Torsten Hallman

The Husqvarna company had been making motorcycles since 1903, but in the early 1960s, the company almost stopped motorcycle production as demand had decreased.

Husqvarna had informed Hallman that their motorcycle development would stop and that he should seek employment elsewhere.

After he had arranged a test ride with the Greeves factory, he was notified that the Husqvarna management had reluctantly agreed to repurpose some of the funding for their chainsaw division, and instead invest it into the development of a new 250cc motorcycle with a four-speed, two-stroke engine.

Husqvarna was one of the first motorcycle manufacturers to adopt two-stroke engine technology.

Torsten Hallman (born 17 October 1939) is a Swedish former professional motocross racer and business entrepreneur.

During the 1950s, motocross competitors used motorcycles with heavy, pre-war, four-stroke engines, however the advances in two-stroke technology after the Second World War made apparent the importance of lightness and agility in motocross racing.

Hallman was asked to stay on and help development of the new motorcycle while competing in the World Championships.

Believing that the future of motocross was with the lightweight two-stroke engines, he chose to remain in the 250cc class rather than compete in the more prestigious 500cc class.

He also believed it was pointless to compete with Rolf Tibblin in 500 class.

He won the Junior Class at the 1957 Nyman Cup and scored fifth overall.

His sudden success brought him to the attention of Bror Jauren, manager of Husqvarna’s racing team, who offered Hallman a motorcycle and support for his racing competitions.

He then won the 1958 200cc Swedish Enduro National Championship.

He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1959 to 1971, most prominently as a member of the Husqvarna factory racing team where he won four 250cc Motocross World Championships.

Hallman won the 175cc Swedish national enduro championship in 1959, and entered into his first 250cc European motocross championship race at the 250cc Dutch Grand Prix at Lichtenvoorde, where he scored an impressive third place in the first heat race behind race winner Rolf Tibblin and second-placed Stig Rickardsson.

He placed seventh in the second heat race.

At the 1959 250cc Swedish Grand Prix, he followed race winner Tibblin with two second place results.

Tibblin went on to win the 1959 250cc European motocross championship for Husqvarna.

Hallman also finished second to Gunnar Johansson at the 1959 Novemberkåsan Enduro.

Hallman possessed a smooth, efficient riding style, absorbing jumps with his legs so that his motorcycle flew at half the height of his competitors, which allowed the rear tire to begin applying power to the ground sooner.

Five-time World Champion, Roger De Coster, cited Hallman's riding style as having influenced his own riding habits.

Hallman was part of a contingent of Swedish motorcyclists including; Bill Nilsson, Rolf Tibblin and Sten Lundin who dominated the sport of motocross in the early 1960s.

His battles with Belgium's Joël Robert were considered some of the best in the history of the championships.

His success on the race track earned Hallman full sponsorship from the Husqvarna racing team in the 1960 250cc European Motocross Championship.

He won his first European Championship heat race at the season-opening 250cc Spanish Grand Prix ahead of Dave Bickers and Jaromír Čížek.

He won another heat race in East Germany ahead of Stig Rickardsson and Arthur Lampkin, but then broke his collarbone at 1960 250cc British Grand Prix which forced him to miss the remainder of the season.

Dave Bickers claimed the championship for the Greeves factory while Hallman was ranked seventh in the 250cc European Championship final classification.

Hallman began the 1961 season with a string of top five results before winning his first overall victory at the 1961 250cc Finnish Grand Prix.

He improved to fourth in the 1961 250cc European Motocross Championship, with Bickers repeating as champion.

Hallman was the top points scorer at 1961 Trophée des Nations, helping the Swedish team place second behind the British team.

The FIM upgraded the European Motocross Championship to World Championship status for the 1962 season.

Between 1964 and 1968, the pair finished first or second to one another in the world championship four times.

Hallman played an integral role in the introduction of the sport of motocross in the United States.

After his racing career, he established a successful off-road racing apparel company.

Hallman was recognized for his influential role in the development of American motocross in 2000 when, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

In 2012, he was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.

Hallman was born in Viksta, just outside of Uppsala, Sweden.

His father and older brother were both motorcycle racers, and they had built a practice motocross track on their farm where Hallman first learned to ride at the age of 13.

Hallman’s first motorcycle was a 100cc DKW, which he rode in all types of weather including rain and snow.

After the DKW was worn down from constant riding, he next acquired a 175cc Royal Enfield motorcycle.

Hallman entered his first race at the age of 17 as a member of the Uppsala Motorcycle Club (UMCK).