(by Google Translator)

The Champions that was at Imola, may also consider these to their physical and mental rust. Even with years of hard motocross behind, one of sports most grueling and exhausting, and despite his advanced age (they are all aged between 70 years to 83 years), still retain an enviable brilliance of spirit and an amazing stamina. These very old stars have that extra something that we all would have. They came from all over the world, as several of them have long since left the native land and move to other countries. From the USA came Jeff Smith, Rolf Tibblin has flown in Italy coming from far away Sri Lanka, while Archer, at the ripe age of 83 years, is arrived in Imola driving from Alicante remote, milling around a / r about 7,000 kilometers. Sten Lundin, who has just celebrated 80 years, regularly participates in motocross revival with his pint around Europe, and still knows how to open the throttle so awesome tirelessly, each time leaving the audience speechless. From New Milton (England) came the mythical Rickman brothers, pilots and builders of the famous mark Metisse, while the Swiss champion from Switzerland came Albert Courajod. Germany and northern France reached by car respectively Imola samples Walz and Otto Charles Molinari. The latter, in full swing in the world of sports, was president of the French Football Club of Metz.

Sten Lundin, born in 1931, has won two world championships (1958 and 1961) the highest category and has won many awards in four and twenty in ten years of career. He raced in the 500 class since the beginning, before riding the BSA (1955 and '56), then driving the Monark (1957, '58, '59 and '60), to go to Lito (1961, '62, '63 and '64) and end in 1965 with the Matchless-Metisse. Four times was the winner of the Grand Prix at Imola in Italy '55, '58, '59 and '60.

The approach to competitions Lundin was often more rational than other drivers. Without risking over-payments, has always shown great tenacity, endurance and concentration. Lundin has always attached great importance to training and physical preparation. His driving style impeccably composed and never gave space to the spectacle, but is rather based on the infinitesimal calculus, the study of the trajectories and technique. It is an example of a style highly-professional and has infected the international environment of motocross. With Lundin ended an epoch in the history of Motocross.

Bill Nilsson, born in 1932 was two times world champion in the 500 class: in 1957 (AJS) and in 1960 with the Husqvarna. In his resume boasts eighteen Grands Prix victories and four Motocross of Nations (1955, '58, '61 and '62). He raced in the 500 class with only four-stroke motorcycle. It was the first Sweden to win the world title and give the laurels to Husqvarna four times for the first time.

Throughout his career, he ran with the BSA in 1955 and '56, and '57 in the AJS. In 1960, '61, '62 and '63 passed to Husqvarna, finishing his career with the Eso. At Imola he won three races in '56, '57 and '61. Nilsson and Lundin have been dubbed the "Royal Babies of motocross" and, for many years, remained the undisputed representatives of the Swedish cross school. Short, stocky and Nilsson had a physically robust. His style was based of impetuosity, gift that enabled him to face the obstacles with extraordinary determination. With a guide often unpredictable, could invent stunts and acrobatics on a knife-winning goal. At times it seemed like an expert capable to drive the motorbike like a cowboy without being unseat. Even for this, and rightly so, has been nicknamed "Buffalo Bill".

Rolf Tibblin, born in 1937, was one of the greatest champions along with Swedish Lundin, Nilsson, Hallman and Aberg. He started his young career in 1959 and earned his first title of European Champion in the 250 class aboard to Husqvarna. In 1960 and 1961, he raced with a new four-stroke Husqvarna Official along with Nilsson and, in 1962 and 1963, he won his two world titles. In 1965 he came to Imola with the Czechoslovakian CZ 360 winning the last Gran Prix. In 1967 he moved to California to establish the first motocross school in San Diego. Equipped with a driving style impetuous and determined, has been able to demonstrate excellent classroom supported by a powerful body and a high resistance to prolonged effort. For its determination of a gladiator, has always been feared by opponents. The British, his rivals in the race for world titles, he had been nicknamed "Iron Man." Today he is a builder in Sri Lanka where he lives happily with his wife Indira.

Torsten Hallman, born in 1939, has won many awards thirty-seven and four world titles in the 250cc class (1962, '63, '66 and '67). Throughout his long career, Hallman rode for Husqvarna and has always worked hard to promote the sport and especially the introduction of motocross in the U.S. in the late sixties. A mechanical engineer, this pilot blond and slender body, was the best runner in the world competitions Swedish class 250. His battles with Belgium Joël Robert were among the best in the history of motocross. His driving style has always resulted fluid, fast, tough and without burrs or excessive frills. "Mr. Motocross" was the nickname that Hallman has earned for her achievements, and for style and accuracy demonstrated in a decade of racing. At Imola, is remembered as the winner of the only Grand Prix 250 class. In 2000, Hallman was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Les Archer, born in 1929 and was European champion in the 500 class in 1956. He made his debut in the motorcycle at the age of sixteen. With the help of Hankins, built his first cross from a Norton Manx 500 T. This experimental prototype was equipped with a new chassis built specifically for him. Archer, throughout his career, he remained loyal to Norton and was supported by the factory with regard to spare parts, although this had announced his retirement from racing. He won a total of ten Grand Prix of 500 class. At Imola he drove almost continuously from 1952 to 1962 with results that do not reflect his value. Archer was also the commentator and journalist specializing in motocross. By nature modest, affable, generous, and with a keen sense of fair play, was very popular as a speaker. In race emerged his courage and his ability to act quickly in the most unpredictable characteristics that made it an excellent conductor of muddy ground where threatened species at peak. On 25 January 1967 at the age of 38 years, Archer crashed without serious consequences, in a scrum during the start of a race of 750 cc played in America. From that moment, he decided to leave after 21 years the sport of motorcycling. In search of a climate and a better quality of life, he moved to Calpe (Alicante) in southern Spain.

Jeff Smith, born 1934, was the most important champion of the British world of the Golden Era. After passing the BSA, where he began working as an apprentice, he won the world titles in motocross in the 500 class of 1964 and 1965 riding the BSA 441 Victor. In 1965, Smith dominated to such an extent that by mid-season, he had already won his second world title. He also won nine championships in Britain and his long career, life's beauty more than twenty years, has always remained faithful to the BSA. At Imola, aside from the '56 and '60, he competed from 1955 to 1965. In the Grand Prix of 1957, after winning the first heat, he missed the win by a narrow margin after dominating the entire race. In 1970, he moved to America. His driving style and his mental approach in racing has always been to try to win the lowest possible speed in order to preserve the motion and physical energies. A few pilots have been so tenacious as Smith. His ability to distribute the power over a race was awesome. On every track is able to win. The charisma, heart, determination, but above the total dedication to motocross, were the pillars of his long career. In 1970, Smith was awarded the honorary title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to motorcycling. It was also included nell'AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.

The English brothers Donald and Derek Rickman have always had racing in his blood. After initial victories, Rickman began to design and build the frames for their bikes, and started a small production for private riders. Derek was born in 1933, is older than two years of Donald. Sons of art, Rickman had lost his father at an early age, young age, have assumed the responsibility of the family workshop in New Milton. Growing up in such activities, the brothers have developed a keen sense of the mechanics of motorcycling and have success in the world of motocross. Since the end of the fifties, they realized that we needed to have lighter machines. In the early sixties built a kind of frame leaner and able to accommodate the different motorcycle engines. Born the brand Metisse ("mongrel", that is assembled from parts of different origin) who is a French term for "metisse". This idea received a significant success and the two brothers began their production so important Rickman Metisse, which were 30 to 40 pounds lighter than the standard versions, as well as very beautiful aesthetically.

When the major British motorcycle manufacturers closed their doors, the Rickman became the largest motorcycle manufacturers in England, earning the Queen's Award for Industry.

Later, it appeared to have motorcycle Rickman original request, so that the replicas of Rickman 2000 were produced by three different companies. An interesting model is the Steve McQueen replica Rickman. Steve McQueen was one of the biggest fans Rickman and visited the factory when it was at the height of popularity as a movie star.

Through their work, the two English brothers have focused mostly American manufacturers in the seventies and eighties, encouraging improvements to the design.

Both have represented Great Britain in the 1960 Motocross of Nations and have won numerous national and international competitions. At Imola, participated in the Grand Prix World Championship in 1959, '60 and '64. In 1959 they classified the 2 nd and 3 rd place behind Sten Lundin. In 1960 Donald was ranked the 3 rd place in 1964 and participated in the Grand Prix 250 class riding two red-Bultaco Metisse Rickman. After a hard fought first round, Don finished second behind Dave Bickers.

Donald Rickman was distinguished by a style quite spectacular even at the expense of yield.

Derek, but expressed a smoother ride, less flashy, but more profitable.

FRANCE

Charles Molinari, was three times National Champion 500 class in 1952, '53 and '54. He participated in the Grand Prix at Imola in Italy in 1952, '53, '54, '55, '56. It is without doubt the leading French rider of the fifties in the highest category.

Originally an Italian, Carlo Molinari was born in Villerupt, France, in 1933. During the war the family returned to Italy, his father was a carrier and Charles rode on the same road to Varese in Naples the heavy trucks of 40 tons. In 1948 the Molinari are back again in France, and Charles had almost forgotten the French language ... While Charles played football in the team of Metz, his father, who in his youth he had dreamed of being motocross, bought a motorcycle. At 17 years, Molinari began competing in motocross with DKW. His career began immediately with success and, in 1952, was French champion in the 350 class with a BSA Gold Star, ahead of famous names such as Godey, Klym, Hazianis and others. Carlo Molinari, moved to the superior class in 1954, won the second title of Champion of France in the 500 class riding a Gilera Saturno. In the role of rider, the 500 also retained the title in 1955. At age 24, full of motorcycle racing and long trips from Thursday to Monday, the Frenchman gave up motocross to pursue a professional activity. He has founded the company Sodima, who marketed the Iveco trucks. But despite this lifestyle choice, the bike was present in his work and Molinari became an importer for France of the Italian Cagiva motocross. But Molinari, not just motion, but also football! In 1967 he became chairman of the Football Club of Metz as a successor to Paul Mayer, a position held since late 2009, with an interlude between 1978 and 1983, giving way to Bernard Serin. Now Molinari retired from sports, but has remained a key figure both in football, and in the French international motocross.

ITALY

Emilio Ostorero, Lanfranco Angelini, Joseph Tosi and Canzio Cavallero.