Bill Nilsson

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

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 active1957 - 1967
TeamsBSA, AJS, Husqvarna
Championships500cc - 1957, 1960
Wins18

Early life

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]

Career

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. "GODSPEED! BILL NILSSON (1932-2013)". motocrossactionmag.com. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  2. "Hillbilly Nilsson". husqvarna-motorcycles.com. 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.


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