#ThrowbackThursday

British rider Dave Nicoll, riding a 498cc BSA, got the holeshot at the start of the 1969 500cc West German Grand Prix in Beuern. East German rider Paul Friedrichs (n°4, left), three consecutive times World Champion (66, 67, 68), won the event. Nicoll came 5th but one month later he won the Luxembourg Grand Prix held in Ettelbrück. The series of titles, however, was coming to an end for Friedrichs, as Swede Bengt Aberg, riding a Husqvarna, would take the title that year and in 1970. Then a new era would start, and Roger de Coster and Suzuki would reign. Dave Nicoll would be indicated as FIM Motocross Grand Prix Race Director in 2003, and would be in charge until 2010.

Text Marc Pétrier – Photo FIM Archive/Christopher Lavery Collection