Silverpilen on top of the world

For such an inauspicious start to a motorcycle line the confidence displayed by those involved in it was rewarded by Torsten Hallman in 1962 when he was crowned world 250cc champion. Our photo of him here in action on his Husqvarna was taken during the British 250cc GP at Higher farm near Glastonbury in Somerset when Hallman had to accept an overall second place to a superbly on form Dave Bickers.

The Motorcycle of July 1962 carried a full report of the 250 series, newly elevated to world class status. Much was expected of the works BSAS ridden by Smith and Lampkin but as first practice in this slickly organised event got underway it would be apparent to all the tussle would be between Bickers and Hallman who both excelled in the dry conditions. An indication of the future was given when for the GP of the 37 starters only four were on four-strokes. In the first heat – the GP consisted of two heats – Bickers hauled away from the field and had a lead of six seconds over Hallman by lap five and Hallman himself was 14 seconds ahead of Czech rider Vhlastimil Valek. These positions were maintained to the end. For the second heat Hallman blasted into the lead with Valek on his tail. Bickers had other ideas though and fought through from third to take the lead from Hallman on lap five. In the end though Hallman’s two second places were enough to propel him to the lead in the world championship and eventually see him lift the title.