1971
1973
1974
1977
1978
1979
1993
1998
2000
2002
2007
Oxygen intake values and other performance measurements were
about the same as Juha Mieto
about the same as Juha Mieto
Heikki Mikkola, born 1945 in Mikkeli, started his 2-wheeler hobby with his childhood friend Martti Pesonen. In the end of the 50’s Heikki naturally moved to mopeds when he was in appropriate age, 14 to be exact. He got excited with motors and a few years later the moped had to be changed to a Ducati – which later had to be returned to the shop as Heikki didn’t have a driving license. Another reason might be that the son didn’t “remember” to tell his dad about the business…
His motocross racing career started at the age of 19 when Pesonen bought a new Husqvarna and his old Greeves came for sale. It was given for Heikki to test, and despite of being 6th on the race he got enormously excited and attended to two more races that summer. He placed 3rd in Hyvinkää and 4th in Heinola.
Next summer the bike changed to a Husqvarna, again an old bike from Pesonen. Mikkola did quite clear that he had talents: 11 victories of 18 races he attended during the year, the lowest placing being 5th. In 1966 Heikki won the Finnish Enduro Championship but the wrist that was earlier injured in motocross didn’t seem to heal. Mikkola was ready to quit. But he didn’t and got his first GP-points on the summer. The rest is history: from the end of the 60’s started about 10 years when Heikki reigned motocross tracks.
In 1970 he got team world championship bronze. He became 500cc 3th in 1972.
250cc 3th in 1973, 500cc silver in 1975. 500cc gold in 1974, 1977, 1978 and 250cc gold in 1976.
On top of that he has eight Finnish championships and one snowmobile 350cc Finnish championship.
During his active years Heikki lived in Belgium where there are better possibilities to practice around the year. Football, motocross and cycling are the national sports, and that was obvious also then. Hessu remembers they had to drive around long way by car when the roads were closed because of some bicycle race. His career ended in 1979.
“I felt that it wasn't possible to win world championships anymore, and that is
His motocross racing career started at the age of 19 when Pesonen bought a new Husqvarna and his old Greeves came for sale. It was given for Heikki to test, and despite of being 6th on the race he got enormously excited and attended to two more races that summer. He placed 3rd in Hyvinkää and 4th in Heinola.
Next summer the bike changed to a Husqvarna, again an old bike from Pesonen. Mikkola did quite clear that he had talents: 11 victories of 18 races he attended during the year, the lowest placing being 5th. In 1966 Heikki won the Finnish Enduro Championship but the wrist that was earlier injured in motocross didn’t seem to heal. Mikkola was ready to quit. But he didn’t and got his first GP-points on the summer. The rest is history: from the end of the 60’s started about 10 years when Heikki reigned motocross tracks.
In 1970 he got team world championship bronze. He became 500cc 3th in 1972.
250cc 3th in 1973, 500cc silver in 1975. 500cc gold in 1974, 1977, 1978 and 250cc gold in 1976.
On top of that he has eight Finnish championships and one snowmobile 350cc Finnish championship.
During his active years Heikki lived in Belgium where there are better possibilities to practice around the year. Football, motocross and cycling are the national sports, and that was obvious also then. Hessu remembers they had to drive around long way by car when the roads were closed because of some bicycle race. His career ended in 1979.
“I felt that it wasn't possible to win world championships anymore, and that is
Nowadays retired but skiing, cycling and physical activity gave Heikki Mikkola advantage in Ruskeasanta 1975. The Husqvarna is signed with the number one from the previous year's World Championship. Another Motocross legend Roger de Coster is sitting on Suzuki's number 2, and the third man on the seat of the Yamaha is Håkan Andersson (note from the webmaster: it is not Håkan Andersson, it is Åke Jonsson).
As the first and for the time being only Finnish athlete Heikki has been selected for the American Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
This Diploma and Medal with his name on it are proof of a picture tribute.
This Diploma and Medal with his name on it are proof of a picture tribute.
the time when one must understand to quit. You can't just "cool off' after so many years in the top. After my active riding years I worked 3 years as a team manager for Yamaha”.
This kind of domination would not have been possible without regular physical training. Hessu is said to be one of the first Finnish motocross drivers who really was an athlete. During his racing years he worked much to keep up the condition. Outside the racing season he ran and skied a lot. And does it still. In the 70' he was in a Husqvarna training camp in Stockholm. There happened to be a long Finnish skier at the same test.
I don't remember the numbers
This kind of domination would not have been possible without regular physical training. Hessu is said to be one of the first Finnish motocross drivers who really was an athlete. During his racing years he worked much to keep up the condition. Outside the racing season he ran and skied a lot. And does it still. In the 70' he was in a Husqvarna training camp in Stockholm. There happened to be a long Finnish skier at the same test.
I don't remember the numbers
anymore but my ability to get oxygen and all other capacity figures were about the same as Juha Mieto” (very famous Finnish skier). “Last winter I skied about 2600 km both in Lappland and at home. I also cycle a lot, but most of that in the springtime”.
After his motocross career Heikki bought a farm and after 12 - 15 hours of work there isn't much time to do anything else. That's why spring is the best time for other activities. He cycles often 60 km trips and does those several times per week. So even a short cycling period makes over 1000 km. When Hessu was young he had a Peugeot racing bicycle. He was a kind of forced to buy that because he had to go from a town to another and didn't manage to get a lift. Now he has a standard bike which is a bit strange.
“Well, the reason is quite simple. I don't have to ride such long trips with a normal bike”, Hessu laughs.
He has been selected to the Hall of Fame of motorcycling. Now he is retired, and his son Antti continues his work in the farm. During the interview Hessu's phone rings and in no time he is planning the first cycling trip of the spring with a friend. It can't be long before the seasons start.
After his motocross career Heikki bought a farm and after 12 - 15 hours of work there isn't much time to do anything else. That's why spring is the best time for other activities. He cycles often 60 km trips and does those several times per week. So even a short cycling period makes over 1000 km. When Hessu was young he had a Peugeot racing bicycle. He was a kind of forced to buy that because he had to go from a town to another and didn't manage to get a lift. Now he has a standard bike which is a bit strange.
“Well, the reason is quite simple. I don't have to ride such long trips with a normal bike”, Hessu laughs.
He has been selected to the Hall of Fame of motorcycling. Now he is retired, and his son Antti continues his work in the farm. During the interview Hessu's phone rings and in no time he is planning the first cycling trip of the spring with a friend. It can't be long before the seasons start.