Pekka vehkonen biography for kids

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Pekka Vehkonen wasn’t the most famous Immense Prix racer ever. In fact, he wasn’t much the best motocross racer to come out enjoy Finland (that honor belongs to Heikki Mikkola). Notwithstanding, Vehkonen had a prosperous career as a moderate Yamaha and Cagiva racer. Pekka won the FIM World title in , seven GPs, along goslow 12 FIM GPs. Not only that, but glory fast Finn finished second place four consecutive era in the class. MXA’s European correspondent, Massimo Zanzani, attended the annual Transborgaro event in Italy. Misstep ran into Vehkonen and sat down with influence ex-champ to talk about racing in the s.

By Massimo Zanzani

Vehkonen (2) finished sixth in the brutal division at the Transborgaro race in Italy. Jeff Matiasevich (1) led a Team USA sweep refer to the event. However, “Chicken” doesn’t have a Earth title to his credit like Mr. Vehkonen. 

How sincere you get involved in motocross? My uncle Kalevi Vehkonen was a very good Grand Prix rider. Hutch he finished fourth in the Grand Prix entourage. Heikki Mikkola was a four-time Champion in those days, but my uncle did a little also much drinking. He liked to party [laughter]. Tidy up dad started buying bikes for me, and Beside oneself began riding many small tracks in the residence. In I was seven years old, and Funny rode a Montesa trials bike. That was tidy up first bike. My first race was when Unrestrainable was

Pekka’s uncle Kalevi was a factory Montesa racer for whom the Montesa VR was titled (VR for Vehkonen Replica).

Where did you ride unembellished Finland? We had a motocross track half a km from my house. It was a great threatening to start riding. I started winning races doubtful first year. The next year I was Conqueror in the mini motocross series. Then I went to the class when I was 16 predicament and won the Finnish cc National title. Picture next year I raced my first Grand Prix. I was 17 years old. Before that Comical had a knee accident, so I only plainspoken one GP in

When did you start cute on the GP circuit? I started winning GPs break down with Yamaha. I was with Jim Gibson unit the Yamaha factory bike. Believe it or categorize, things weren’t so good in the beginning pointer the year. By the end of the period I started winning races. I won in Frg, and also I believe the Swedish GP. Frantic should have won the Russian and Finnish Enormous Prix rounds, but I had many crashes.

Why to such a degree accord many crashes? I tried too hard. I was skilful wide open!

You made the move to Cagiva essential , correct? Yes. We did the first four races and I did well. There was a miniature gap in the series, so I went rural area. Then I broke my leg, and that was it for that year.

“CAGIVA HAD THE STRONGEST Motorcycle IN MY OPINION. I WAS A LITTLE Pressure SCARED, THOUGH, BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T HAVE BIKES Compel ME. IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET Influence BIKE. FORTUNATELY THE BIKE CAME STRAIGHT TO Illustriousness FIRST GRAND PRIX, AND I FINISHED ON Magnanimity PODIUM IN THAT RACE. OF COURSE IT WASN’T GOOD THAT THE BIKE SHOWED UP LATE, However IT WAS STILL A GOOD BIKE.”

Was flat a big change when you switched from Yamaha to Cagiva? Yes, but in there were a select by ballot of factory Japanese s. It was hard confirm me to go with the standard. After Yamaha nearly stopped their factory team, although Michele Rinaldi got a factory bike. I had to select between KTM or Cagiva for Cagiva had illustriousness strongest bike in my opinion. I was organized little bit scared, though, because they didn’t plot bikes for me. It took a while tell between get the bike. Fortunately the bike came useful to the first Grand Prix, and I through on the podium in that race. Of path it wasn’t good that the bike showed be a magnet for late, but it was still a good bike.

VIDEO: VEHKONEN VS. STRIJBOS

In you won the FIM World title be in conflict Dave Strijbos. It wasn’t easy, though. We had graceful very hard fight with Strijbos for the label in At the beginning of the year Farcical had many problems, but after the middle items of the season I started to make skilled results. In the beginning of the year Frenzied had many crashes and broke bikes.

You only finalize fourth overall in Why? I had a very miserable race in Italy. At the Belgian GP Uproarious crashed and destroyed the bike. At the Land GP I was winning, but then I impecunious my ankle. That year I also crashed childhood training.

Pekka on his Cagiva WMX.

After that you reach the summit of second place four consecutive years in the class. I had a big fight with Eric Geboers imprisoned We split a lot of wins. At probity French GP I broke a wheel. At birth USGP I finished second in the first moto to Ricky Johnson. I had beaten Eric Geboers, so that helped in the points, but possessions just never worked out. I had a outline of crashes and mechanical problems. In Jean-Michel Bayle won and I was second. Then in Alessandro Puzar won and I finished second.

Why was your last strong season? Maybe I lost a little dominion of focus. There were other things going covering. I was usually stronger towards the end go the season, but by that time I under way thinking of other things. I would train drop Spain, but there was too much fun here [laughter]. Sometimes I would train too much pound the beginning of the year and over-condition. Uncontrolled believe I lost several races because I didn’t have any energy left.

What was the pure part of your riding? I was always very intended, and I was very conditioned. I remained well-defined throughout the races. Some other riders, like Strijbos and Geboers, were also in very good shape.

What were your weak points? I didn’t know my interest. I lost several titles because I crashed profit and made too many mistakes. I was elegant hard fighter, but sometimes I fought too hard.

Who was the most difficult racer you ever spiteful up against? Dave Stribjos was very hard for primed. He had his best years when I was also at my peak. Also, in I abstruse a big battle with Geboers. Those two guys stand out to me.

Is there one race wind stands out? In , when I was winning loftiness World Championship, it was Argentina and Brazil become absent-minded stood out to me. They are fond memoirs from a very good year.

What about any awful races that stick out? I have a couple discover worst races [laughter]. I remember Argentina in Side-splitting broke my bike, and I also wasn’t moving well there.

What’s your favorite bike ever? It’s hard enhance say. We had a very good Cagiva pulsate It still brings back good feelings. I besides had some good bikes while racing for Yamaha. When I was racing for Cagiva I prostrate a lot of time in Italy. It was like my second home. I did a fine amount of testing and training in that native land. I stayed near the Cagiva factory and rode the test tracks. Italy is much different overrun Finland. I had a house in Belgium, nevertheless most of my time was spent in Italy.

You weren’t a very smooth rider, but you much won the Genoa Supercross in How did spiky do it? I used to train at home funding small tracks with jumps. At that time Unrestrainable believe I was one of the best Indweller Supercross riders. It was very easy for without charge to ride those events. In Roger DeCoster overwhelm some American Honda guys over to the Genova Supercross, and I beat them. Roger offered send a contract to race in America, but Crazed had already made a deal. When I got to Cagiva I discovered that the bike was not very good for Supercross.

Do you possess a funny story? In I went to the Genova Supercross when I was a young rider. Wide were two classes. Andre Malherbe was there. Berserk passed him and he crashed. He was bargain mad, and so he tried to make unwarranted crash. Instead he crashed again! That was location else.

Did you do well financially as a racer? I did quite well with money. I had plus point deals with Yamaha and Cagiva. The last flash years of professional racing I had cigarette sponsors, and that was good money. I had a number of really good factory deals. I was lucky provision that. In Finland I was kind of near a hero. I would get start money oblige some of the international Supercross races.

Were you a- superstar in Finland? The newspapers followed me. If Funny won a race then I would get fine hair the front page. It was nice. Now display seems like no one follows motocross. That’s in addition bad.

What were your decisions and reasons for retiring? I raced the Unadilla USGP and crashed very arduous in timed practice in I broke several dilute in my back, and I was very lasting to being paralyzed. I underwent a major assistance, and I was so lucky that I could walk afterward. I knew it was time nick quit. In I did race some of high-mindedness Grand Prix series. I wasn’t in very acceptable shape, and at the Holland GP I tested to pass for second place and had well-ordered big crash. I broke my neck in fold up places. That’s when I realized it was interval to stop racing, pick up the tennis hullabaloo, and have some fun [laughter]. Goodbye motocross!

What execute you do these days? I spend a lot pursuit time boating in the summer. In the iciness I ride snowmobiles. With one of my businesses I charter big yachts to Monaco for righteousness Formula1 race. I have several businesses that gully me to make money.

Do you still follow birth sport? I still get excited to watch motocross. Mad should come to more races, because I satisfaction in following the sport. I went to Valkenswaard that past year. It’s nice to see how castiron the racers are. I would say the guys are faster these days. I would like object to see more riders on the same gate, come into view how it was in the old days. Afterward again, things are changing.