page_title: Paul Friedrichs
section_title: Biography
hierarchical_section_title: Paul Friedrichs / Biography
caption_attribution_description: Nederlands: Collectie / Archief&#160;: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie&#160;: [ onbekend ] Beschrijving&#160;: Motorcross Des Nations 1967 te Markelo. De Oost-Duitse Wk 500cc. Paul Friedrichs gaat over de springschans Datum&#160;: 3 september 1967 Locatie&#160;: Markelo Trefwoorden&#160;: Motorcross Fotograaf&#160;: Koch, Eric / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende&#160;: Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort&#160;: Negatief (zwart/wit) Nummer archiefinventaris&#160;: bekijk toegang 2.24.01.05 Bestanddeelnummer&#160;: 920-6729
context_page_description: Paul Friedrichs was an East German professional motocross racer. He won three consecutive FIM 500cc motocross world championships from 1966 to 1968.
context_section_description: Friedrichs grew up in Mecklenburg where he joined the motor sports clubs MC tractor Franzburg, MC Dynamo Rostock / Sportvereinigung (SV) Dynamo. With the training offered by the clubs, he developed into one of the best motocross and Enduro riders of his time. 
  In 1965, he finished in second place in the 500cc world championship, behind Jeff Smith, before claiming his first world title in 1966 as a member of the ČZ factory motocross team. His was the first 500cc championship won on a two-cycle powered motocross bike and the first by a rider from the eastern 'bloc' of a divided Europe. He successfully defended his crown in 1967 and 1968, before falling to third place in the 1969 championship. Friedrichs finished second to Roger De Coster in the 1972 500cc world championship.
  Friedrichs also competed in the 1972 International Six Day Trial as a member of the East German national team that finished second to the powerful Czechoslovakian national team.
caption: Paul Friedrichs at the 1967 Motocross des Nations
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