AKIRA WATANABE: 1978 WORLD MX CHAMPION

In the history of the World Motocross Championship, riders representing upwards of 15 individual nations have claimed world titles. However, interestingly, amazingly and almost unbelievably, only one Japanese rider has won only one World Championship. His name is Akira Watanabe and in 1978 he won the 125cc World Motocross Championship. During the 39 years which have followed, no rider representing the nation of 127 million inhabitants has been able to win a World Championship.

Akira Watanabe was born in 1954 in Utsunomiya, Japan and first became intrigued by motocross by seeing 50cc race bike inside the store front window of a motorcycle dealership. He took to the bike quickly, and within two years was racing. Excelling in local and regional races around the nation, by the age of 17, Akira had caught the eye of the Suzuki Motor Corporation and was hired to test, research and develop the brand’s motocross bikes. In 1974, at age 19 and already a professional, he won the Japanese Championship in both the 125cc and 250cc classes. One year later, he fulfilled his boyhood dream of being sent to Europe to contest the 125cc World Championship Series. “Of course I remember Akira,” exclaims Roger DeCoster. “He was based in Belgium, actually, when he raced in Europe. That was during the Gaston Rahier days. He actually spent some time living with Gaston on the East Side of Belgium. He also rode with me. Akira raced the Trans-AMA Series, as well. He was a good rider – a very good rider. I mean you don’t win a World Championship without being a decent rider. Akira was very focused and he really wanted it bad. He came to Europe, which was not so easy for a Japanese rider.

TRAMPAS PARKER: THE FIRST YANKEE WORLD CHAMPION

American-born, Trampas Parker created motocross history as the very first Yankee to win two World Motocross Championships. What made Parker’s rise to world-class racer so astonishing was that he was virtually unknown back in the United States (Remember, there was no Instagram or Facebook back then!). Based in Italy when his career took off, Parker lit up the global motocross scene by clinching the 1989 125cc championship for KTM. Two years later, the Texas-raised rider proved his skill and speed was no fluke as he won the 250cc championship on a Honda

Vintage Motocross Picture

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Vintage Motocross Picture by Oscar by Alpinestars

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1971 MONARK 125MX

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Via the great : Motocross Action Magazine

“Out-of-the-box winner”—that is exactly how Monark marketed their motocross machines. The 21-horsepower, six-speed, 54mm x 54mm Sachs 6B engine came with a Motoplat transistorized ignition and a 27mm Bing carb. A chromoly frame, Ceriani forks and Girling shocks were just some of the high-quality components used in this fabulous machine... Read more

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Lee Sutton Photography

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All pictures © Lee Sutton

Another great shots from the unbelievable Lee Sutton Gallery. Lee captured what is the real essence of Motocross, his pictures are just amazing to me. Thank you Mr Sutton

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2011 A Day in the Dirt Grand Prix in Photos

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Pictures courtesy of photographer Kinney Jones

This past Thanksgiving weekend, Southern California’s Pala Raceway played host for the 14th annual A Day in the Dirt Motocross Grand Prix races. The event is a chance for motorcycle riding enthusiasts from the Hollywood and dirt bike racing communities to get together and race their bikes in a fun, relaxing environment.
By Adam Waheed, via : www.motorcycle-usa.com

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Before Dual Sport, there was...”The Enduro”

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By JJ Cerilli, via : www.vintagemotorcyclesonline.com


Long before the word “motocross” was even coined, scrambles races started slowly but were active well in the 1930s. Brands like Yamaha and Kawasaki were still in the embryo phase at this time, back then, it was BSA, Triumph, Norton, Matchless from Britain, and a few other European marques that dominated the race tracks. The British pioneered enhancements like swinging fork rear suspension which took them well into the 1950s.

Remember the famous BSA 441cc Victor Special? Originally, a world-class dirt bike! Another historical note, in 1954 (when I was born) BSA was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, producing 50,000 motorcycles per year and importing worldwide!

The first “scrambles races” with motorcycles I ever witnessed was in 1969 on a hot summer Sunday in upstate New York. Andre’s farm in Fishkill, New York was the local dirt bike track, and I remember my father taking my cousin and I at about age 14 to see this exciting event. I can still remember smelling the strong “racing Castrol” in the air which was a concoction added to the gas/oil for higher engine performance.

Back then, two-stroke motorcycles with names like CZ-Jawa, Maico, Ossa, Bultaco, and Husqvarna were the hot bikes to own and race. The Japanese bikes were just coming into the scene. There were a few Triumphs, BSAs and Nortons on the track, mostly ridden by older guys. Compared to the European bikes I mentioned, they appeared heavy and slow... Read more


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the Brits lead the way in the Dirt, too

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Via the Great : Classic British Motorcycles

1960 BSA A10 Spitfire Scrambler.

Triumph Flat Tracker

Immediately after World War II, as civilian production ramped up & the British economy got going again, the popularity of motorsports, racing of all kinds, was exploding. Auto races captured much of the limelight, but motorcycle racing was enjoying a boom in growth in all directions. While Road Racing had always been popular in Europe & England, it was fairly expensive for the 'Average Joe' & so many young men returning from the War turned to dirt bikes, in one form or another. They were fun, cheap, often nothing more than their commuter bike with the lights removed, and they could be ridden anywhere, out in the boonies. Off-road racing events of all kinds began springing up all over Europe & England and the British motorcycle industry was not long to catch on.


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Dates for 2012 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio

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Via : www.easterndirt.com

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce the 2012 dates for the country’s premier annual celebration of vintage motorcycling. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will take place on July 20-22, 2012, at the world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio... Read more


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Classic Motocross Title

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Via : www.adelaidenow.com.au

Murray Williams and sidecar passenger Tom Lang will contest the Classic Motocross Title at Crystal Brook. Picture: Matt Turner

When Tom Lang turns 26 on Monday he'll have been alive for half as long as Murray Williams has been racing motorbikes.

The unlikely pair hope their combination of youth and experience can secure an early birthday present when the Australian Classic Motocross Championships wraps up this Sunday at Crystal Brook.
Mr Lang and Mr Williams, 74, will compete in two sidecar classes during the event, riding a 1981 Norton Wasp 920 and 1965 Triumph Bonneville Ariel 650.
Mr Williams began racing bikes in Woomera back in 1959. Now a 10-time Australian sidecar champion, he has no plans to hang up the helmet.
When he was looking for a passenger for the Championships he found in Mr Lang someone who, despite the age difference, shared an equal passion for vintage motorcycles.

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Barber Vintage Festival 2011

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7th Annual Barber Vintage Festival Offers More Activities for Motorcycle Fans of All Ages

Birmingham, Ala. (September 7, 2011)- The seventh annual Barber Vintage Festival returns to the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL, October 7 - 9, 2011. The nation's fastest growing celebration of vintage bikes will offer on- and off-track racing, as well as many other activities dedicated to the history and preservation of motorcycles.


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Arizona Mike's Vintage MotoCross Bikes

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Bultaco 250 Pursang

Suzuki TS 250

CZ 250 M

HuskyCR430

Arizona Mike's Vintage MotoCross Bikes

Mike Grayson currently resides in New River, Arizona (just 20 miles N. of downtown Phoenix). He has a warehouse here where he keeps most of his bikes. If you are ever in his area, please call him to view his inventory at that time @ 623-465-0636.

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1981 Kawasaki SR500

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Featured here is Dave Thorpe's 1981 Kawasaki SR500. Dave Thorpe raced this bike during the European GP season and was Kawasaki's only works GP rider. Considering he was still recovering from a badly broken leg during the 1980 season, Dave's results were very encouraging.
This bike was featured in VMX magazine issue number 26.vVia : www.vintageworksbikes.com

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Donny Schmit's 1990 Suzuki

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Via : www.americanmotorcyclist.com

Many of the bikes in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum tell the story of technological progress and innovation. This bike tells the story of one very determined racer.

Donny Schmit carved out his own career path to motocross success. The Minnesota native got off to a good start by winning the 125cc West Region title in the 1986 AMA Supercross Series. But Schmit then struggled in the premier 250cc class, particularly on tighter Supercross circuits.

Recognizing that his skills translated better to outdoor motocross, Schmit dropped out of Supercross to focus on the 125 MX series, losing his Suzuki factory ride in the process. Focusing on a grueling training regimen, he was picked up in 1990 by Team Bieffe Suzuki to race the 125 Motocross World Championship. Schmit won four races on this motorcycle en route to the 125 Motocross World Championship... Read more


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Early Years of Motocross Museum Tour

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Legendary Tom White of White Brothers Racing, graces Robin White and Robin Hartfiel with a private tour of his world-renowned bike collection.
This incredible collection of bikes and memorabilia under one roof in Orange County California is so impressive that you have to see it to believe it.

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Vintage Motocross by Oscar by Alpinestars

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© Oscar by Alpinestars

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Jeffrey Vincent Smith MBE (born 1934 in Colne, Lancashire, England) is a former world champion motocross racer.

Bill Nilsson (born December 17, 1932) was a Swedish motocross racer. He won the first ever F.I.M. 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1957 riding an AJS

Sten Lundin (born November 20, 1931) was a Swedish motocross racer. He won the F.I.M. 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1959 riding a Monark

Jaromir Cizek was the 1958 Coup d' Europe champion.

Hubert Scaillet was one of the motocross champions in the 50s and the early 60s.

Rolf Tibblin (born May 7, 1937, in Stockholm Sweden) is a former world champion motocross racer. He was one of the top riders in the Motocross Grand Prix World Championships during the 1960s. Tibblin is remembered as one of the more physically fit motocross racers of his era.

Nic Jansen won the Motocross des Nations in 1951 with the Belgium Team

Roger Vanderbecken was the only one from the Belgium Team to be qualified for the 1960 Grand Prix des Nations in France .

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1965 CZ Twin Port

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In the annals of motocross, the CZ Twin Port stands out as an early exotic race bike. The 250cc (as well as the 360cc) elevated the sport to new heights with a hint of how new exotic metals could transform the machinery.

Using magnesium in many of the CZ's components (primarily the drum brake hubs and engine cases) brought the 250cc bike's weight down to a claimed 214 pounds.

The bike had an exceptionally simple yet stunning aura, set off by the peanut tank - with the legendary CZ insignia - and the low slung expansion chambers (no rules yet about excessive decibels meant these machines could run without silencers).

However, what really intrigued was the single cylinder 2-stroke engine's use of a twin exhaust port. Twin chrome header pipes exited the air-cooled cylinder and split the frame's front downtube, the pipes running underneath the bike to exit on either side of the swingarm.

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1980's works CZ125

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Via : www.vintageworksbikes.com

The following photos are of a 1980's works CZ125. The bike is water cooled and very trick! Photos compliments of www.cz-motocross.wz.cz

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Victorian vintage motocross

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copyright : Frank Iirilli Jnr

Copyright : Townsville vmx club

The website for Australian Vintage Motocross. Everyone who loves riding and restoring old dirtbikes welcome. OzVMX is an independent website not related to VMX Magazine.

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