Graham Noyce


Graham Noyce is an English former professional motocross racer. He was the 1979 500cc motocross world champion.

Motocross career

Growing up in Fair Oak, Hampshire, England, Noyce was encouraged by his father to start riding motorcycles at the age of 6. He won the British Schoolboy motocross championship at the age of 14 riding a 125cc Zündapp. Noyce left Wyvern County Secondary School at the age of 15 to become an apprentice tool maker for the Rickman brothers, noted British motorcycle frame builders. The Rickman brothers also provided him with a 250cc Montesa on which to compete with.
After winning support races at the 1974 British motocross Grand Prix, Noyce was offered a contract to race for the Maico factory racing team. In 1975, he competed in the British motocross championships as well as selected 125cc world championship Grand Prix races. He finished the season ranked 17th in the 125cc motocross world championship. He moved up to the premier 500cc class in 1976 and won his first Grand Prix race at the British motocross Grand Prix and finished the season ranked a respectable 4th place in the final world championship standings. Despite falling to 8th place in the 1977 world championship, his riding talent earned him a place on the Honda factory racing team for the 1978 season.
In 1979, Noyce claimed the F.I.M. 500cc motocross world championship by defeating a strong field of riders that included his Honda teammate, André Malherbe, as well as Roger De Coster and Gerrit Wolsink riding for Suzuki, Brad Lackey with Kawasaki and Heikki Mikkola with Yamaha. He became the first British rider to win a 500cc motocross world championship since Jeff Smith won the title in 1965.
Noyce was still competing in 2007, winning the over 50 race at Polesworth.
Noyce was still competing in 2019 and racing at Farleigh Castle 6-7 July 2019