Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Today in motorcycle history, July 9, 1972


  


  




  Piloting a Maico, Sweden's Borje Jansson wins the 125cc Class East German Grand Prix, marking the first Grand Prix victory for the German motorcycle manufacturer.






  Borje Jansson competed in Grand Prix races for the Maico factory team from 1969-1973 winning three 125cc Grand Prix races including their very first GP victory which just happen to be at Germany's Sachsenring.


  Unlike their road machines, Maico motocross and enduro bikes enjoyed success in both European and American competition throughout the 1970's. While lacking the financial capital and big-bucks race-team backing like that of the Japanese factories of Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and Yamaha, Maico riders such as Adolf Weil, Åke Jonsson and Willy Bauer produced numerous top three finishes in the Motocross World Championships.


  "Motocross Action" magazine called the 1981 Maico Mega 2 - 490cc the greatest open-class motocross bike of all time.




  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk