Paul Friedrichs: Difference between revisions

 

Line 23: Line 23:

Friedrichs was born in [[Buchholz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Buchholz]] and grew up in [[Mecklenburg]] where he joined the motor sports clubs MC tractor Franzburg, MC Dynamo Rostock / [[Sportvereinigung (SV) Dynamo]].<ref name=”Paul Freidrichs at Motorsport Memorial”/> With the training offered by the clubs, he developed into one of the best motocross and enduro racers of his era.<ref name=”Paul Freidrichs at Motorsport Memorial”/>

Friedrichs was born in [[Buchholz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Buchholz]] and grew up in [[Mecklenburg]] where he joined the motor sports clubs MC tractor Franzburg, MC Dynamo Rostock / [[Sportvereinigung (SV) Dynamo]].<ref name=”Paul Freidrichs at Motorsport Memorial”/> With the training offered by the clubs, he developed into one of the best motocross and enduro racers of his era.<ref name=”Paul Freidrichs at Motorsport Memorial”/>

[[File:Motorcross Des Nations 1967 te Markelo. De Oost-Duitse Wk 500cc. Paul Friedrichs, Bestanddeelnr 920-6729.jpg|225px|thumb|left|Paul Friedrichs at the 1967 [[Motocross des Nations]]]]

[[File:Motorcross Des Nations 1967 te Markelo. De Oost-Duitse Wk 500cc. Paul Friedrichs, Bestanddeelnr 920-6729.jpg|225px|thumb|left|Paul Friedrichs at the 1967 [[Motocross des Nations]]]]

Freidrichs first came to prominence when he appeared at the 1965 500cc Finnish Grand Prix as a relative unknown competitor and finished second to the defending World Champion [[Jeff Smith (motorcyclist)|Jeff Smith]] ([[BSA motorcycles|BSA]]).<ref name=”European Moto-Cross”>{{cite web |url=https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1966/2/1/european-moto-cross |title=European Moto-Cross |work=Cycle World |access-date=20 January 2026 |last1=Trippe |first1=Gavin |date=February 1, 1966}}</ref> He finished the season ranked second in the 500cc world championship behind Smith.

Freidrichs first came to prominence when he appeared at the 1965 500cc Finnish Grand Prix as a relative unknown competitor and finished second to the defending World Champion [[Jeff Smith (motorcyclist)|Jeff Smith]] ([[BSA motorcycles|BSA]]).<ref name=”European Moto-Cross”>{{cite web |url=https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1966/2/1/european-moto-cross |title=European Moto-Cross |work=Cycle World |access-date=20 January 2026 |last1=Trippe |first1=Gavin |date=February 1, 1966}}</ref> He finished the season ranked second in the 500cc world championship behind Smith.

During the 1950s, motocross competitors used motorcycles with heavy, pre-war, [[four-stroke engine]]s, however by the mid 1960s the heavier four-stroke motorcycles were being rendered obsolete by advances in [[two-stroke engine]] technology which made apparent the importance of lightness and agility in motocross racing.<ref>{{Citation |first=David | last=Dewhurst |year=2022 |title=Motocross The Golden Years |publisher =Walsworth, Marceline, Missouri |isbn=978-0-578-29016-4 |quote=The lighter weight of two-strokes was an obvious advantage in motocross because it enhanced handling agility.}}</ref> [[Česká Zbrojovka Strakonice|ČZ]] was one of the first motorcycle manufacturers to adopt two-stroke engine technology for motocross racing.<ref name=”1965 CZ 250 Type 968 Twin Pipe”>{{cite web |url=https://www.mxa-digital.com/motocrossaction/july_2018/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=1402151&app=false#articleId1402151 |title=1965 CZ 250 Type 968 Twin Pipe |publisher=mxa-digital.com |accessdate=13 December 2025}}</ref>

During the 1950s, motocross competitors used motorcycles with heavy, pre-war, [[four-stroke engine]]s, however by the mid 1960s the heavier four-stroke motorcycles were being rendered obsolete by advances in [[two-stroke engine]] technology which made apparent the importance of lightness and agility in motocross racing.<ref>{{Citation |first=David | last=Dewhurst |year=2022 |title=Motocross The Golden Years |publisher =Walsworth, Marceline, Missouri |isbn=978-0-578-29016-4 |quote=The lighter weight of two-strokes was an obvious advantage in motocross because it enhanced handling agility.}}</ref> [[Česká Zbrojovka Strakonice|ČZ]] was one of the first motorcycle manufacturers to adopt two-stroke engine technology for motocross racing.<ref name=”1965 CZ 250 Type 968 Twin Pipe”>{{cite web |url=https://www.mxa-digital.com/motocrossaction/july_2018/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=1402151&app=false#articleId1402151 |title=1965 CZ 250 Type 968 Twin Pipe |publisher=mxa-digital.com |accessdate=13 December 2025}}</ref>

East German motocross racer (1940–2012)

Paul Friedrichs (21 March 1940 – 30 August 2012) was an East German motocross and enduro racer.^[1] He competed in the FIM Motocross World Championships from 1961 to 1972, most prominently as a member of the ČZ factory motocross team where he won three consecutive titles from 1966 to 1968.^[2][3]

Friedrichs was born in Buchholz and grew up in Mecklenburg where he joined the motor sports clubs MC tractor Franzburg, MC Dynamo Rostock / Sportvereinigung (SV) Dynamo.^[3] With the training offered by the clubs, he developed into one of the best motocross and enduro racers of his era.^[3]

Freidrichs first came to prominence when he appeared at the 1965 500cc Finnish Grand Prix as a relative unknown competitor and finished second to the defending World Champion Jeff Smith (BSA).^[4] He won the first overall victory of his career at the 1965 500cc East German Grand Prix where he finished ahead of Vic Eastwood (BSA) and Sten Lundin (Matchless). He finished the season ranked second in the 500cc world championship behind Smith.

During the 1950s, motocross competitors used motorcycles with heavy, pre-war, four-stroke engines, however by the mid 1960s the heavier four-stroke motorcycles were being rendered obsolete by advances in two-stroke engine technology which made apparent the importance of lightness and agility in motocross racing.^[5] ČZ was one of the first motorcycle manufacturers to adopt two-stroke engine technology for motocross racing.^[6]

Friedrichs claimed his first world title in 1966 as a member of the ČZ factory motocross team.^[7] His was the first 500cc championship won on a two-stroke powered motocross machine and the first by a rider from the eastern ‘bloc’ of a divided Europe.^[3] Friedrichs successfully defended his crown in 1967 and 1968 to become the first three-time 500cc Motocross World Champion since the series’ inception in 1957.^[8][9] He was the top individual points scorer at the 1968 Motocross des Nations event helping the East German team finish second to the Russian team.^[10] He dropped to third place in the 1969 championship, then finished second to Roger De Coster in the 1972 500cc world championship. Friedrichs’ victory at the 1972 500cc East German Grand Prix marked the final win of his motocross racing career.^[2] He competed in his final World Championship race at the 1972 500cc Luxembourg Grand Prix at the age of 32.^[2]

Friedrichs won 61 individual heat races and 29 Grand Prix victories during his world championship racing career.^[2] He won three 500cc motocross world titles (1966, 1967, 1968), two 500cc East German motocross national championships (1965, 1972) and four 250cc East German motocross national championships (1962, 1963, 1967, 1972).^[2] He was a member of three East German Trophée des Nations teams (1965, 1967, 1971), and three East German Motocross des Nations teams (1966, 1967, 1968).^[2] Friedrichs was the top individual points scorer at the 1968 Motocross des Nations event.^[10]

Friedrichs also competed in the 1972 International Six Day Trial as a member of the East Germany national team that finished second to the powerful Czechoslovakia national team.^[3]

Friedrichs died in Erfurt, Germany on 30 August 2012 at the age of 72.^[3]

Points system from 1952 to 1968:

Position	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
Points	8	6	4	3	2	1

Points system from 1969 to 1980:

Position	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Points	15	12	10	8	6	5	4	3	2	1

	Denotes European motocross championship only.

Year	Class	Machine	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		12		13		14		15		Pos	Pts
			R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2	R1	R2
1961	250cc	ESO	BEL –	BEL –	FRA –	FRA –	NED –	NED –	CZE –	CZE –	POL –	POL –	LUX –	LUX –	FIN –	FIN –	ITA –	ITA –	GER –	GER –	UK –	UK –	CH –	CH –	SWE –	SWE –	GDR 6	GDR 6					20th	1
1962	250cc	MZ	ESP –	ESP –	CH –	CH –	BEL –	BEL –	FRA –	FRA –	CZE 9	CZE 11	POL –	POL –	NED –	NED –	LUX –	LUX –	FIN –	FIN –	USR –	USR –	GER –	GER –	ITA –	ITA –	UK –	UK –	SWE 21	SWE –	GDR 4	GDR –	–	0
1963	250cc	ČZ	ESP –	ESP –	ITA –	ITA –	FRA –	FRA –	CH –	CH –	GER –	GER –	LUX –	LUX –	NED –	NED –	UK –	UK –	SWE 18	SWE –	FIN –	FIN –	USR –	USR 3	POL –	POL –	CZE –	CZE –	GDR 1	GDR 5			14th	4
1965	250cc	ČZ	ESP –	ESP –	ITA –	ITA –	FRA –	FRA –	BEL –	BEL –	CZE –	CZE –	GER –	GER –	NED –	NED –	LUX –	LUX –	POL –	POL –	USR –	USR –	GDR 3	GDR 1	UK –	UK –	SWE –	SWE –	FIN –	FIN –	AUT 5	AUT –	9th	8
	500cc	ČZ	AUT –	AUT –	CH –	CH –	FRA –	FRA –	FIN 2	FIN 2	SWE 5	SWE 6	GDR 1	GDR 1	CZE 1	CZE 2	USR –	USR 4	UK 7	UK 9	ITA –	ITA –	GER –	GER –	NED 2	NED 4	LUX 4	LUX 1					2nd	36
1966	500cc	ČZ	CH 1	CH 1	AUT 2	AUT 1	ITA 1	ITA 1	DEN 2	DEN 4	SWE 5	SWE –	FIN 3	FIN 3	GDR 1	GDR 1	CZE 1	CZE 1	USR 1	USR 1	UK –	UK –	NED –	NED –	BEL 11	BEL 3	LUX 1	LUX 2	GER –	GER –			1st	62
1967	500cc	ČZ	AUT –	AUT –	ITA 2	ITA 2	SWE 4	SWE 6	CZE 1	CZE 1	USR –	USR –	FRA 1	FRA 2	GER 1	GER 1	UK 1	UK 2	BEL 2	BEL 1	LUX –	LUX 1	CH 1	CH 1									1st	56
1968	500cc	ČZ	AUT 1	AUT 18	ITA –	ITA –	SWE –	SWE 1	FIN 1	FIN 2	GDR 1	GDR 1	CZE 1	CZE 1	UK –	UK –	GER 1	GER –	FRA –	FRA –	NED –	NED –	BEL 8	BEL 1	LUX 1	LUX 3	CH 2	CH 2					1st	42
1969	500cc	ČZ	AUT 39	AUT 1	SWE 7	SWE –	NED –	NED –	ITA –	ITA –	CZE 1	CZE –	USR 2	USR 1	GER 1	GER 5	BEL 5	BEL 6	LUX 5	LUX 1	FRA 2	FRA 1	CH 4	CH 4	GDR 1	GDR –							3rd	67
1970	250cc	ČZ	ESP –	ESP –	FRA –	FRA –	BEL –	BEL –	YUG –	YUG –	ITA –	ITA –	USR –	USR –	POL –	POL –	UK –	UK –	FIN –	FIN –	GDR –	GDR –	CH –	CH –	AUT 4	AUT –							–	0
	500cc	ČZ	CH 9	CH 1	AUT 6	AUT 1	NED –	NED 28	FRA –	FRA –	FIN –	FIN –	SWE 3	SWE 3	CZE 3	CZE –	USR 1	USR 1	GER 6	GER 6	GDR 8	GDR 1	BEL –	BEL –	LUX –	LUX 1							4th	60
1971	500cc	ČZ	ITA 4	ITA –	AUT 1	AUT 1	SWE 2	SWE 3	FIN 1	FIN 2	CZE –	CZE –	USR –	USR –	GDR 6	GDR 6	UK 4	UK 1	GER –	GER –	BEL –	BEL –	LUX 6	LUX 3	NED –	NED –							4th	70
1972	500cc	ČZ	AUT –	AUT –	CH 5	CH –	SWE –	SWE –	FRA 1	FRA 1	USR 8	USR 1	CZE –	CZE –	UK 7	UK –	GER 2	GER 5	GDR 2	GDR 1	BEL 6	BEL –	LUX 6	LUX 3									2nd	62
Sources:[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]