You can’t keep a good man down – and the same can probably be said of Tony Rees’ motorcycle too as the Whakatane man mounted a “back to the future” assault on one of New Zealand’s biggest race meetings at the weekend.

The Bay of Plenty man dusted off his 2005 model Yamaha R1 and entered the Battle of the Streets race meeting at Paeroa on Sunday and stunned onlookers with his pace, putting the bike on pole position.

The 1000cc Yamaha superbike was the same machine he’s raced to win the New Zealand Superbike Championship in 2005 and, although technology has now moved on to include such ‘goodies’ as traction control, the Whakatane rider proved his bike was still capable of winning seven years after its manufacture.

“It was another great day of hot racing action at Paeroa,” said the 44-year-old Rees.

“The 2005 Yamaha R1 had not been raced since the 2005 Australian Superbikes round at Phillip Island (in Australia), so it was a matter of giving it a service, new tyres and brake pads, and then ‘let’s go racing!”

“The 2005 model lacked a few of the modern goodies like cross-plane crank, quick-shifter, slipper clutch and traction control, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be fun to ride. After a few small suspension changes, after the first practice session, I managed the fastest time in qualifying to put it on pole position.

“After a slow start in race one, I put in some good laps to finish third behind Australian Dan Stauffer (Yamaha) and young Christchurch charger Ryan Hampton (Honda).

“Race two was the King of the Streets race and I had yet another average start. This was a bike with a seven-year-old clutch, which wasn’t helping the jump off the line. It shuddered a bit.”

After 10 hot laps, Rees crossed the finish line in second place, 2.5 seconds behind Stauffer, making it a Yamaha 1-2 for the day’s feature race.

“There was nothing left of the tyres after that one … they were shredded,” said Rees.

“Race three was more of the same – average off the start and, after a 10-lap fight with Ryan Hampton and (Hawera’s) Hayden Fitzgerald (Honda), I had to be content with fourth place.

“All in all, not a bad day racing for a part-time rider on a seven-year-old machine.”

Rees is supported by Yamaha, DID chains, Sidi boots, Signedge, BikeRider magazine, BikesportNZ.com and Dunlop tyres.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

The bike world’s bandits of balance kick off their season near New Plymouth with the opening two rounds of the North Island Moto Trials Championships on Saturday and Sunday.

The pressure goes on for defending North Island trials champion Matt Foster and not only because he won the premier Expert grade last season and because the Taranaki man is on home turf, but because he’ll have to contend with an extreme heavyweight hitter this time around, Wellington’s five-times former national champion Jake Whitaker.

Kiwi international Whitaker, also the current New Zealand and Australian Moto Trials Champion, will spend much of him time at home this season, which means he can devote himself to reclaiming top honours in this prestigious North Island series.

“I was a bit lucky last season,” admitted Foster, the 20-year-old well aware that he will hand the ‘favourite’ tag to his illustrious friend and rival Whitaker.

“I guess there is a target on my back because I won the series last year but I was just fortunate that Jake (Whitaker) wasn’t able to do the whole series because he went overseas to ride (in Australia, Italy and Scotland).

“But I do enjoy riding over rocks and that’s what is set out for Saturday, so you never know.”

Motueka’s Karl Clark and seven-time former national champion Warren Laugesen, of Napier, are also expected to threaten for the Experts Grade title this season, while a cluster of A Grade riders have elected to step up to the Experts Grade – Dunedin’s Blake Fox, Rotorua’s John Haynes and Tauranga’s Phillip Shilton – and they could also surprise.

These riders are looking to test themselves ahead of their entry into the junior section of the World Moto Trials Championships in Australia in May.

Day one on Saturday is scheduled for Millar’s property, Alfred Road, near Egmont Village, while the following day is set for Vickers’ property on the corner of Frankley and Barrett Roads, on the outskirts of New Plymouth.

Riders can expect some very steep climbs and big rocks on Saturday, while Sunday’s course will feature a small creek, native bush and a few thousand tricky tree roots to overcome.

Meanwhile, Lower Hutt’s Carl Robson should be a contender for A grade honours, along with Wellington’s James Wade and Petone’s Robert Howard.

Top riders in the Intermediate Grade include defending champion Gary Samson, of Waihi, the vastly experienced Kevin Pinfold, of Ashhurst, youngster Liam Draper, from Auckland, and Inglewood’s Grant McEwen.

Tauranga’s Warwick Merriman will be expected to defend his presidents’ grade crown, pitting himself against such notable riders as Te Puke’s Paul McLeod, Auckland’s Raymond Skinner and Paraparaumu pair John Lawton and Kevin Tither.

Junior rider Benjamin McLeod, of Te Puke, should also be worth watching.

With this sport, the emphasis for this sport is not on speed, with the prime aim to conquer the extreme terrain without touching feet on the ground or falling off. Points are lost for these “faults” and a rider with the lowest score wins.

Access to both days’ riding will be signposted from the respective main roads. There is no charge for spectators. Riding starts at 10am on both days.

Rounds three and four are set for the Bay of Plenty region on April 14-15. The eight-round series then heads to the Wellington region for two more rounds on July 7-8 and then wraps up in Hawke’s Bay on August 25-26.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

New Zealand’s Paul Whibley has made his intentions in the United States this season very clear indeed.

The 33-year-old from Pahiatua took his Yamaha YZ450F to a convincing win at the opening round of the Mid East Harescramble Championships at Laurinburg, North Carolina, at the weekend as he sets about building up for the upcoming Grand National Cross-Country Championships (GNCC), his main focus for the season.

Whibley won the parallel Off-road Motorcycles and ATV (OMA) series last season as well as finishing runner-up in the GNCC competition, making him one of the favourites to win when the riders lined up to race in North Carolina on Sunday.

“The track was sand-based, so it handled the rain and provided practice for the upcoming GNCC opener in Florida,” said Whibley.

“I got a great start and nabbed the hole shot, although got a bit of a surprise when on about the third turn was confronted with a late starter still on his way to the start line and riding backwards on the track. Although I’m sure he was just as surprised, as he just froze and kind of tucked his elbows in as the pack roared around him.

“The track was sandy but there seemed to be a bit of a hard slick base in a few sections.

“I edged away out front and held a comfortable lead throughout the race. My mechanic, Ryan Slagle, handled the pit stop and kept me out front.

“A couple creek crossings cut up and many bikes were left swamped if a wise line selection was not made.

“The race was called a little short but I’m sure most guys were happy to get out of the freezing wet conditions and into some dry clothing.”

The Grant National Cross-country Championships (GNCC) kicks off in Florida next month and Whibley is looking sharp again to run at the front of that competition too.

LEADING RESULTS:

1. Paul Whibley

2. Matthew Nix

3. Takeshi Koikeda

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Here we present issue number 14 of Geoff Meyer’s FREE online Motocross magazine and this issue is loaded with great features.

First a preview on the 2012 GP season. Also a very special interview with former World MX and AMA MX Champion Greg Albertyn. Another feature on Monster Energy Yamaha team manager Steve Dixon and much, much more.

Also a great story from Eric Johnson about Mike Alessi and Ryan Villopoto when they were just little boys in the junior ranks. Not to mention columns from Motocross legends Antonio Cairoli and Dave Thorpe. How about a cool feature on the FINKE desert race in Australia and also some of the best gallery images from around the World and in the past.

Also columns from Motocross insiders Eric Johnson in USA, Andy McGechan in New Zealand, Dave Bulmer in Europe and USA and Tinus Nel in South Africa.

Once again Ian Roxburgh has the design looking amazing and after having 270,000 readers for issue 13 we are also adding a bunch of new advertisers in the next issue. Including American exhaust brand FMF, KTM have come on big time to be involved and along with all our regular advertisers the magazine has never looked better.

www.motocrossillustrated.com

There are now just two courses of action for the nation’s dirt biking elite with the second round of four in this season’s New Zealand Motocross Championships set to explode at Patetonga this weekend.

Depending upon their respective positions in the standings after the opening round near Timaru a week ago, competitors will be out to either stabilise and strengthen or strike back and stun when the gates drop at Patetonga, near Morrinsville, on Sunday.

When the dust settled at Timaru’s round one, it was Taupo’s Ben Townley, Queenstown’s Scott Columb and Amberley’s Micah McGoldrick who had ended the day with the biggest smiles on their faces.

Townley scored a hat-trick of wins to comfortably lead the MX1 class, finishing the day ahead of Motueka’s Josh Coppins and Christchurch’s Justin McDonald, while Columb topped the MX2 class, ending up ahead of defending national MX2 champion Darryll King, of Hamilton, and multi-time former national champion Daryl Hurley, of Hawera.

McGoldrick was impressive in pocketing a hat-trick of wins in the dual-title 125cc and under-21 division, taking a solid lead in both categories, but with Rotorua’s Cameron Vaughan and Tauranga’s Logan Blackburn breathing down his neck.

As the riders head this weekend to battle on the red clay surface of the Patetonga track, eyes will focus on Townley, Columb and McGoldrick as they try to cement, or preferably improve upon, their respective positions as class leaders.

The focus this weekend will therefore equally be on the likes of Coppins, McDonald, King, Hurley, Vaughan and Blackburn to see if they can change the balance of power.

When racing wraps up on Sunday afternoon the four-round series will have reached the halfway stage, with the trophy engraver perhaps already beginning to spell out the winners’ names.

Each class is bulging with incredible talent and it would be a foolish person who does not also consider riders such as Mount Maunganui’s Cody Cooper, Auckland’s Hamish Dobbyn, Mount Maunganui’s Rhys Carter, Waitakere’s Ethan Martens, Rotorua’s Cameron Negus or Nelson’s Nathan Clare revealing themselves as title contenders this weekend.

Practice and qualifying takes up the early part of Sunday’s programme with racing proper sent to begin just before midday.

The second half of the championship takes in round three at Pukekohe on March 4, with the final round set for Taupo on March 18.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Here are a couple of clips from You-Tube showing on-board camera footage from the weekend’s Battle of the Streets racing at Paeroa.

Impressive stuff!

On board with Formula Paeroa race winner Dan Stauffer:

And on-board with Taupo’s Scotty Moir in super motard:

On-board with Scotty Moir again, this time in the F3 class:

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Auckland’s Karl Morgan was in sensational form at the 21st annual Battle of the Streets race meeting in Paeroa on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Ray Clee Motorsports Team rider overcame problems in qualifying to dominate the Formula Two class at the Mobil 1-sponsored event.

When a gear lever broke early in the day, he had to accept an unaccustomed 12th overall in qualifying and this put him a long way back on the starting grid – set out on the closed-off State Highway 2, the main street of the Thames Valley town.

He then bounced back in the best way possible, taking his Suzuki GSX-R600 to run away to convincing wins in both F2 outings on Sunday.

It ended up as a Suzuki 1-2-3 in the F2 class with 25-year-old Whanganui rider Ashley Payne finishing runner-up and fellow Whanganui man Jayden Carrick third overall on an identical GSX-R600.

The 600cc bike riders had to line up alongside the 1000cc superbikes and, although they were scored separately, it still meant Morgan had his work cut out trying to match the bigger bikes, particularly on the long main straight, especially since he had to start off 12th spot on the grid.

The public street race is a torrid test of man and machine at the best of time but Morgan was up to the task on Sunday.

“I fought through the traffic to finish sixth in the opening F1/F2 race – first of the 600cc bike riders – and then did the same in the next race too.

“I do like the street racing. I got a good start each time and just picked off riders each lap. I was catching the other riders under brakes.

“I think you have to ride relaxed in street racing. It’s a bit like motocross because the roads can be quite rough. There are lots of bumps. I was just holding on tight. I was grateful to have (leading Suzuki superbike rider) Ray Clee to be my mechanic today. Ray was the New Zealand distributor for WP suspension so he knows how to set up bikes. I had a few scary moments today but that’s typical in street racing.

“I’m looking forward to the last two rounds of the nationals (at Hampton Downs on March 18 and at Taupo on March 25). My race wins at Paeroa have certainly given my confidence a big boost.”

Meanwhile, Taupo’s Scotty Moir (Honda) Palmerston North’s Glen Williams (Suzuki) led the way in the Formula Three class.

Williams finished 1-2 in his two F3 outings, sharing the overall with Moir  who finished 2-1, the count-back rule giving the overall honours to Moir.

Third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh overall were men on Suzuki SV650 bikes similar to Williams’ – New Plymouth’s Terry Fitzgerald, Auckland’s Gavin Veltmeyer, Paraparaumu’s Sam Croft, Pakuranga’s Jason McCamish and Waitara’s Tom Weston respectively.

Moir also raced in the Supermotard class (pictured below on bike No.6), dominating the day with back-to-back wins.

© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto won his third consecutive Monster Energy AMA Supercross race on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium, in Texas, delighting nearly 54,000 fans and extending his championship lead to 13 points over main rival Ryan Dungey.

Honda’s Justin Barcia won the opening race of the Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Championship.

Motoconcepts Suzuki’s Jeff Alessi captured the first holeshot award of his season to begin the Supercross class main event. Alessi was quickly passed by Villopoto and Honda’s Chad Reed respectively. Yamaha’s James Stewart., finished lap two in second place, and on the following lap he collided with his teammate Davi Millsaps. The mishap caused Stewart and Millsaps to lose several positions.

While stalking Villopoto just prior to the halfway point, Reed suffered a horrific crash when he Kartwheeled through the sand section that left him unable to finish the race. On Lap 18, Villopoto’s Monster Energy Kawasaki team-mate Jake Weimer traded positions with Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey for second place.

Weimer held him off but was passed by Dungey on the final lap. The two then traded positions several times before Dungey made the final pass and crossed the checkers in second. Weimer finished third, marking his second podium finish of the year.

“The track really broke down out there tonight, and when that happens, you have to be smart and play it safe,” said Villopoto. “It’s a bummer for Chad (Reed). I am looking forward to next weekend in Atlanta.”

Kawasaki’s Darryn Durham won the holeshot award to start the Supercross Lites Class Main Event with Rockstar Energy Racing’s Blake Wharton on his rear wheel through the first turn. While charging after Durham, Wharton crashed before the take-off of the triple.

Rookie Justin Bogle moved into second place after Wharton’s crash but was subsequently passed on Lap 3 by his teammate and defending Supercross Lites Class Champion Justin Barcia.

On Lap 6, Barcia and Durham traded places with Durham holding the lead, and on the same lap, Barcia and Bogle traded places. Barcia held down second until Lap 8, when he passed Durham and rode to victory. Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen passed Bogle for third place on Lap 10.

JDR/JStar/KTM’s Malcolm Stewart attempted to pass Bogle but caused both riders to crash, losing valuable positions. Durham finished second and Roczen finished third.

“They didn’t make it easy on me tonight,” said Barcia. “I had a great night, and the team didn’t really have to make any major changes to the bike coming into tonight’s main event. I have learned a lot from the past few years, and it paid off tonight. I am going to Atlanta next weekend with the points lead.”

Supercross Class Results: Arlington

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM
3. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki
4. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Calif., Suzuki
5. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
6. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
7. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda
8. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki
9. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
10. Kyle Chisholm, Valrico, Fla., Kawasaki

Supercross Class Season Standings

1. Ryan Villopoto, Poulsbo, Wash., Kawasaki – 158
2. Ryan Dungey, Belle Plaine, Minn., KTM – 145
3. Chad Reed, Dade City, Fla., Honda – 128
4. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha – 116
5. Jake Weimer, Rupert, Idaho, Kawasaki – 92
6. Kevin Windham, Centreville, Miss., Honda – 92
7. Brett Metcalfe, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Suzuki – 88
8. Mike Alessi, Hilliard, Calif., Suzuki – 81
9. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 80
10. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki – 80

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Arlington

1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda
2. Darryn Dunham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki
3. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Ga., KTM
4. Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Suzuki
5. Phillip Nicoletti, Cochecton, N.Y., Honda
6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM
7. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki
8. PJ Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
9. Cole Thompson, Brigden, Ontario, Honda
10. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM

Eastern Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings

1. Justin Barcia, Ochlocknee, Ga., Honda – 25
2. Darryn Dunham, Butler, Pa., Kawasaki – 23
3. Ken Roczen, Murrieta, Ga., KTM – 20
4. Blake Wharton, Beaumont, Texas, Suzuki – 18
5. Phillip Nicoletti, Cochecton, N.Y., Honda – 16
6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KTM – 15
7. Jake Canada, Sun City, Calif., Suzuki – 14
8. PJ Larsen, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 13
9. Cole Thompson, Brigden, Ontario, Honda – 12
10. Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM – 11

Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 116
2. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 114
3. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 101
4. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 89
5. Nico Izzi, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha – 78
6. Matt Moss, Sussex Inlet, NS, KTM – 73
7. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Yamaha – 67
8. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda – 63
9. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 60
10. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, N.M., Suzuki – 58

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

European-based journalist/photographer Geoff Meyer, owner/operator of the fabulous MXlarge.com motorcycling web site, contacted BikesportNZ.com to offer us this interview with motocross legend Bill Nilsson.

Two-time World Motocross champion Bill Nilsson was a rider who took no prisoners in a career which saw him win the first official World Motocross championship back in 1957. Despite standing at around 5ft 7in tall the Swedish legend brushed aside the might of the British BSA riders in an era which saw the European Motocross scene rise from the farmer type events to true World championship calibre

We travelling to Sweden back in 2008 and caught up with the then 76-year-old former World champ (he will be 80 in December). Nilsson didn’t hold back on the track, and still talks of his like for putting fear into his rivals. For Nilsson the sport he loved gave him not only success, but also major disappointment and heartache.

Nilsson had two sons, one would go on to win a World Enduro championship and the other would be killed in a Motocross accident.

If Motocross was fought inside the four corners of a boxing ring you can bet Bill Nilsson would still be punching away when the bell rang for the final round, in fact the first ever World Motocross champion didn’t need a boxing ring to vent his anger.

Nilsson was one of the toughest, roughest rider in the World back in the 1950′s, but then again most of the AJS, and BSA riders in that era rode on sheer heart, fighting their machines into corners, and never accepting defeat.

“I was young when I first came into Motorcycle racing, I think it was 1950 and I was 18-years-old, I was interested, and I had a talent, I was very young when I began, just doing Speedway, then I didn’t get a ride in Speedway, so I tried Motocross.

“After two years I was in the National Motocross team, I rode the Motocross des Nations in 1952, and then I got a factory ride with AMC in London, then I rode BSA, Husqvarna, I a lot of bikes, I was also a World champion on AJS in 1957, I was 25-years-old then.

“Back then you didn’t start riding until you were 18-years-old. I was a professional at a very early age for that time. I rode with guy’s like Sten Lundin, Rene Baeten, Leslie Archer, Jeff Smith, those guys were tough, factory riders for BSA, and I was many years on BSA.

“I got sacked by BSA because I was too dirty, I wasn’t the cleanest rider. They sacked me, and they thought they could cut my wings, but then I went to AJS and won the World championship.

“In 1960 I went to Husqvarna, it was so differant. Unlike the old BSA and AJS bikes it was difficult because you had to have the bike on a rev level, you needed to have it on a power band, while the older bikes like BSA and AJS were just full one power and pushing hard.”

Nilsson caused his share of accidents, rode hard into his rivals, and never gave an inch on the track. He knew he was feared and his rivals knew not to mess with the dangerous Swede. He was also lucky enough to have crowd support, and we are not talking about a few friends.

“I liked to ride hard, push the other riders around, You know because of my Speedway background I like to slide the bike, and that helped a lot. I was known for riding dirty. If I had a long start I was good, it was like Speedway, it was easy for me to get to the first corner and slide the bike into the corner.

“I could race on any track, sand is very heavy, but I could fly on it. I like to warm the competition up, make some dirty moves, get my competition fired up. Back in my day you could go to a Motocross race in my village, on a day when it was raining and we would get around 10.000 people watching.

“It was amazing, now you only get a crowd to a race if it’s a World championship race. I always ran number 66, I was very dirty, so I really liked to be rough, and the crowd always supported me in Sweden, they like it when I would ride hard.”

Nilsson didn’t have everything his own way though when it came to dirty riding, he also found the Belgian riders and fans could mess with your head it you dare challenge them. Back in the summer of 1958 Nilsson came across a very determined Rene Baeten.

The two were fighting for the World 500cc Motocross championship around the Namur circuit in Belgium. To this day Nilsson feels the crowd gave the championship to Nilsson, of course we don’t have Baeten’s side of the story, although Nilsson’s version is entertaining enough.

“I think the best moment in my career was spent over a long period, it wasn’t one moment, it was so many. I hated losing, we had so many big battled in Belgium. I lost a World championship at Namur, it’s a funny story.

“I was racing against Sten Lundin and Rene Baeten. I was 35 second behind the leader after the first lap, I had crashed and was a long way back. With three laps to go I caught him, I tried everything, I tried to over jump him, I tried everything, but I couldn’t get him.

“Then on the last lap I decided to crash into him, take him from the track. We went down a steep hill and I pushed my bike up against his and crashed him out, I had a lot of experience you know.

“My big problem was that I also crashed and the people broke onto the track and grabbed my bike, they helped Baeten get going, but would not let me have my bike. Anyway one of the crowd lost his front teeth, I wanted my bike back, and they wouldn’t give it back. In the heat of battle I lost it a little.”

Nilsson is proud of the fact he remained in contention for so many World 500cc championships, winning a magnificent 15 Grands Prix, which places him 13th in the all time 500cc GP winners list. Nilsson still works hard, plays hard and enjoys being around Motorcycles. Some 50 years after he began in the sport.

“I was good for ten years, I went to America in the early 1970′s, showing the Husqvarna bikes. I never raced in America, just did Enduro after I stopped racing Motocross, and helped out sometimes with the Husqvarna bikes. I am back in Speedway you know. I make the motors for World Grand Prix competitor Greg Hancock, he has seven engines, and I go to many of the World Speedway Grand Prix races. I have always been involved with Motorcycle racing all my life, my son was the World Enduro champion in 1991 and 1992, and now I am back in Speedway.”

Nilsson retired from racing at the age of 35 and began to help the younger Swedish riders. Having worked on and off with Husqvarna in his career saw the 1957 and 1960 World champion pass on his experience to two other legends of the sport.

“I had a lot of contact with Bengt Aberg and Torsten Hallman, I was at Husqvarna from time to time. I would help Aberg sometimes, I was like a mentor, sometimes I would help Hallman with frame building and suspension. I never got the chance to work really good with Husqvarna.

“I was tough to work with, I was very demanding.” Despite being one of the legends of the sport Nilsson does not attend Motocross events anymore, whether it be from the sadness of losing a son to the sport, or lack of time nobody will ever know.

“I don’t go to Motocross anymore. One of my sons got killed in Motocross, it was a terrible experience. It was 1980 when my son passed away, he was 20-years-old. In that type of situation you just have to carry on, it’s important to not stop and think too much about what happens when one of your children are killed.”

Ten years after losing one of his sons to the sport he loved his other son Jeff Nilsson took the 1991 World 125cc Enduro championship after a season long battle with England’s Paul Edmondson. The young Nilsson (who also raced Supercross in Australia in the 1980′s) showed all the courage of his father as he took up the challenge of Edmondson, and doubled his championship tally in 1992, again leading home Edmondson.

“He was a good rider, rode for some Italian KTM team, I went to some races, it wasn’t like the Motocross days, but it was very enjoyable to see one of your children take a World championship, something I had done so many years before.”

Despite his huge success in Motocross and the fact his children raced the former World champion does not get time to attend Motocross races anymore, although he does get involved in competitive Motorcycle racing.

“I have to work 12 hours every day and it’s too much work to also travel to a Motocross Grand Prix. I run the Speedway team and that is work enough. I need to be excited, and working with Greg Hancock gives me life. I try to get him going, I talk to him. I tell him to be tough, help him with nerves, he has to take his chances, I think he likes me talking to him. We have a good relationship. If I could tell young people to race I would tell them to race Road Racing, I don’t think Road Racing is as dangerous as Motocross. It’s just something I feel, those big jumps now, it’s very dangerous.”

If ever you get the chance to travel to Sweden, make sure you check into the Husqvarna museum, a place where the machines of Nilsson can be displayed in the environment they so belong.

© Words by Geoff Meyer, www.mxlarge.com