Rolf Tibblin (born 7 May 1937) is a

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

former professional

motocross Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom. History Motocross first evolved in Britain from motorcycle trials competi ...

racer. He competed in the

Motocross World Championship FIM Motocross World Championship is the premier championship of motocross racing, organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), divided into two distinct classes: MXGP and MX2. Race duration is 30 minutes plus two laps per ...

s from 1957 to 1967. Tibblin was a three-time motocross world champion known for his exceptional physical fitness.

Motorcycle racing career

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Tibblin competed in the 1958 250cc European Motocross Championship (the predecessor of the 250cc Motocross World Championship) riding a Husqvarna motorcycle to finish the season ranked second in the final point standings to

Jaromír Čížek Jaromír Čížek (13 March 1927 – 20 September 2003) was a Czech professional motocross rider, winner of the 1958 Motocross World Championship The 1958 Motocross Worl Championship was the 2nd edition of the Motocross World Championship or ...

. He returned the following year and won the 1959 250cc European Motocross Championship as a member of the Husqvarna factory racing team. Grand Prix Motor Cross in Bergharen, Bestanddeelnr 911-4499

Grand Prix Motor Cross in Bergharen, Bestanddeelnr 911-4499

Tibblin moved up to the premier 500cc motocross world championship for the 1960 season where he claimed third place in the series' final standings behind his countrymen

Bill Nilsson Bill Nilsson (17 December 1932 – 25 August 2013) was a Swedish professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1952 to 1967. Nilsson was the first 500 cc motocross world champion after winning the inaugur ...

and Sten Lundin. In 1961 and 1962, he was a member of the victorious Swedish teams at the

Motocross des Nations The Motocross des Nations (in French) is an annual team motocross Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom. History ...

. He went on to capture the F.I.M. 500cc Motocross World Champion in 1962 and 1963. He finished second to Jeff Smith in the 1964 world championship, before switching to the ČZ team for the 1965 season. He finished third in the 1965 championship behind Jeff Smith and

Paul Friedrichs Paul Friedrichs (21 March 1940; Buchholz – 30 August 2012; Erfurt) was an East German professional motocross racer. He won three consecutive FIM 500cc motocross world championships from 1966 to 1968. Biography Friedrichs grew up in Meckle ...

. In the 1966 season, he came in second behind Friedrichs. Tibblin also represented Sweden in the International Six Days Trial and raced in the 1972

Baja 1000 The Baja 1000 is an annual Mexican off-road motorsport race held on the Baja California Peninsula. It is one of the most prestigious off-road races in the world, having attracted competitors from six continents. The race was founded by Ed Pear ...

off-road Off-roading is the activity of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain. Types of off-roading range in intensity, from leisure drives with unmodified vehicl ...

race with Gunnar Nilsson, in which they won the motorcycle division. After retiring from professional competition, Tibblin ran the "Husqvarna International Training Center"; a motocross school in

Carlsbad, California Carlsbad is a coastal city in the North County region of San Diego County, California, United States. The city is south of downtown Los Angeles and north of downtown San Diego. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 114,746. ...

during the mid-1970s as the sport enjoyed a boom in popularity. In 2008, he was inducted into the A.M.A.

Motorcycle Hall of Fame The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association, recognizing individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction, or motorcycling in general. It also displays motorcycles ...

References

Living people 1937 births Sportspeople from Stockholm Swedish motocross riders Enduro riders {{Sweden-motorcycle-racing-bio-stub