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Bimonthly motor magazine "MOTO 73", volume 5, no. 12, 1977.
Europe, the United States of America and Australia are important markets for the Japanese Motorcycle industry. No wonder Yamaha makes an enormous effort, in the field of road-racing and motocross, to win the Grand Prix in Europe and the national championships in America and Australia. Yahama hopes that these successes will also positively affect its market share. In this fight the Yamaha spearheads are Steve Baker, Johnny Cecotto, Giacomo Agostini, Heikki Mikkola, Pierre Karsmakers, Bengt Aberg, Kenny Roberts (America) and Warren Willing (Australia).
HEIKKI MIKKOLA, double world champion, is one of the absolute top riders on the motocross scene. This year he surprised friend and foe by signing a contract with Yamaha. He will be the man who leads the Yamaha attack on the 500cc world title and, as things stand at present, he’ll do it with success.
Mikkola, who was riding until this year for Husqvarna, wants to recapture the 500 cc world title, which was won in 1976 by Roger DeCoster, any way he can. Heikki believes that the new 400cc Yamaha can get him a new title. In 1976, Heikki Mikkola became world champion in the 250cc class, after achieving the highest honour in the half-litre class in 1974. But he considers the 250cc title to be of less value than the 500cc category; that’s why, in 1977, he will dedicate himself entirely to the heaviest class.
Heikki Mikkola rode his first race in 1963. He was immediately pushed off the track on the first bend. But Mikkola proved to be a relentless fighter: he came back on the track and still managed to be in sixth position!
Up to 1970 Mikkola was more of an all-round sportsman than purely a motocross specialist. He did baseball, skiing, athletics and several types of motorcycle sports. In 1966 he was national Endurance champion of Finland, in 1967 champion ice racer and in 1970 he was champion on the motor sledge circuit (snowmobile). In 1967, he gained his first points for world championship motocross. From this time he gradually started to specialize more and more on motocross. In 1970, he finished 4th in the 250cc world championship. With the Finnish team he came third in the Trophy des Nations. Also in the same year he decided to commit himself totally to motocross and the success it would bring.
In 1971 he again came fourth in the 250cc class and in 1972 he finished third in the half litre category. In 1973, he again came third, this time in the 250cc class, plus a magnificent victory in the American Inter-AMA series, the international summer races.
Mikkola, who was riding until this year for Husqvarna, wants to recapture the 500 cc world title, which was won in 1976 by Roger DeCoster, any way he can. Heikki believes that the new 400cc Yamaha can get him a new title. In 1976, Heikki Mikkola became world champion in the 250cc class, after achieving the highest honour in the half-litre class in 1974. But he considers the 250cc title to be of less value than the 500cc category; that’s why, in 1977, he will dedicate himself entirely to the heaviest class.
Heikki Mikkola rode his first race in 1963. He was immediately pushed off the track on the first bend. But Mikkola proved to be a relentless fighter: he came back on the track and still managed to be in sixth position!
Up to 1970 Mikkola was more of an all-round sportsman than purely a motocross specialist. He did baseball, skiing, athletics and several types of motorcycle sports. In 1966 he was national Endurance champion of Finland, in 1967 champion ice racer and in 1970 he was champion on the motor sledge circuit (snowmobile). In 1967, he gained his first points for world championship motocross. From this time he gradually started to specialize more and more on motocross. In 1970, he finished 4th in the 250cc world championship. With the Finnish team he came third in the Trophy des Nations. Also in the same year he decided to commit himself totally to motocross and the success it would bring.
In 1971 he again came fourth in the 250cc class and in 1972 he finished third in the half litre category. In 1973, he again came third, this time in the 250cc class, plus a magnificent victory in the American Inter-AMA series, the international summer races.
Heikki Mikkola, photographed in his country Suomi also known as Finland, where he recently won both heats of the 500cc G.P.
In 1971 he again came fourth in the 250cc class and in 1972 he finished third in the half litre category. In 1973, he again came third, this time in the 250cc class, plus a magnificent victory in the American Inter-AMA series, the international summer races.
Then along came the year which Heikki considers the height of his career. He returned to the 500cc class and beat the mighty Roger DeCoster and with it got a hold of the world title! Although he was already for many years Finland's best motocross rider, he took for the first time the national Finnish championship in 1974! In 1975 he again won the national titles in the 250 and 500cc classes, but he lost his 500cc title to the Belgian rider, after a fight with DeCoster, which lasted the whole season. In 1976 Heikki returned again to the 250cc class. That change brought him a new world championship! He also became champion of Finland again in both categories.
And now, in 1977, Mikkola has targeted all his attention again on the 500cc. This time he doesn’t only change the class but also the make of the bike.
Regardless of his enormous devotion, Mikkola likes to keep busy, now and again, with totally different matters. He still hasn’t competed in the, financially very attractive, American
Then along came the year which Heikki considers the height of his career. He returned to the 500cc class and beat the mighty Roger DeCoster and with it got a hold of the world title! Although he was already for many years Finland's best motocross rider, he took for the first time the national Finnish championship in 1974! In 1975 he again won the national titles in the 250 and 500cc classes, but he lost his 500cc title to the Belgian rider, after a fight with DeCoster, which lasted the whole season. In 1976 Heikki returned again to the 250cc class. That change brought him a new world championship! He also became champion of Finland again in both categories.
And now, in 1977, Mikkola has targeted all his attention again on the 500cc. This time he doesn’t only change the class but also the make of the bike.
Regardless of his enormous devotion, Mikkola likes to keep busy, now and again, with totally different matters. He still hasn’t competed in the, financially very attractive, American
Trans-AMA series (13 races, which are held directly after the Grand Prix). “The hunting season in Finland is just in full swing then", Mikkola says, "And I’m not going to be cheated out of that!” In fact, that’s only one of his reasons. Mikkola loves to spend as much time as possible with his family. He is married to Kaija and has a daughter (Hanna, 7 yrs) and a son (Antti, 2 yrs). His family accompanies him on all the Grand Prix trips. They also have a second home in Belgium, which they then use, but as soon as the motocross-season comes to an end, they return to their first home in Hyvinkää, a rural place in the north of Helsinki. They don't think of motocross at all for a couple of months while they’re there …....
During winter Heikki doesn't relax with motorbikes, instead he prefers to go hunting with his dog and his gun; a hobby which he’s been doing since he was 15 years old. He stays outdoors sometimes up to five days and often covers up to 30 kilometres in one day!
It relaxes him and keeps him in top form and in excellent condition, which is absolutely necessary if you want to continue riding at the top. And Heikki Mikkola will only settle for the top. In 1977, he hopes to conquer his third world title on a Yamaha....
During winter Heikki doesn't relax with motorbikes, instead he prefers to go hunting with his dog and his gun; a hobby which he’s been doing since he was 15 years old. He stays outdoors sometimes up to five days and often covers up to 30 kilometres in one day!
It relaxes him and keeps him in top form and in excellent condition, which is absolutely necessary if you want to continue riding at the top. And Heikki Mikkola will only settle for the top. In 1977, he hopes to conquer his third world title on a Yamaha....