British FIM Medal Men

As we head to Great Britain for the next GP of the season, set for the magnificent Foxhills circuit, we can look back at this country with huge respect. Once one of the most dominant countries in the sport and still today, a major factor in our sport's history.

Motocross originated in the United Kingdom during the early 20th century. It first evolved out of Auto-Cycle Club time trials in 1906. The very first official off-road race, then known as a "scramble," took place in Camberley, Surrey, in 1924.

It was in 1955 that John Draper won the first major title for the country, winning the 500cc European championship. A year later, Les Archer won the same title, beating Draper for the championship. David Curtis picked up Great Britains first ever world championship medal with third in the 1959 500cc championship.

While the European championship wasn’t officially a world championship, it was considered the peak of the sport. Dave Bickers picked up European championships in 1960 and 1961 in the 250cc class, but the first world championship was won by Jeff Smith in 1964 and 1965 in the 500cc class.

Smith, who many still consider the greatest British rider of all time, top three finishes in the world what really stood out. Second and third in the European 250 championship in 1960 and 1961 and then when the 250cc class was announced as an official World championship, he finished second again, before moving to the 500cc class, where he finished third in 1963. As mentioned, he won the title in 1964 and 1965 and then went 3^rd and 2^nd in 1966 and 1967.

Many British riders shined in those years, with Dave Bickers scoring top three results in both the 250cc and 500cc class in 1965, and 1967. John Banks finished second twice in the 500cc class in 1968 and 1969. Arthur Lampkin finished third in the first ever world 250cc championship in 1962.

It wasn’t until 1979 that a British rider was top three in the world, with Graham Noyce claiming the 500cc title that year and this opened up a long list of British success. Neil Hudson finished second on the 250cc class in 1979 and then won the 250cc world title in 1981, the same year Noyce would claim second in the 500cc class.

Hudson would then finish third in the 500cc championship in 1982, and Noyce would claim third in the 500cc championship in 1983. 1984 was an exciting year, as Dave Thorpe finished third in the 500cc class and Jeremy Whatley was third in the 250cc championship.

1985 would be the start of what many call the greatest run of success by a British rider in Grand Prix battle, as Dave Thorpe won the 500cc championship that season, and then backed it up with another 500cc championship a year later.

Kurt Nicoll put on a staggering and consistent performance in the 500cc class, finishing second in 1987, 1988 (Thorpe was third that year), 1990 and 1992. 1989 Thorpe would pick up his third 500cc championship and become statistically, the greatest British rider of all time.

Just like in the 1970s, Great Britain would have to wait a bunch of years, before more top three finishes came, but in 1996, MXGP commentator, Paul Malin finished second in the world 125cc championship, funnily enough, one spot higher than Tom Vialle’s father, Frederic.

James Dobb took second in the 2000 125cc championship and won that title a year later in 2001. The understudy to Dobb, Tommy Searle finished second in the MX2 championship in 2007, 2008 and 2012, and also finished third in 2011.

Finally, Max Anstie finished third in the 2015 MX2 world championship and since that performance by Anstie, not a single British rider has been able to finish with an FIM medal. Now, as we sit in 2026, the sport waits for a youngster to come out of Great Britain and take on the rest of the world.

Main photo: Dave Thorpe

Credit: MXLarge