For a company that began all the way back in 1903, Husqvarna have left a huge mark on the sport. First as a Swedish owned brand, then Italian and finally, owned by the Pierer Mobility Group in Austria.

Founded in the small town of Huskvarna, they didn’t start to produce engine machines until 1916, and they established their own engine factory, a 550cc machine, 50-degree side-valve V-twin engine, similar to those made by Harley Davidson and Indian.

With the rise of motocross, the brand entered the sport and very quickly had success. In 1987 the Husqvarna name was bought by Cagiva in Italy, and suddenly, it was a World leader again. Then in 2007, the brand was purchased by BMW for 93 million euros and in 2013, Pierer Industrie bough the BMW company, thus also Husqvarna.

The World success for Husqvarna started back in 1960, some 64 years ago and Husqvarna collected their first ever World motocross championship, when legendary Swede, Bill Nilsson won his second World 500cc motocross title.

The tough Swedish rider beat home fellow countryman, Sten Lundin, winning the title by just two points. Third placed man, Rolf Tibblin, who was also on Husky, won the opening two rounds of the series, but dropped to third in the end of season points. Something similar to this season, Husqvarna with Nilsson and Tibblin won all but three of the nine rounds. Nilsson taking four of those victories and Tibblin two.

Husqvarna didn’t have to wait long for another title when Tibblin won the 500cc class in 1962. The Swede had in fact taken Husqvarna’s first major title in 1959, when he won the 250cc European championship, a series that only three years later was given World championship status. Tibblin backed up his 62 wins with another World title for Husqvarna in 1963.

In 1962, one of the true Kings of Husqvarna, Torsten Hallman won his first of four World 250 championships, backing up wins for Husky in 1963, 1966 and 1967. It was also around the time that Bengt Aberg won two 500cc championships in a row for Husqvarna, in 1969 and 1970.

Husqvarna had to wait until 1974 before they added another title, with Heikki Mikkola winning the 500cc championship and the legendary Finnish rider also won for Husky in the 250cc class in 1976.

Hakan Carlqvist won on a Husky in the 1979 250cc championship, but with Honda and Suzuki suddenly investing big dollars into Grand Prix motocross, the Swedish brand lost all momentum and it was when the company was sold to Cagiva to Italy, they once again found success, as Belgian, Jacky Martens won a 500cc championship in 1993, followed by Italian, Alessio Chiodi, who won two 125cc titles for them in 1998 and 1999.

So, from that 1979 title from Carlqvist, until that 500cc title by Martens, it was nearly two decades of not a single World title in motocross. But worse was to come for the famous brand, as they had to wait 25 years for another World title.

Now, as we await the winner of the 2024 MX2 World champion, either Kay De Wolf, or Lucas Coenen, we also await yet another World motocross championship for Husqvarna. The Nestaan Husqvarna factory team have dominated 2024, winning all but a few of the GPs. A fitting addition to the famous list of riders below, now doubt.

It will be 25 years since their last success and amazing, that current Nestaan Husqvarna riders, were not even born in 1999. It will also be the 16th World motocross championship for Husqvarna and their list below tells a brilliant story of legends and a legendary machine.

Husqvarna World Champions

1960 Bill Nilsson 500cc

1962 Rolf Tibblin 500cc

1962 Tortsen Hallman 250cc

1963 Rolf Tibblin 500cc

1963 Torsten Hallman 250cc

1966 Torsten Hallman 250cc

1967 Torsten Hallman 250cc

1969 Bengt Aberg 500cc

1970 Bendt Aberg 500cc

1974 Heikki Mikkola 500cc

1976 Heikki Mikkola 250cc

1979 Hakan Carlqvist 250cc

1993 Jacky Martens 500cc

1998 Alessio Chiodi 125cc

1999 Alessio Chiodi 125cc

2024 Kay De Wolf or Lucas Coenen MX2

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