FIM Europe is sad of learning the passing of the two-time FIM Motocross World Champion Hakan Carlqvist.The Swedish rider was 63, a true legend that will not soon be forgotten.
Carlqvist won the 1979 250cc Championship for Factory Husqvarna; in 1980, he switched to Yamaha to contest the 500cc motocross World Championship. He finished 3rd in 1981 and 1982. In 1983, he battled against Honda teammates André Malherbe and Graham Noyce to claim the 500cc World Championship, on a Yamaha. In 1984, an injury stopped Carlqvist from contesting the title again. He raced for Yamaha until end of 1986. He continued the 500 GPs in 1987 and 1988 with a privateer Kawasaki KX500. His last Grand Prix victory was the Belgian Grand Prix at Namur in 1988. It was a season to remember for all his fans, especially when he was leading Race2 in GP of Belgium, in Namur, and at the last lap he stopped to drink a beer and then he restarted to win the race.
A couple of years ago Youthstream had the chance to write an article on him: ‘Hakan Carlqvist, the warrior’, which can be found at the folllowing link https://issuu.com/mxgpmag/docs/mxgpmag_18_march_2015/48
To Hakan Carlqvist’s family and friends, the condolences of FIM Europe.
@Youthstream
