Malcolm Rathmell (born 18 June 1949), is an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

former international

motorcycle trial Motorcycle trials, also known as observed trials, often called simply trial or trials, is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the United Kingdom and Spain, though there are participants around the globe. Mo ...

s rider. He won the

Scottish Six Days Trial The Scottish Six Days Trial is an internationally recognised Motorcycle trials competition, which has been running since 1909 (with breaks for the two world wars) making it the oldest motorcycle trials event in the world. Motorcycle riders from al ...

in 1973 and 1979, and clinched the FIM Trans America Trials Championship in 1974 (The series was to become

FIM Trial World Championship The FIM Trial World Championship and FIM X-Trial World Championship are the most prestigious motorcycle trials tournaments of the world, organised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. The outdoor championship is held since 1964 and ...

in 1975). Rathmell is a six-time winner of the British Trials Championship between 1971 and 1981 and six-time winner of the

Scott Trial The Scott Trial is a British motorcycle trials competition dating from 1914 run over an off-road course of approximately . One of the most challenging trials events in the UK, its appeal is to clubman riders as well as international professional ...

between 1971 and 1980. In 2013, Rathmell was named an

FIM FIM may refer to: Organizations and companies * Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, the International Motorcycling Federation * Flint Institute of Music, in Michigan, United States * Fox Interactive Media, now News Corp. Digital Media * ...

Legend for his motorcycling achievements.

Biography

Born in

Otley Otley is a market town and civil parish at a bridging point on the River Wharfe, in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the population was 13,668 at the 2011 c ...

West Yorkshire West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...

, England, Rathmell first contested the FIM European Championship in 1970 before finishing runner up to Mick Andrews in the 1971 championship, a year in which he also won the

for the first time. Though rarely off the podium in 1972 the championship was a repeat to the previous season, followed by a 3rd-place finish on the factory supported

Bultaco Bultaco was a Spanish manufacturer of two-stroke motorcycles from 1958 to 1983. In May 2014, a new Bultaco was announced. Origins The origin of the Bultaco motorcycle company dates from May 1958. Francesc Xavier Bultó, Francesc "Paco" Bultó ...

for 1973. In 1974 Rathmell almost switched camps from Bultaco to Ossa but found himself facing legal action from Bultaco for breach of contract. Sticking with Bultaco for 1974 worked out for Rathmell as he won the FIM Trans America Trials Championship. He did however switch to Montesa for the 1975 season for the first year of the

and added world round wins in Belgium, Poland and the United States and finish 3rd in the championship. A Runner up position to Bultaco rider Yrjo Vestarinen in 1976 and a 3rd place in

1977 Events January * January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...

were to be Rathmell's best attempts at recapturing the title on the Montesa. For

1978 Events January * January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213. * January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...

Suzuki is a Japanese multinational mobility manufacturer headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka. It manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), outboard motor, outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a va ...

ride could only yield a 14th-place finish after which Rathmell rounded out his international career back with Montesa through the 1982 season. Malcolm Rathmell Sports Limited opened in the UK in 1991 as an

Aprilia Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle and Scooter (motorcycle), scooter manufacturer in Noale, Italy, founded by Alberto Beggio. History Early days Aprilia, named after the Pre-war automobile, pre-war Lancia Aprilia, was founded after the Seco ...

importer and is currently the sole UK distributor for

Sherco Sherco is a French motorcycle manufacturer, specialising in off-road motorbikes. Sherco are best known for their extremely popular trials bikes, although they also make enduro and supermoto bikes. The company was founded in 1998, and curre ...

Motorcycles.

British Trials Championship career

European Trials Championship career

World Trials Championship career

Honors

* Trans America Champion 1974 - (Was called World Champion from the following Year on) * 6 Times British Trials Champion (1971-1981) * 6 Times Scott Trial Winner * 2 Times SSDT winner

References

External links

Malcolm Rathmell sports ltd
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rathmell, Malcolm 1949 births Living people English motorcycle racers Motorcycle trials riders People from Otley Sportspeople from the City of Leeds Sportspeople from Yorkshire 20th-century English sportsmen