Motocross during the 60s

Considered the most popular form of motorcycle racing, motocross has its origins in the United Kingdom, where it began as ‘Scrambles’ in the early part of the twentieth century. The sport began as a form of motorcycle racing on off-road tracks, with the first participant to cross the line declared as the winner. Motocross is basically a term that is derived as a result of combining the French word for motorcycle motocyclette or moto, in short, with ‘cross-country’, defining the route of these races. Racing on all types of terrains – rocky, hilly, muddy or dirt – is the characteristic feature of the sport of motocross. The first event to actually mark the advent of motocross in the sporting world is the Southern Scott Scramble held in 1924 in Camberley, Surrey. The end of the Second World War witnessed the transformation of motocross from a sport at the national level to an event of international stature. The 1960s were a highly symbolic period in the history of motorcycle racing and motocross in particular. This era witnessed the technological advancements in the engine system used in the races. The heavier four-stroke engines began dominating the race circuits and grabbing the spotlight in the mainline competitions and championships. It was also in the 60s that a world championship for motorcycles with 250cc engines was created in the realm of motocross. Races were held in MX3 and MX2 categories during this decade. While the initial years of the Motocross World Championship in the 60s witnessed British as well as Swedish dominance, a change took place in the championship of 1964 with Belgium’s Joël Robert entering the arena as a promising new victor. Through the rest of the decade, this avid biker continued to claim titles, with a record of five straight wins starting 1968, after holding the second position continuously from 1965 to 1967. Great Britain remained out of the picture in this period. At the brink of the Cold war, the middle of the 1960s also observed the competitive elements rising, as the motocross enthusiasts of the Western and Eastern countries began taking each championship or event as a challenge against the other. This decade is also best remembered by motocross fans for the creation of the 250cc championship in 1962. In 1961, the first Trophée des Nations took place. It was during this period that companies came out with two-stroke motorcycles. The Swedish company Husqvarna, the Czechoslovakian CZ and the British Greeves were among the more popular names in light and agile motocross racing bikes. The 1960s are also an important era in motocross fraternity as it was in 1966 that the sport was introduced in the United States of America. This was done through an exhibition event in which the world champion that year, Torsten Hallman from Sweden, rode. The 1960s were also the decade in which competition from Japanese counterparts started threatening European motorcycle manufacturers. Suzuki was the first of such Japanese companies. Having been the dominant company where Road Racing Grand Prix was concerned, they were now preparing to be the masters in motocross as well. Olle Peterson from Sweden was the first motocross biker to use a new machine with a 250cc engine in the year 1968. Peterson was also at third position in the Motocross World Championship of 1967 and 1969. The decade marked a phenomenal transition in the way motocross was being looked at as a sporting event. With the rise in competition from countries other than European ones, the sport was certainly making its mark at the global level.