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Paul Friedrichs

{{short description|East German motocross racer (1940–2012)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}

{{about||the United States Air Force general|Paul A. Friedrichs|people with a similar name|Paul Friedrich (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox Motocross rider

| name = Paul Friedrichs

| image = Paul Friedrichs.JPG

| caption = Friedrichs in 1964

| nationality = German

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1940|3|21}}

| birth_place = Buchholz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2012|08|30|1940|03|21}}

| death_place = Erfurt

| years = 1961 – 1972

| teams = CZ

| races =

| championships = 500cc – 1966–1968

| wins = 29

}}

Paul Friedrichs (21 March 1940 – 30 August 2012) was an East German professional motocross and enduro racer.{{cite web |url= http://www.msc-teutschenthal.de/paul-friedrichs-verstorben |title=Paul Friedrichs 21.03.1940 – 30.08.2012 |date=30 August 2012|publisher=MSC Teutschenthal |language=German |accessdate=5 September 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905053701/http://www.msc-teutschenthal.de/paul-friedrichs-verstorben|archivedate=5 September 2012|df=}} He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1961 to 1972, most prominently as a member of the ČZ factory motocross team where he won three consecutive titles from 1966 to 1968

Biography

Friedrichs was born in Buchholz and 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 racers of his era.

File:Motorcross Des Nations 1967 te Markelo. De Oost-Duitse Wk 500cc. Paul Friedrichs, Bestanddeelnr 920-6729.jpg]]

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.

Friedrichs successfully defended his crown in 1967 and 1968 to become the first three-time 500cc Motocross World Champion since the series' inception in 1957.[http://www.bestsports.com.br/db/atlpag.php?atl=8364&lang=2 Paul Friedrichs career profile] He was the top individual points scorer at the 1968 Motocross des Nations event helping the East German team finish second to the Russian team.{{cite web |url=https://www.memotocross.fr/downloads/mem-68-mxdn-res-complet.pdf |title=1968 Motocross des Nations classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=7 March 2025 }} He dropped to third place in the 1969 championship, then 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 Germany national team that finished second to the powerful Czechoslovakia national team. At the age of 32, he retired from competition at the end of the 1972 season.

Friedrichs won 61 individual heat races and 29 Grand Prix victories during his world championship racing career.{{cite web | url=https://www.memotocross.fr/downloads/fpm-gp-friedrichs-p.pdf | title=Paul Friedrichs career statistics | publisher=memotocross.fr | accessdate=2025-04-22}} He won three 500cc motocross world titles (1966, 1967, 1968), two 500cc East German motocross national championships (1965, 1972) and four 250cc East German motocross national championships (1962, 1963, 1967, 1972). He was a member of three East German Trophée des Nations teams (1965, 1967, 1971), and three East German Motocross des Nations teams (1966, 1967, 1968). Friedrichs was the top individual points scorer at the 1968 Motocross des Nations event.

Friedrichs died in Erfurt, Germany on 30 August 2012 at the age of 72.

Motocross Grand Prix Results

Points system from 1952 to 1968:

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"

! Position

!style="background:#ffffbf;"|  1st 

!style="background:#dfdfdf;"|  2nd 

!style="background:#ffdf9f;"|  3rd 

!style="background:#dfffdf;"|  4th 

!style="background:#dfffdf;"|  5th 

!style="background:#dfffdf;"|  6th 

Points

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 8

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 6

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 3

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 1

Points system from 1969 to 1980:

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
Position

!style="background:#ffffbf;"| 1

!style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 2

!style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 3

!style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

!style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

!style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

!style="background:#dfffdf;"| 7

!style="background:#dfffdf;"| 8

!style="background:#dfffdf;"| 9

!style="background:#dfffdf;"| 10

Points

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| 15

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| 12

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| 10

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 8

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 3

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| 1

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
scope="row" style="background:#fcc;"|

|Denotes European motocross championship only.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:70%"

!valign="middle" rowspan=2| Year

!valign="middle" rowspan=2| Class

!valign="middle" rowspan=2| Machine

!colspan=2| 1

!colspan=2| 2

!colspan=2| 3

!colspan=2| 4

!colspan=2| 5

!colspan=2| 6

!colspan=2| 7

!colspan=2| 8

!colspan=2| 9

!colspan=2| 10

!colspan=2| 11

!colspan=2| 12

!colspan=2| 13

!colspan=2| 14

!colspan=2| 15

!rowspan=2| Pos

!rowspan=2| Pts

R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

! R1

! R2

1961

! style="background:#fcc;"| 250cc

! ESO

| BEL
-

| BEL
-

| FRA
-

| FRA
-

| NED
-

| NED
-

| CZE
-

| CZE
-

| POL
-

| POL
-

| LUX
-

| LUX
-

| FIN
-

| FIN
-

| ITA
-

| ITA
-

| GER
-

| GER
-

| UK
-

| UK
-

| CH
-

| CH
-

| SWE
-

| SWE
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GDR
6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GDR
6

|

|

|

|

! 20th

! 1

1962

! 250cc

! MZ

| ESP
-

| ESP
-

| CH
-

| CH
-

| BEL
-

| BEL
-

| FRA
-

| FRA
-

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| CZE
9

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| CZE
11

| POL
-

| POL
-

| NED
-

| NED
-

| LUX
-

| LUX
-

| FIN
-

| FIN
-

| USR
-

| USR
-

| GER
-

| GER
-

| ITA
-

| ITA
-

| UK
-

| UK
-

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| SWE
21

| SWE
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GDR
4

| GDR
-

! -

! 0

1963

! 250cc

! ČZ

| ESP
-

| ESP
-

| ITA
-

| ITA
-

| FRA
-

| FRA
-

| CH
-

| CH
-

| GER
-

| GER
-

| LUX
-

| LUX
-

| NED
-

| NED
-

| UK
-

| UK
-

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| SWE
18

| SWE
-

| FIN
-

| FIN
-

| USR
-

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| USR
3

| POL
-

| POL
-

| CZE
-

| CZE
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GDR
5

|

|

! 14th

! 4

rowspan=2| 1965

! 250cc

! ČZ

| ESP
-

| ESP
-

| ITA
-

| ITA
-

| FRA
-

| FRA
-

| BEL
-

| BEL
-

| CZE
-

| CZE
-

| GER
-

| GER
-

| NED
-

| NED
-

| LUX
-

| LUX
-

| POL
-

| POL
-

| USR
-

| USR
-

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| GDR
3

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

| UK
-

| UK
-

| SWE
-

| SWE
-

| FIN
-

| FIN
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUT
5

| AUT
-

! 9th

! 8

500cc

! ČZ

| AUT
-

| AUT
-

| CH
-

| CH
-

| FRA
-

| FRA
-

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| FIN
2

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| FIN
2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| SWE
5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| SWE
6

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CZE
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CZE
2

| USR
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| USR
4

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| UK
7

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| UK
9

| ITA
-

| ITA
-

| GER
-

| GER
-

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| NED
2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| NED
4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| LUX
4

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| LUX
1

|

|

|

|

!style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

!style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 36

1966

! 500cc

! ČZ

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CH
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CH
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| AUT
2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| AUT
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| ITA
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| ITA
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| DEN
2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| DEN
4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| SWE
5

| SWE
-

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| FIN
3

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| FIN
3

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CZE
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CZE
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| USR
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| USR
1

| UK
-

| UK
-

| NED
-

| NED
-

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| BEL
11

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| BEL
3

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| LUX
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| LUX
2

| GER
-

| GER
-

|

|

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 62

1967

! 500cc

! ČZ

| AUT
-

| AUT
-

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ITA
2

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| ITA
2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| SWE
4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| SWE
6

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CZE
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CZE
1

| USR
-

| USR
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| FRA
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| FRA
2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GER
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GER
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| UK
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| UK
2

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| BEL
2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| BEL
1

| LUX
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| LUX
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CH
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CH
1

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 56

1968

! 500cc

! ČZ

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| AUT
1

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| AUT
18

| ITA
-

| ITA
-

| SWE
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| SWE
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| FIN
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| FIN
2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CZE
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CZE
1

| UK
-

| UK
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GER
1

| GER
-

| FRA
-

| FRA
-

| NED
-

| NED
-

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| BEL
8

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| BEL
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| LUX
1

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| LUX
3

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CH
2

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| CH
2

|

|

|

|

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 42

1969

! 500cc

! ČZ

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| AUT
39

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| AUT
1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| SWE
7

| SWE
-

| NED
-

| NED
-

| ITA
-

| ITA
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CZE
1

| CZE
-

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| USR
2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| USR
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GER
1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GER
5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| BEL
5

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| BEL
6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| LUX
5

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| LUX
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| FRA
2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| FRA
1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| CH
4

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| CH
4

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

| GDR
-

|

|

|

|

|

|

!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3rd

!style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 67

rowspan=2| 1970

! 250cc

! ČZ

| ESP
-

| ESP
-

| FRA
-

| FRA
-

| BEL
-

| BEL
-

| YUG
-

| YUG
-

| ITA
-

| ITA
-

| USR
-

| USR
-

| POL
-

| POL
-

| UK
-

| UK
-

| FIN
-

| FIN
-

| GDR
-

| GDR
-

| CH
-

| CH
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUT
4

| AUT
-

|

|

|

|

|

|

! -

! 0

500cc

! ČZ

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| CH
9

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| CH
1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| AUT
6

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| AUT
1

| NED
-

|style="background:#cfcfff;"| NED
28

| FRA
-

| FRA
-

| FIN
-

| FIN
-

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| SWE
3

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| SWE
3

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| CZE
3

| CZE
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| USR
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| USR
1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GER
6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GER
6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GDR
8

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

| BEL
-

| BEL
-

| LUX
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| LUX
1

|

|

|

|

|

|

! 4th

! 60

1971

! 500cc

! ČZ

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| ITA
4

| ITA
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| AUT
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| AUT
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| SWE
2

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| SWE
3

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| FIN
1

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| FIN
2

| CZE
-

| CZE
-

| USR
-

| USR
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GDR
6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GDR
6

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| UK
4

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| UK
1

| GER
-

| GER
-

| BEL
-

| BEL
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| LUX
6

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| LUX
3

| NED
-

| NED
-

|

|

|

|

|

|

! 4th

! 70

1972

! 500cc

! ČZ

| AUT
-

| AUT
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| CH
5

| CH
-

| SWE
-

| SWE
-

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| FRA
1

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| FRA
1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| USR
8

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| USR
1

| CZE
-

| CZE
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| UK
7

| UK
-

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| GER
2

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| GER
5

|style="background:#dfdfdf;"| GDR
2

|style="background:#ffffbf;"| GDR
1

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| BEL
6

| BEL
-

|style="background:#dfffdf;"| LUX
6

|style="background:#ffdf9f;"| LUX
3

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

!style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

!style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 62

colspan=35|Sources:{{cite web |url=https://www.memotocross.fr/downloads/1961---gp-250-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1961 250cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.memotocross.fr/downloads/1962---gp-250-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1962 250cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1963---gp-250-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1963 250cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1965---gp-250-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1965 250cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1965---gp-500-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1965 500cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1966---gp-500-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1966 500cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1967---gp-500-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1967 500cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1968---gp-500-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1968 500cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1969---gp-500-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1969 500cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1971---gp-250-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1971 250cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1971---gp-500-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1971 500cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://memotocross.fr/downloads/1972---gp-500-et-classement-final.pdf |title=1972 500cc motocross world championship race classifications |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=3 March 2025 }}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{MX1 world champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Friedrichs, Paul}}

Category:1940 births

Category:2012 deaths

Category:Sportspeople from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Category:Sportspeople from Erfurt

Category:East German motocross riders

Category:Enduro riders