GODSPEED! DEREK RICKMAN (1933-2021)

Derek and Don Rickman in action on their own brand

British motorcycle icon Derek Rickman, who passed away July 3, 2021, after a short battle with cancer at Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington , was along with his younger brother Don the driving force of British motocross superiority in the 1960s. The Rickmans brothers represented Britain at the Motocross des Nations with Derek being on the winning team five times (1959, 1960, 1963, 1964 and 1966). And brother Don joined him on the winning MXDN team in 1963 and 1964.


Don and Derek Rickman.

Derek said about this era, “We realized if we were going to get anywhere in the international sport we were going to have to have lighter machines. We built our own frames and they turned out to be very successful.” Originally the Rickman Metisses housed big British four-stroke singles from BSA. Matchless and Triumph. They developed their exquisite frame kits by racing them and Rickman Metisses became highly prized—especially in America because they were 30 pounds lighter than the production versions. With their nickel-plated, large-diameter, Reynolds 531 tubing, they set the standard for high quality.

A Rickman Montesa two-stroke.

The Rickmans were producing 4000 bikes a year once they started making two-strokes with Bultaco, Montesa, Zundapp and Hodaka engines in them for the American market. Later they made street bikes frame kits.

A 1968 Rickman BSA.

In 1974, the Rickmans were awarded the “Queen’s Award to Industry” for their export business and Derek and Don Rickman were inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2007.

DON AND DERECK RICKMAN’S AMA HALL OF FAME VIDEO

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