1964 FIM Motocross World Championship

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1964 FIM Motocross World Championship
Internationale motorcrosswedstrijden in Sint Antons bij 500cc no. 37 Jeff Smith , Bestanddeelnr 916-1771.jpg
Jeff Smith leads Rolf Tibblin at the Motocross der Azen pre-season invitational race on 15 March 1964 in Sint Anthonis, Holland.
Organizer FIM
Duration5 April/13 September
Number of races28
Number of manufacturers13
Champions
500cc Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith
250cc Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert
Motocross World Championship seasons

The 1964 Motocross World Championship was the 8th edition of the Motocross World Championship organized by the FIM and reserved for 500cc and 250cc motorcycles.

Contents

Summary

Jeff Smith riding for the BSA factory racing team won the 500cc motocross world championship to become the first British rider to claim the premier division, beating out former two-time world champions and Husqvarna teammates Rolf Tibblin and Sten Lundin. [1] The Husqvarna factory stopped producing their four-stroke motorcycles in 1963, leaving Tibblin without a motorcycle for the 1964 season. [2] He teamed up with engine tuner, Nisse Hedlund, to build their own complete motocross machine in time for the 1964 season. [2] Tibblin began the season strongly, winning five of the first six races of the season however, Smith consistently scored points throughout the season and the championship wasn't decided until the final race of the season in Spain, where Smith took the victory to claim the World Championship by only two points over Tibblin. [3] [4]

In the 250cc division, Husqvarna factory rider Torsten Hallman was favored to repeat after his dominant performance in the 1963 championship. The return of Greeves factory rider Dave Bickers after a two-year absence should have been Hallman's biggest challenger however, he was upset by the unexpected arrival of 20-year-old privateer, Joël Robert riding a ČZ motorcycle. After Hallman won the season opening Spanish Grand Prix, Robert reeled off a string of four consecutive victories to take the championship points lead. Bickers was able to relegate Robert to second place at the Luxembourg Grand Prix, however his Greeves proved to be too fragile and underpowered to pose a serious challenge. Hallman was able to recover with a victory at the Italian Grand Prix, but then Robert was able to win another four Grand Prix races in succession to clinch the World Championship. [5] [6] The 20-year-old Robert became the youngest motocross world champion at the time. [7] Victor Arbekov becomes the first Russian competitor to win a Grand Prix overall on 2 August at the East German Grand Prix. [8]

Grands Prix

500cc

RoundDateGrand PrixLocationRace 1 WinnerRace 2 WinnerOverall WinnerReport
1April 12 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Swiss Grand Prix Payerne Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Report
2April 26 Flag of Austria.svg Austrian Grand Prix Sittendorf Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Report
3May 10 Flag of Denmark.svg Danish Grand Prix Volk Mølle Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Report
4May 17 Flag of Sweden.svg Swedish Grand Prix Vimmerby Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Report
5May 24 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Dutch Grand Prix Norg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Report
6May 31 Flag of France.svg French Grand Prix Sucé-sur-Erdre Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Report
7June 7 Flag of Italy.svg Italian Grand Prix Avigliana Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Report
8June 21 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Russian Grand Prix Lviv Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of Sweden.svg Ove Lundell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Report
9June 28 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Přerov Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Report
10August 2 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgian Grand Prix Namur Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of Sweden.svg Sten Lundin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Report
11August 9 Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg Grand Prix Ettelbruck Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Report
12August 16 Flag of Germany.svg West German Grand Prix Bielstein Flag of Sweden.svg Sten Lundin Flag of Sweden.svg Sten Lundin Flag of Sweden.svg Sten Lundin Report
13August 30 Flag of East Germany.svg East German Grand Prix Schwerin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Report
14September 13 Flag of Spain.svg Spanish Grand Prix San Sebastián Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith Report
Sources: [3] [9]

250cc

RoundDateGrand PrixLocationRace 1 WinnerRace 2 WinnerOverall WinnerReport
1April 5 Flag of Spain.svg Spanish Grand PrixRuta Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Report
2April 26 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgian Grand Prix Woluwe-Saint-Lambert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Report
3May 3 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Swiss Grand Prix Wohlen Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Report
4May 10 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakian Grand Prix Holice Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Report
5May 17 Flag of Germany.svg West German Grand Prix Erlangen Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Bickers Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Report
6May 24 Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg Grand Prix Schifflange Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Bickers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Bickers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Bickers Report
7May 31 Flag of Italy.svg Italian Grand Prix Imola Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Bickers Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Report
8June 28 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Grand Prix Cadwell Park Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Bickers Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Report
9July 5 Flag of Sweden.svg Swedish Grand Prix Hedemora Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Bickers Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Report
10July 12 Flag of Finland.svg Finnish Grand Prix Tikkurila Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Report
11July 19 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Russian Grand Prix Leningrad Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Victor Arbekov Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Report
12July 26 Flag of Poland.svg Polish Grand Prix Kielce Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Victor Arbekov Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Report
13August 2 Flag of East Germany.svg East German Grand Prix Apolda Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Vlastimil Valek Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Victor Arbekov Report
14August 15 Flag of France.svg French Grand Prix Laguépie Flag of Sweden.svg Åke Jonsson Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Report
Sources: [5] [8]

Final standings

Points are awarded to the top 6 classified finishers. For the final championship standings, half of the competitors' results are retained. Thus with 14 Grand Prix, the 7 best results are retained.

Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th 
Points864321

500cc

(Results in italics indicate overall winner)

PosRiderMachine CH
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
AUT
Flag of Austria.svg
DEN
Flag of Denmark.svg
SWE
Flag of Sweden.svg
NED
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
FRA
Flag of France.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
USSR
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
CZE
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
BEL
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
LUX
Flag of Luxembourg.svg
GER
Flag of Germany.svg
GDR
Flag of East Germany.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
Pts
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jeff Smith BSA 212221321152121323121123211256
2 Flag of Sweden.svg Rolf Tibblin Hedlund121112113211-1-2119---5212-154
3 Flag of Sweden.svg Sten Lundin Lito333333234523734---51--11--2634
4 Flag of Sweden.svg Ove Lundell Husqvarna 676----52474-107134--103443-5422
5 Flag of Sweden.svg Bill Nilsson Métisse-ESO ------7653-46--426-2465----20
6 Flag of Sweden.svg Per Olaf PerssonHusqvarna-1055--67764525----10-3-36----16
7 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Herman De SoeteMétisse-Matchless -------------9----8672----3-9
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jerry ScottBSA---6----------------47--47--6
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Vic EastwoodMatchless10-444-4--7--84--553--6------6
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Hubert Scaillet Triumph-Métisse----------321------194------436
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John BurtonTriumph-Métisse------------912----23518----9-6
12 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Pierre-André Rapin Monark 44--------910----7827-85------5
13 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Josef Chara Jawa --------------35------------4
Flag of East Germany.svg Dieter KleyESO------------------------53--4
Flag of Sweden.svg Gunnar JohanssonLito------54--8657--------------4
16 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Nikolaj SokolovESO--------------27------------3
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jos RibbensBSA----65--10---------20161320------3
18 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Antonin KlavinshESO--------------64------------2
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Aleksandr LebedevESO------------------------84--2
Flag of France.svg André ChuchardTriumph-Métisse----------68------79--------2
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Broer DirkxLito-----4--6---38--------------2
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Nicoll Matchless----76--------------68------2
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ervín KrajčovičESO56----------14---87--229--6---2
24 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Josef Hrebecek ČZ 8---------12141511--66------95--1
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Lubomir EichlerČZ--------------56--------1010--1
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy LeeMatchless-Métisse--------14-117--------------7-1
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Sigur KalkisESO------------------------76--1
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger VanderbeckenTriumph----------139------127921------1
Flag of Denmark.svg Jacob LynegaardBSA----------------------------1
- Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Sylvain Geboers Métisse------------------4---------0
Source: [1] [9]

250cc

(Results in italics indicate overall winner)

PosRiderMachine ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
BEL
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
CH
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg
CZE
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
GER
Flag of Germany.svg
LUX
Flag of Luxembourg.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
UK
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
SWE
Flag of Sweden.svg
FIN
Flag of Finland.svg
USSR
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
POL
Flag of Poland.svg
GDR
Flag of East Germany.svg
FRA
Flag of France.svg
Pts
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Joël Robert ČZ 11811111112226221131112--1-26-56
1 Flag of Sweden.svg Torsten Hallman Husqvarna 1132105-22435413-2244--21--2150
3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Victor Arbekov ČZ----5454--5487--6632311-236-31
4 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Igor GrigorievČZ--453247--7733--1013674363443630
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dave Bickers Greeves 372-8-2--1111-1281--55----272023
6 Flag of Sweden.svg Åke Jonsson Husqvarna----------------34232---351219
7 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Vlastimil ValekČZ-364210-33683911-355-567---14316
8 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Karel PilarČZ65101043665566546-----------9513
9 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Gunnar DraougsČZ---------------------6325226-12
10 Flag of Sweden.svg Cenneth LoofHusqvarna81016866--4341175--48--------20-7
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Don Rickman Bultaco 22----------2--9----------24-6
12 Flag of Sweden.svg Jan JohanssonLindstrom7-53--------------78------546
13 Flag of Sweden.svg Olle PetterssonHusqvarna46969---------910795674----7-6
14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John GriffithGreeves54--7---------8-------------4
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Malcolm DavisGreeves--------------55------------4
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Antonin HrachČZ--1213--79---921---------447121493
17 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Zdenek PolankaČZ------38--------------------3
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bryan Goss Greeves--------------46------------3
19 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Derek Rickman Bultaco18-77----7910---78----------25183
20 Flag of Poland.svg Eungenius Frelich MZ ----------------------56----2
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Max MorfČZ------------------------96--2
Flag of Finland.svg Jaakko LehmuskoskiHusqvarna------------------9----5611--2
23 Flag of Germany.svg Fritz Betzelbacher Montesa -15------97----------------31-1
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Fritz SellingGreeves--------------107----------16221
- Flag of Germany.svg Adolf Weil Maico --13-----6-11-----------------0
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan CloughGreeves---------------4------------0
Sources: [6] [8]

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 "1964 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
    2. 1 2 "Hedlund Motorcycles". cybermotorcycle.com. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
    3. 1 2 "1964 500cc motocross world championship race winners". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
    4. "Rolf Tibblin: A Three-Times World Champion". husqvarna-motorcycles.com. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
    5. 1 2 "1964 250cc motocross world championship race winners". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
    6. 1 2 "1964 250cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
    7. "Joël Robert at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
    8. 1 2 3 "1964 250cc motocross world championship results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
    9. 1 2 "1964 500cc motocross world championship results" (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 14 December 2024.