Racer X Illustrated — October 2017

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THE LAST SWEDISH KING

When Hakan Carlqvist won the 1979 FIM 250cc World Championship on a Husqvarna, it marked the last great

victory for the Swedish brand before it slipped under the waves of bankruptcy. It also established “Carla” as the last

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cycles: Bill Nilsson, Sten Lundin, Rolf Tibblin, Torsten Hallman, Bengt Aberg, Hakan Andersson, Ake Jonsson.... Car

lqvist would go on to win the 1983 500cc World Championship, but by then he was on a Yamaha; Husqvarna would

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backed by KTM, and Husqvarnas are back in the running on both the FIM and AMA circuits. Sadly, Carlqvist, the

last Swedish king of the original line, passed away on July 7, 2017, following a stroke. He was 63 years old.

TRIBUTE

Photo by Dick Miller Archives