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managed to take the silver behind the Swedish Hakan Andersson, who came first on a factory Yamaha.
A fast bike is not a guarantee for winning a motocross race. A lot more factors play a role, and not least stamina, if you want to be at the top by the end of the race. It takes a lot of sweat to reach and keep in top condition. And Heikki is in top condition. His lungs are able to absorb 82-millilitre of oxygen for every kilogram of body weight, while the average (smoking) man does not reach more than 40 and many ice-hockey players do not get more than 60, which is considered very good. Heikki's condition can be compared to the very best skiers at Olympic level. Heikki's condition is definitely not a gift from Mother Nature. A look back in the ‘black book’ of Husqvarna's team manager Roland Arrehn shows us that Heikki's lung capacity has gone up during the years: 63 mi in 1972, 76 in 1973 and then 82 in 1974. That progress is due
A fast bike is not a guarantee for winning a motocross race. A lot more factors play a role, and not least stamina, if you want to be at the top by the end of the race. It takes a lot of sweat to reach and keep in top condition. And Heikki is in top condition. His lungs are able to absorb 82-millilitre of oxygen for every kilogram of body weight, while the average (smoking) man does not reach more than 40 and many ice-hockey players do not get more than 60, which is considered very good. Heikki's condition can be compared to the very best skiers at Olympic level. Heikki's condition is definitely not a gift from Mother Nature. A look back in the ‘black book’ of Husqvarna's team manager Roland Arrehn shows us that Heikki's lung capacity has gone up during the years: 63 mi in 1972, 76 in 1973 and then 82 in 1974. That progress is due
to a rigorous adaptable training, which starts every day (without interruption) with running, followed by a series of tough gymnastic exercises.
A disaster seemed very near when Heikki came off the track and hurt his back during practise for the German Grand Prix. Consequently he couldn’t take part in the race. Fortunately he was able to take part in the English GP on the 7th July.
Which other factors still play a part in the excellent results which Mikkola has already achieved this year? Mikkola himself says about this: 'undoubtedly my Husqvarna machine is one of the best, fastest and most reliable bikes which is around this season. It really is a fantastic machine. And we mustn’t forget Pelle Mas, who is just as fantastic'. Pelle Mas, also known as Per Olov Persson, has been since 1960 one of the best mechanics in motocross and
A disaster seemed very near when Heikki came off the track and hurt his back during practise for the German Grand Prix. Consequently he couldn’t take part in the race. Fortunately he was able to take part in the English GP on the 7th July.
Which other factors still play a part in the excellent results which Mikkola has already achieved this year? Mikkola himself says about this: 'undoubtedly my Husqvarna machine is one of the best, fastest and most reliable bikes which is around this season. It really is a fantastic machine. And we mustn’t forget Pelle Mas, who is just as fantastic'. Pelle Mas, also known as Per Olov Persson, has been since 1960 one of the best mechanics in motocross and
now works for Mikkola and the Husqvarna team. On being asked Heikki would certainly agree that the beginning of his success coincides with the arrival of Pelle Mas.
There was a period, at the first stage of his status as factory rider, that Mikkola, due to previous bad experiences, entrusted his machine to no one and did all the maintenance himself, much to the sadness of Pelle Mas. But after that first period an enormous trust developed between both men and Mikkola learned a lot from the calm criticism of Pelle Mas and his enormous amount of experience acquired in the course of the years on the European circuits.
A good mechanic, a good machine, to be in top condition and the willpower to win: these are the ingredients of Mikkola’s current success. Also mentally he struck a balance. He used to be a bad starter, but now he takes the lead from the start. That’s the substance of which a true champion is made.
There was a period, at the first stage of his status as factory rider, that Mikkola, due to previous bad experiences, entrusted his machine to no one and did all the maintenance himself, much to the sadness of Pelle Mas. But after that first period an enormous trust developed between both men and Mikkola learned a lot from the calm criticism of Pelle Mas and his enormous amount of experience acquired in the course of the years on the European circuits.
A good mechanic, a good machine, to be in top condition and the willpower to win: these are the ingredients of Mikkola’s current success. Also mentally he struck a balance. He used to be a bad starter, but now he takes the lead from the start. That’s the substance of which a true champion is made.