Heikki Mikkola

Heikki Mikkola
Nationality	Finnish
Born	6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) (age 71) Mikkeli, Finland
Motocross career
Years active	1969 - 1979
Teams	Husqvarna, Yamaha
Championships	500cc - 1974, 1977, 1978 250cc - 1976

Heikki Antero Mikkola (born 6 July 1945) is a Finnish former professional motocross racer. He was a four-time World Champion.^[1]

Born in Mikkeli, Finland, he became known as the "Flying Finn", and was characterized by a fierce, determined riding style. He was the first Finn to win a Motocross World Championship.^[2] He won his first 500 cc Motocross World Championship on a Husqvarna in 1974, defeating the defending World Champion Roger DeCoster in what would be remembered as one of the tightest battles in motocross history.^[3]^[4]

In 1976, he won the 250 cc World Championship, also aboard a Husqvarna, becoming the first person to win a 250 cc and a 500 cc Motocross World Championship. For the 1977 season, Mikkola was signed by Yamaha and he rewarded them with a 500 cc World Championship.^[2] He repeated as 500 cc champion in 1978. After a fifth-place finish in the 1979 season, the 34-year-old Mikkola decided to retire. Throughout his entire racing career, Mikkola represented the Hyvinkää Motor Club (Hyvinkään Moottorikerho - HyMk). He currently enjoys retirement living in Finland. In 2006 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.^[2]

Motocross Grand Prix Results

Year	Class	Team	Rank
1969	250cc	Husqvarna	14th
1970	250cc	Husqvarna	4th
1971	250cc	Husqvarna	4th
1972	500cc	Husqvarna	3rd
1973	250cc	Husqvarna	3rd
1974	500cc	Husqvarna	1st
1975	500cc	Husqvarna	2nd
1976	250cc	Husqvarna	1st
1977	500cc	Yamaha	1st
1978	500cc	Yamaha	1st
1979	500cc	Yamaha	5th

References

↑ "Heikki Mikkola career profile". bestsports.com.br. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
1 2 3 "Heikki Mikkola". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
↑ "1974 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
↑ Pratt, Terry (1975). Grand Prix Wrap-Up. Cycle World. Books.Google.com. Retrieved 28 January 2016.

External links

MX1 world champions¹

1957 - B. Nilsson
1958 - R. Baeten
1959 - S. Lundin

1960 - B. Nilsson
1961 - S. Lundin
1962 – R. Tibblin
1963 – R. Tibblin
1964 – J. Smith
1965 – J. Smith
1966 – P. Friedrichs
1967 – P. Friedrichs
1968 – P. Friedrichs
1969 – B. Aberg

1970 – B. Aberg
1971 – R. De Coster
1972 – R. De Coster
1973 – R. De Coster
1974 – H. Mikkola
1975 – R. De Coster
1976 – R. De Coster
1977 – H. Mikkola
1978 – H. Mikkola
1979 – G. Noyce

1980 – A. Malherbe
1981 – A. Malherbe
1982 – B. Lackey
1983 – H. Carlqvist
1984 – A. Malherbe
1985 – D. Thorpe
1986 – D. Thorpe
1987 – G. Jobé
1988 – E. Geboers
1989 – D. Thorpe

1990 – E. Geboers
1991 – G. Jobé
1992 – G. Jobé
1993 – J. Martens
1994 – M. Hansson
1995 – J. Smets
1996 – S. King
1997 – J. Smets
1998 – J. Smets
1999 – A. Bartolini

2000 – J. Smets
2001 – S. Everts
2002 – S. Everts
2003 – S. Everts
2004 – S. Everts
2005 – S. Everts
2006 – S. Everts
2007 – S. Ramon
2008 – D. Philippaerts
2009 – A. Cairoli

2010 – A. Cairoli
2011 – A. Cairoli
2012 – A. Cairoli
2013 – A. Cairoli
2014 – A. Cairoli
2015 – R. Febvre
2016 – T. Gajser

¹From 1957 to 2002 the MX-1 world championship was named the 500cc motocross world championship.

MX2 world champions¹

1962 – T. Hallman
1963 – T. Hallman
1964 – J. Robert
1965 – V. Arbekov
1966 – T. Hallman
1967 – T. Hallman
1968 – J. Robert
1969 – J. Robert

1970 – J. Robert
1971 – J. Robert
1972 – J. Robert
1973 – H. Andersson
1974 – G. Moisseev
1975 – H. Everts
1976 – H. Mikkola
1977 – G. Moisseev
1978 – G. Moisseev
1979 – H. Carlqvist

1980 – G. Jobé
1981 – N. Hudson
1982 – D. LaPorte
1983 – G. Jobé
1984 – H. Kinigadner
1985 – H. Kinigadner
1986 – J. Vimond
1987 – E. Geboers
1988 – J. van den Berk
1989 – J. Bayle

1990 – A. Puzar
1991 – T. Parker
1992 – D. Schmit
1993 – G. Albertyn
1994 – G. Albertyn
1995 – S. Everts
1996 – S. Everts
1997 – S. Everts
1998 – S. Tortelli
1999 – F. Bolley

2000 – F. Bolley
2001 – M. Pichon
2002 – M. Pichon
2003 – S. Ramon
2004 – B. Townley
2005 – A. Cairoli
2006 – C. Pourcel
2007 – A. Cairoli
2008 – T. Rattray
2009 – M. Musquin

2010 – M. Musquin
2011 – K. Roczen
2012 – J. Herlings
2013 – J. Herlings
2014 – J. Tixier
2015 - T. Gajser
2016 - J. Herlings

¹From 1962 to 2002 the MX-2 world championship was named the 250cc motocross world championship.

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