Heikki Mikkola
Encyclopedia
Heikki Antero Mikkola was a four-time World Champion motocross
racer. Known as the "Flying Finn
", and characterized by a fierce, determined style, he was the first Finn to win a motocross world championship.
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.
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. 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
.
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
racer. Known as the "Flying Finn
Flying Finn (athlete)
"The Flying Finn" is a nickname given to several Finnish athletes. Originally, it was given to several Finnish middle and long-distance runners...
", and characterized by a fierce, determined style, he was the first Finn to win a motocross world championship.
He won his first 500 cc Motocross World Championship on a Husqvarna
Husqvarna Motorcycles
Husqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
in 1974, defeating the defending World Champion Roger DeCoster
Roger DeCoster
Roger De Coster is a Belgian former world champion motocross racer and current motocross team manager.-Motorcycling career:...
in what would be remembered as one of the tightest battles in motocross history.
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. 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
Hyvinkää
Hyvinkää is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in Uusimaa region, approximately north of the capital Helsinki. The town was chartered in 1960. Hyvinkää belongs to the Province of Southern Finland. The population of Hyvinkää is ....
Motor Club (Hyvinkään Moottorikerho - HyMk). He currently enjoys retirement living in Finland. In 2006 he was inducted into the AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
.
Motocross Grand Prix Results
- 1969 250 cc Motocross World Championship - 14th (HusqvarnaHusqvarna MotorcyclesHusqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
) - 1970 250 cc Motocross World Championship - 4th (HusqvarnaHusqvarna MotorcyclesHusqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
) - 1971 250 cc Motocross World Championship - 4th (HusqvarnaHusqvarna MotorcyclesHusqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
) - 1972 500 cc Motocross World Championship - 3rd (HusqvarnaHusqvarna MotorcyclesHusqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
) - 1973 250 cc Motocross World Championship - 3rd (HusqvarnaHusqvarna MotorcyclesHusqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
) - 1974 500 cc Motocross World Championship - 1st (HusqvarnaHusqvarna MotorcyclesHusqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
) - 1975 500 cc Motocross World Championship - 2nd (HusqvarnaHusqvarna MotorcyclesHusqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
) - 1976 250 cc Motocross World Championship - 1st (HusqvarnaHusqvarna MotorcyclesHusqvarna Motorcycles, a subsidiary of BMW, is a company manufacturing motocross, enduro and supermoto motorcycles. The company began producing motorcycles in 1903 at Huskvarna, Sweden, as a branch of the Husqvarna armament firm which had supplied the Swedish army with rifles since 1689.-History:As...
) - 1977 500 cc Motocross World Championship - 1st (YamahaYamaha Motor Company, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
) - 1978 500 cc Motocross World Championship - 1st (YamahaYamaha Motor Company, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
) - 1979 500 cc Motocross World Championship - 5th (YamahaYamaha Motor Company, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
)
External links
- Heikki Mikkola official fansite
- Heikki Mikkola The Lone Wolf
- Heikki Mikkola at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame