| Graham Noyce | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 18 February 1957 Eastleigh, Hampshire, England |
| Motocross career | |
| Years active | 1975–1984 |
| Teams | Maico, Honda |
| Championships | 500cc- 1979 |
| Wins | 6 |
Graham Noyce (born 18 February 1957) is an English former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1984. Noyce was the 1979 500cc motocross world champion.
Growing up in Fair Oak, Hampshire, England, Noyce was encouraged by his father to start riding motorcycles at the age of 6. [1] He won the British Schoolboy motocross championship at the age of 14 riding a 125cc Zündapp. [1] Noyce left Wyvern County Secondary School at the age of 15 to become an apprentice tool maker for the Rickman brothers, noted British motorcycle frame builders. [1] The Rickman brothers also provided him with a 250cc Montesa on which to compete. [1]
After winning support races at the 1974 British motocross Grand Prix, Noyce was offered a contract to race for the Maico factory racing team. [1] In 1975, he competed in the British motocross championships as well as selected 125cc world championship Grand Prix races. [1] He finished the season ranked 17th in the 125cc motocross world championship. [2] He moved up to the premier 500cc class in 1976 and won his first Grand Prix race at the British motocross Grand Prix and finished the season ranked a respectable 4th place in the final world championship standings. [3] [4] Despite falling to 8th place in the 1977 world championship, his riding talent earned him a place on the Honda factory racing team for the 1978 season. [5] [6] [7]
In 1979, Noyce claimed the F.I.M. 500cc motocross world championship by defeating a strong field of riders that included his Honda teammate, André Malherbe, as well as Roger De Coster and Gerrit Wolsink riding for Suzuki, Brad Lackey with Kawasaki and Heikki Mikkola with Yamaha. [8] [9] [10] He became the first British rider to win a 500cc motocross world championship since Jeff Smith won the title in 1965. [10] [11] [12]
Noyce continues his involvement in the sport competing in vintage motocross events. He won the over 50 race at Polesworth in 2007 and competed at Farleigh Castle in July 2019. [13] [14]
Jim Pomeroy was an American professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1972 to 1973 and in the Motocross World Championships from 1973 to 1976, before returning to compete in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1977 to 1978.
Joël Robert was a Belgian professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1962 to 1976 when the sport experienced a surge in popularity worldwide. A six-time world champion, Robert dominated the 250cc class for almost a decade when, he placed either first or second every year between 1964 and 1972 including, five consecutive world championships. In 1964, he was named the recipient of the Belgian National Sports Merit Award. He won a total of 50 Grand Prix races over his career, a record which stood for nearly 30 years.
Roger De Coster is a Belgian former professional motocross racer and current Motorsport Director of KTM and Husqvarna North America. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1966 to 1980, most prominently as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team where he won five FIM 500cc Motocross World Championships.
Heikki Antero Mikkola is a Finnish former professional motocross racer and motocross team manager. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1967 to 1979, most prominently as a member of the Husqvarna factory racing team where he became the first competitor to win both the 250cc and 500cc world championships.
Brad Lackey is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1970 to 1972 and, in the Motocross World Championships from 1973 to 1982. Lackey was notable for becoming the first and only American to win the 500cc motocross world championship in 1982. Nicknamed "Bad Brad", Lackey was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and, in 2013 he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.
Joël Smets is a Belgian former professional motocross racer and current Racing Sports Director for KTM motorcycles. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1989 to 2005. Smets is notable for being a five-time motocross world champion, six-time Belgian national champion and was Belgian Sportsman of the year in 2000. His 57 career Grand Prix victories ranks him fourth overall among motocross world championship competitors.
Georges Jobé was a Belgian professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1979 to 1992. Jobé is notable for being a five-time FIM motocross world champion and a nine-time Belgian motocross national champion. He was named Belgian Sportsman of the year in 1987 and 1992.
Eric Geboers was a Belgian professional motocross racer and racing driver. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1980 to 1990.
André Malherbe was a Belgian professional Grand Prix motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1986, most prominently as a member of the Honda factory racing team where he won three FIM 500cc Motocross World Championships. In 1984, Malherbe was named the recipient of the Belgian National Sports Merit Award.
Håkan Carlqvist was a Swedish professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1974 to 1988. Carlqvist was a two-time world champion who was known for his fierce competitiveness.
Akira Watanabe is a Japanese former professional motocross racer and team manager. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1982. Watanabe is notable for being the first and only Japanese competitor to win an FIM motocross world championship.
Jacky Vimond is a French former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1979 to 1988. Vimond is notable for being the first French competitor to win an FIM motocross world championship. In 2016, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.
Neil Hudson is an English former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1977 to 1983. Hudson is notable for winning the 1981 F.I.M. 250cc Motocross World Championship.
John Banks is a British former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1963 to 1977. A four-time 500cc British national champion, Banks was twice runner-up in the 500cc motocross world championship.
The 1973 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 17th F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1974 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 18th FIM Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1975 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 19th F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1977 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 21st F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1978 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 22nd F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
The 1979 FIM Motocross World Championship was the 23rd F.I.M. Motocross Racing World Championship season.
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