Adolf Weil Dies At Age 72

Cycle News Staff | May 31, 2011

The “Iron Man of Motocross” Adolf Weil recently died in his hometown of Solingen, Germany, at the age of 72.During the 1960s and 1970s, Weil competed in the FIM 250 and 500cc Motocross Grand Prix World Championships while riding for the Maico factory motocross team. His name became so synonymous with the brand that the Maico AW model was named after him.

Weil never won a World title, but he did finish second to Hakan Andersson in the 1973 250cc Championships and finished third in the 500cc Championships three times. He did win the German MX National Championships 14 times and the Trans-AMA Championship in 1973. He accomplished that feat at the age of 34 while competing against riders much younger than himself. Racing well into his 30s, Weil retired from competition in 1976 and ran a motorcycle business in Solingen with his two sons Frank and Jurgen.