version of the RS50 race engine - hampered in races by not fully developed ignition system!
As the results were to many DNF´s and as the introduction of the 80cc class got near, there was no more development done to the 541 type 50cc engines. The beautiful and colourful Simson race bikes returned later as 80cc competitors. May I recommend this book written by Peter Lompard. An in depth story of the Simson history of racing within the DDR.