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even stayed away from this international meeting and some other trips, including the veteran race of Gaildorf and Lommel. Here he fought on the Heeserbergen, in the mid eighties, a heroic duel with DeCoster. Mikkola just got the worst of it against DeCoster after he got problems with a grip coming loose in the second heat which made accelerating nearly impossible. In his country of birth Mikkola had a bad fall at a demonstration where he got injured so badly that his wife Kaija said enough is enough, and so he hung up his boots once and for all. "I don’t even have a bike any more at the moment, no cross-country, not even a bike with which I got my titles, nothing. The two bikes in my barn belong to my son Antti, but after he had a road accident, even he rarely uses them."
MR: The last race you went to was the 500cc GP in Ruskeasanta. In comparison with years ago, what are the biggest changes which jump out at you?
Mikkola: "Things aren’t as friendly anymore in the racing driver’s circuits. Years ago everyone was
MR: The last race you went to was the 500cc GP in Ruskeasanta. In comparison with years ago, what are the biggest changes which jump out at you?
Mikkola: "Things aren’t as friendly anymore in the racing driver’s circuits. Years ago everyone was
each other's friend, but now there’s more animosity. And, of course, age. The riders begin younger and stop once they’re on the wrong side of 25. When I was 25 years old I was just beginning to reach the top."
MR: If you look back on your career, would you change tactics at certain points?
Mikkola: "I enjoyed it quite a bit, but on the material side I would handle things differently. I stayed too long with Husqvarna and should have moved much sooner to the Japanese. It’s an assumption, but with an earlier transfer to Yamaha I might have been able to add one or two more titles to my name."
MR: What is the best memory of your career?
Mikkola: "Of course my first 500cc world title in 1974 on a Husqvarna. The ruling happened in Ettelbrück after the first heat and during the interval Roger DeCoster came running up with a bottle of champagne."
MR: What were your best victories in the olden days?
Mikkola: "A victory on the Citadel
MR: If you look back on your career, would you change tactics at certain points?
Mikkola: "I enjoyed it quite a bit, but on the material side I would handle things differently. I stayed too long with Husqvarna and should have moved much sooner to the Japanese. It’s an assumption, but with an earlier transfer to Yamaha I might have been able to add one or two more titles to my name."
MR: What is the best memory of your career?
Mikkola: "Of course my first 500cc world title in 1974 on a Husqvarna. The ruling happened in Ettelbrück after the first heat and during the interval Roger DeCoster came running up with a bottle of champagne."
MR: What were your best victories in the olden days?
Mikkola: "A victory on the Citadel
"Maybe with an earlier switch to the Japanese I would have been able to get more world titles."
in Namen would just about beat anything else. And, by the way, I received a fantastic picture from my most loyal supporters. The image, which has been recorded, is of my jump onto the Esplanade on my Yamaha. That picture is one of my most valued trophies."
We leave the shop and stroll to the typical wooden Scandinavian house where upstairs we come to the trophy room. It’s a pleasant sitting area surrounded by glass showcases where most of his cups and medals are displayed. Four Gold FIM medals, which each represent a world title are regarding the sport, the most valuable of his possessions, but the Finn is just as proud of the smallest cup which he won somewhere during a preseason race. The FIM diplomas and pamphlets of his Finnish titles decorate an entire wall.
MR: Did you ever consider yourself to be a star?
Mikkola: "No, I never felt better than the others. The top riders today have more problems with their airs of stars."
MR: After you, we had Pekka Vehkonen, but that was all. It will take quite a long time before another Finn will get a gold medal. Do you have an explanation for that?
We leave the shop and stroll to the typical wooden Scandinavian house where upstairs we come to the trophy room. It’s a pleasant sitting area surrounded by glass showcases where most of his cups and medals are displayed. Four Gold FIM medals, which each represent a world title are regarding the sport, the most valuable of his possessions, but the Finn is just as proud of the smallest cup which he won somewhere during a preseason race. The FIM diplomas and pamphlets of his Finnish titles decorate an entire wall.
MR: Did you ever consider yourself to be a star?
Mikkola: "No, I never felt better than the others. The top riders today have more problems with their airs of stars."
MR: After you, we had Pekka Vehkonen, but that was all. It will take quite a long time before another Finn will get a gold medal. Do you have an explanation for that?
This is the way Mikkola announces his house
Mikkola: "Most of the riders are spoiled. When they win a national title, they think they’ve made it. But when they get to the continent they come away with a flea in their ear and lack the courage to continue."
MR: Finally, do you feel a special bond with Belgium?
Mikkola: "My stay in Belgium will always remain a special period in my life and I won’t forget that. Perhaps I’ll come and visit your country this winter. Last summer dad Boonen was here and when I come to Belgium, him and me we’ll both go pheasant hunting together.”
MR: Finally, do you feel a special bond with Belgium?
Mikkola: "My stay in Belgium will always remain a special period in my life and I won’t forget that. Perhaps I’ll come and visit your country this winter. Last summer dad Boonen was here and when I come to Belgium, him and me we’ll both go pheasant hunting together.”
Jan Vermeer