Dave Nicoll (11 May 1944 – 9 March 2023) was an English professional Grand Prix motocross racer and at the time of his death in March 2023 the incumbent FIM's world championship Clerk of the Course.[1]

Dave Nicoll
NationalityBritish
Born(1944-05-11)11 May 1944
Died9 March 2023(2023-03-09) (aged 78)
Motocross career
Years active1964 - 1978
TeamsJames, Matchless, BSA
Wins1
First GP win1969 500cc Luxembourg Grand Prix

Nicoll began motorcycle racing at the age of 16 and received his first sponsorship from a Greeves distributor.[1] At the age of 17, he received factory sponsorship from the James motorcycle company. In 1964, he began competing in the 500cc motocross world championships for the Matchless factory racing team.[1] After three seasons with the Matchless team, he moved to the BSA factory team.[1] His only Grand Prix victory came at the 1969 500cc Luxembourg Grand Prix.[1] In 1970, Nicoll defeated world champions Joel Robert and Jeff Smith to win the 1970 Trans-AMA motocross series, established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States.[2][3][4]

After retiring from competition in 1978, Nicoll worked as the manager of the British Motocross des Nations team.[1] When his son, Kurt Nicoll began competing in the motocross world championships, Nicoll became his team manager.[1] His son finished as the runner-up in the 500cc world championships four times.[5] After his son retired from competition in 1997, Nicoll was hired by the FIM to become the Clerk of Course for the motocross world championships.[1]

Nicoll died on 9 March 2023, at the age of 78.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Dave Nicoll interview - Still Standing". mxlarge.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  2. ^ Youngblood, Ed (December 1970). "Trans-AMA: A Pilot Program For International Activity". American Motorcyclist. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  3. ^ Youngblood, Ed (January 1971). "Burleson, Nicoll Champions Of AMA's Pilot Project For International Activity". American Motorcyclist. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  4. ^ Youngblood, Ed (March 1971). "1970: The AMA Enters World Moto-X". American Motorcyclist. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Kurt Nicoll career profile". bestsports.com. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  6. ^ "R.I.P. Dave Nicoll 1944–2023". MC News. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.