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English for both, which is also the language of motorsport.
For Yamaha, Mikkola was the much needed motocross rider who could tell the factory's specialists the secrets to get the bike to the top.
"I won the 500cc World Championship with Yamaha in 1977 and 1978. In 1979 I got injured and dropped to fifth place in the final ranking. Then it occurred to me that I had raced enough and that this will be not the rest of my life”, says Mikkola and continues,“ Motocross and living in a world of hotels and riders' paddocks have been such a big part of my life for over a decade, however, that I couldn't stop immediately and start doing something new. " After his active career, Mikkola remained employed as Yamaha team manager and successfully continued the success of the Japanese factory in motocross. He brought, among others, the Swede Håkan Carlqvist, the English Neil Hudson and Dave Watson and Jukka Sintonen from Imatra to the racing
For Yamaha, Mikkola was the much needed motocross rider who could tell the factory's specialists the secrets to get the bike to the top.
"I won the 500cc World Championship with Yamaha in 1977 and 1978. In 1979 I got injured and dropped to fifth place in the final ranking. Then it occurred to me that I had raced enough and that this will be not the rest of my life”, says Mikkola and continues,“ Motocross and living in a world of hotels and riders' paddocks have been such a big part of my life for over a decade, however, that I couldn't stop immediately and start doing something new. " After his active career, Mikkola remained employed as Yamaha team manager and successfully continued the success of the Japanese factory in motocross. He brought, among others, the Swede Håkan Carlqvist, the English Neil Hudson and Dave Watson and Jukka Sintonen from Imatra to the racing
team. “I stayed in public relations with Yamaha for some time and was also involved in the work of motocross clothing supplier Sinisalo,” says Mikkola.
Heikki Mikkola brought Yamaha back to the top of motocross during his career. It was the ambitions of the best rider, Mikkola, and the know-how and resources of the Japanese team that were the weapons with which Yamaha returned to the top of motocross in the late 1970s.
The achievements of Finnish motorsport legends stayed in the minds of former team leaders. Englishman Paul Butler led the competition department of Yamaha Europe headquarters from the late 1970s to the early 1990s on the circuits, so there was a lot of insight into the different riders.
Today Butler is the director of the road racing association IRTA. A few years ago he said in a different context: "Finns can always count. They have a 100 percent focus, honesty and sincerity to appreciate Sita Japanese, so based on the good results that have been achieved, so I am very happy with the achievements of Jarno Saarinen, Teuvo Länsivuori and motocross racer Heikki Mikkola at Yamaha, ”says Butler.
Heikki Mikkola brought Yamaha back to the top of motocross during his career. It was the ambitions of the best rider, Mikkola, and the know-how and resources of the Japanese team that were the weapons with which Yamaha returned to the top of motocross in the late 1970s.
The achievements of Finnish motorsport legends stayed in the minds of former team leaders. Englishman Paul Butler led the competition department of Yamaha Europe headquarters from the late 1970s to the early 1990s on the circuits, so there was a lot of insight into the different riders.
Today Butler is the director of the road racing association IRTA. A few years ago he said in a different context: "Finns can always count. They have a 100 percent focus, honesty and sincerity to appreciate Sita Japanese, so based on the good results that have been achieved, so I am very happy with the achievements of Jarno Saarinen, Teuvo Länsivuori and motocross racer Heikki Mikkola at Yamaha, ”says Butler.
Has the factory standard changed? "No, then we had two top riders in motocross, Kalevi Vehkonen and I", says Mikkola.
Does the factory bike play a major role in motocross? "Not essential. If you use a production bike with special parts you get to the top and you can achieve race wins even today. The importance of the engine in motocross is not nearly as important as in road racing," says Mikkola.
What is the deepest essence of motorcycling?
"In motocross, starting is important, you should aim for the top ten after the first corner, then it is realistic to win", says Mikkola and continues: "It is especially important in motocross to keep the lines in the race all the time. The riding lines are constantly changing, especially on sandy tracks. That is why choosing the right riding lines gives a faster lap ”, assures Mikkola.
Does the factory bike play a major role in motocross? "Not essential. If you use a production bike with special parts you get to the top and you can achieve race wins even today. The importance of the engine in motocross is not nearly as important as in road racing," says Mikkola.
What is the deepest essence of motorcycling?
"In motocross, starting is important, you should aim for the top ten after the first corner, then it is realistic to win", says Mikkola and continues: "It is especially important in motocross to keep the lines in the race all the time. The riding lines are constantly changing, especially on sandy tracks. That is why choosing the right riding lines gives a faster lap ”, assures Mikkola.
As a farmer
Heikki Mikkola was in exactly the same physical condition as the Finnish top skiers of his day. Motocross is considered the most physically demanding branch of motorsport. From there, many switch to enduro, for example, but not