Heikki Mikkola
Heikki Antero Mikkola (born 6 July 1945) is a Finnish former professional motocross racer and motocross team manager. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1967 to 1979, most prominently as a member of the Husqvarna factory racing team where he became the first competitor to win both the 250cc and 500cc world championships. During the 1970s, Mikkola challenged perennial champion Roger De Coster for supremacy of the 500cc motocross world championships. After 12 seasons racing for Husqvarna, he joined the Yamaha factory racing team where he won two more 500cc world championships. As with many Finns involved in racing activities, he was nicknamed the Flying Finn and, was known for his trademark goatee beard and his fierce mein. After his racing career, he became a Yamaha race team manager. In 2006, Mikkola was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and, in 2015, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycle racing achievements. Motocross career Early life Mikkola was born in Mikkeli, Finland. Shortly after he was born, his family moved to Sajaniemi in the municipality of Loppi where his father worked as a state employed gamekeeper. In his youth, he was an active participant in