The Superswede Hakan Carlqvist
The world of motocross was saddened to learn of the sudden passing of former double world MX champion Hakan Carlqvist at the beginning of July. According to reports, ‘Carla’ suffered a stroke at his home in the South of France and died two days later.
The term legend really doesn’t go far enough to describe this giant of a man, a tenacious competitor who overcame such adversity, as injury after injury plagued him throughout his motocross career. Never one to allow such minor things to deter him from giving his utmost, he ignored the pain and went on to beat the world’s best to claim two world championship crowns.
Carla hailed from the Järfälla Municipality near Stockholm and was always a keen sportsman who didn’t actually start racing motocross until he was 17.
