Graham Noyce

Graham Noyce, born on 18 February 1957, is an English former professional motocross racer who competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1984 and was the 1979 500cc motocross world champion. He grew up in Fair Oak, Hampshire, where his father encouraged him to start riding at six, and he won the British Schoolboy motocross championship at 14 on a 125cc Zündapp. At 15 he left school to become an apprentice tool maker for the Rickman brothers, noted British frame builders, who also gave him a 250cc Montesa to race. After winning support races at the 1974 British motocross Grand Prix he was offered a contract by the Maico factory team, but when Maico refused to enter him in the World Championships he took an offer from the British importer of Husqvarna to ride the 1975 125cc World Championship, and Maico then sued him for breach of contract.