Bill Nilsson

Bill Nilsson
Bill Nilsson in 1958 on a Crescent
NationalitySwedish
Born(1932-12-17)17 December 1932
Hallstavik, Sweden
Died25 August 2013(2013-08-25) (aged 80)
Motocross career
Years active1952 - 1967
TeamsBSA, AJS, Husqvarna
Championships500cc - 1957, 1960
Wins18

Bill Nilsson (17 December 1932 – 25 August 2013) was a Swedish professional motocross racer.[1] He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1952 to 1967. Nilsson was the first 500 cc motocross world champion after winning the inaugural 1957 championship sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme.

Career

Nilsson (36) leads Jef Teunissen (43) at a race in Bergharen

Nilsson was born in Hallstavik, Sweden.[2] In the 1955 European motocross championship, Nilsson finished in second place, one point behind his BSA teammate John Draper.[3] Nilsson converted an AJS 7R road racing machine into a motocross bike and rode it to win the inaugural F.I.M. 500 cc Motocross World Championship held in 1957.[1][4]

Nilsson finished second to René Baeten in the 1958 world championship and second to Sten Lundin in the 1959 world championship before repeating as 500cc motocross world champion in 1960 riding a Husqvarna.[1][5][6][7][8] In 1955, 1958 and 1961, he was a member of the Swedish teams that won the Motocross des Nations.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "GODSPEED! BILL NILSSON (1932-2013)". motocrossactionmag.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  2. ^ "Hillbilly Nilsson". husqvarna-motorcycles.com. Archived from the original on 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  3. ^ "1955 500cc European motocross championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  4. ^ "1957 500cc motocross world championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  5. ^ "1958 500cc motocross world championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  6. ^ "1959 500cc motocross world championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  7. ^ "1960 500cc motocross world championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Bill Nilsson career profile". bestsports.com. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

External links

  • Bill Nilsson interview
  • Swedish web page profiling Bill Nilsson's motocross racing career (in Swedish)
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1957 - B. Nilsson
1958 - R. Baeten
1959 - S. Lundin

1960 - B. Nilsson
1961 - S. Lundin
1962 – R. Tibblin
1963 – R. Tibblin
1964 – J. Smith
1965 – J. Smith
1966 – P. Friedrichs
1967 – P. Friedrichs
1968 – P. Friedrichs
1969 – B. Åberg

1980 – A. Malherbe
1981 – A. Malherbe
1982 – B. Lackey
1983 – H. Carlqvist
1984 – A. Malherbe
1985 – D. Thorpe
1986 – D. Thorpe
1987 – G. Jobé
1988 – E. Geboers
1989 – D. Thorpe

1990 – E. Geboers
1991 – G. Jobé
1992 – G. Jobé
1993 – J. Martens
1994 – M. Hansson
1995 – J. Smets
1996 – S. King
1997 – J. Smets
1998 – J. Smets
1999 – A. Bartolini

2000 – J. Smets
2001 – S. Everts
2002 – S. Everts
2003 – S. Everts
2004 – S. Everts
2005 – S. Everts
2006 – S. Everts
2007 – S. Ramon
2008 – D. Philippaerts
2009 – T. Cairoli

1From 1957 to 2002 500cc is the premier class. 2003 top class named motocrossgp which combine the top driver from 500cc and 250cc last year.2004~2013 MX1 and 2014 to today MXGP is the premier class,both use the 450cc 4 stroke bike.


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