1971
1973
1974
1977
1978
1979
1993
1998
2000
2002
2007
Headaches in Belgium and gastric problems in Poland kept him away for two additional GPs. The end of the season would be however much better.
“The US importer got me a contract for six races in the summer, 4 of which I won. Back to Europe I won the three last GPs in Finland, Switzerland and Austria, still as a private rider. I had excellent bikes; in 35 races in 1970, I only had two DNF (once in East Germany, the other in an international race in Denmark) du to mechanical problems”.
If the stock bikes Mikkola was riding were very reliable, the HVA he rode in 1971 broke the records in term of mechanical breakages. The Swedish factory didn’t want to loose its rare bird, so they tied him with a three years contract until the end of 1973. The new prototypes build by the Swedish factory happens to be anything but reliable “the new 250 was a new build bike who faced many mechanical problems”. Being only able to see the finish line on 5 out of the 12 Grand Prix – One victory, four second places ! - Heikki ends the season with a fourth place overall.
“At the end of the 1971 season I requested to move up to the 500 Class where the 360 HVA had proved to be a much more reliable bike”. It wouldn’t be long before Heikki adapts to the new class and after a few GPs it became clear that Mikkola was to be DeCoster main challenger for the title. “In Austria, at Sittendorf, there was a lot of mud, and I got troubles with the engine, which meant a 9th place overall. The track at Payerne, Switzerland, pretty much like Farleigh Castle, is covered with grass, and this is the type of track that suits me well : I beat DeCoster that day. In Sweden I can’t even complete a lap as the engine breaks. In Corseul, France, I grab the third spot. The track was too short and there was too much dust. A GP track should be completed somewhere between 2 or 3 minutes and that was not what happened in France. The Soviet Union GP was very tough. It had rained the day before the race and it was by nature a track that required a strong stamina. I take the second place behind DeCoster”.
For the next GP, in Czechoslovakia, Heikki was riding the 360 that was until then reserved to Bengt Aberg, the former world champion. The Swedish rider was considered as the number one rider in a team where all the staff would come from Sweden...
“Aberg rode the 360 in Switzerland, Sweden and Soviet Union, and then I was allowed to ride for the Czechoslovakian GP. DeCoster should have won it, but he broke his bike in the last lap and I got the win. It was my turn to get in trouble with the bike in England as I bent the selector on a stone that was hidden by the mud in the first moto and in the second one, I crashes and broke my handlebar.
“The US importer got me a contract for six races in the summer, 4 of which I won. Back to Europe I won the three last GPs in Finland, Switzerland and Austria, still as a private rider. I had excellent bikes; in 35 races in 1970, I only had two DNF (once in East Germany, the other in an international race in Denmark) du to mechanical problems”.
If the stock bikes Mikkola was riding were very reliable, the HVA he rode in 1971 broke the records in term of mechanical breakages. The Swedish factory didn’t want to loose its rare bird, so they tied him with a three years contract until the end of 1973. The new prototypes build by the Swedish factory happens to be anything but reliable “the new 250 was a new build bike who faced many mechanical problems”. Being only able to see the finish line on 5 out of the 12 Grand Prix – One victory, four second places ! - Heikki ends the season with a fourth place overall.
“At the end of the 1971 season I requested to move up to the 500 Class where the 360 HVA had proved to be a much more reliable bike”. It wouldn’t be long before Heikki adapts to the new class and after a few GPs it became clear that Mikkola was to be DeCoster main challenger for the title. “In Austria, at Sittendorf, there was a lot of mud, and I got troubles with the engine, which meant a 9th place overall. The track at Payerne, Switzerland, pretty much like Farleigh Castle, is covered with grass, and this is the type of track that suits me well : I beat DeCoster that day. In Sweden I can’t even complete a lap as the engine breaks. In Corseul, France, I grab the third spot. The track was too short and there was too much dust. A GP track should be completed somewhere between 2 or 3 minutes and that was not what happened in France. The Soviet Union GP was very tough. It had rained the day before the race and it was by nature a track that required a strong stamina. I take the second place behind DeCoster”.
For the next GP, in Czechoslovakia, Heikki was riding the 360 that was until then reserved to Bengt Aberg, the former world champion. The Swedish rider was considered as the number one rider in a team where all the staff would come from Sweden...
“Aberg rode the 360 in Switzerland, Sweden and Soviet Union, and then I was allowed to ride for the Czechoslovakian GP. DeCoster should have won it, but he broke his bike in the last lap and I got the win. It was my turn to get in trouble with the bike in England as I bent the selector on a stone that was hidden by the mud in the first moto and in the second one, I crashes and broke my handlebar.