Never Forget.
At exactly 19.28 on Sunday, January 15th, one of the greatest enduro riders the world has ever known was tragically taken from us. Finland’s Mika Ahola died as a result of ongoing complications from the internal injuries he suffered during a training crash in Spain last December. As news filtered through early Monday morning of the five-time enduro world champion’s untimely death, it shocked not only enduro community but also the world of motorcycling.
For a man regarded as being so fit and strong, one who had reached the very peak of his career; it seems impossible for his life to end so suddenly and swiftly. How Mika passed away and the exact cause of the injuries he sustained will probably always remain a mystery nor really do we want to delve any deeper into them, the fact is that he his gone and enduro is now a lesser place because of it.
Mika’s rise to fame was a late one, a true professional of the sport from an early stage of his adult life, it seemed a chance of becoming world champion had eluded him. Often second but never quite near enough, it took Mika until 2007 to finally lock down that first world enduro championship – winning E2 with Honda. What followed will now forever be known as an incredible feat of dominance. Winning just about everything there was to be won in E1 and E2 in the three years that followed, Mika established himself as the fastest rider in the paddock. During 32-races of the world enduro championship in 2009 and 2010 only twice did he fail stand on the podium, both in France, after he was crowned champion and both due to mechanicals.
Leading into 2011, he needed new motivation. The one title he’d left to claim was in truth the one he wanted the most – Enduro 3 had slipped his grasp. A big bike specialist for the majority of his working life, the closest he had got to a title was finishing second way back in 2001 and as long ago as that was; it still niggled in the back of the Mika’s head. Sticking with Honda, they built him a bike and once again Mika rewarded them with a championship.
How successful Mika may have become is something we’ll now never know. He broke all current records – five times consecutive world champion, a winner in all three classes and at 37 years young became the oldest ever world champion. For 2012 he had originally intended to defend his crown with the newly formed Jotagas. As we now understand it, his training crash cut short those plans, which lead to his retirement until tragically three weeks later injuries cut short his life.
On Saturday February 4th at 14.00 local time (12.00 Irish), Mika Ahola will be laid to rest in his hometown of Hämeenlinna – but he’ll never be forgotten.
Slán leat mo chara.
Mika Ahola
1974-2012