Kari Tiainen

Kari Tapio Tiainen (born 26 August 1966 in Riihimäki) is a Finnish former professional enduro rider. He competed in the World Enduro Championships from 1989 to 2003. Tiainen is notable for being a seven-time World Enduro Champion and held the record for most wins in the world championship (77), until the record was broken by compatriot Juha Salminen during the 2008 season. In 2012, Tiainen was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.

Motorcycle racing career Tiainen has also participated in several national championships, becoming a four-time German and two-time Finnish and Spanish champion. In addition to his personal world titles, he has won the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) World Trophy for Finland in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2003. He was the fastest rider in the 500 cc class in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999. In 1999, he also drove for Finland in the Race of Champions, alongside Tommi Mäkinen and JJ Lehto, and the team won the Nations' Cup.

Originally a motocross rider, Tiainen switched to enduro in 1989 and finished fourth in the European championship. The world championship was started the following year, and he took his first title with Suzuki in the 250 cc class. For the following year, he switched to Husqvarna and successfully defended his title. Tiainen then moved to the biggest 500 cc class, winning the title with Husqvarna in 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1997, and with KTM in 2000. From 1990 to 2000, even during the seasons that he finished runner-up, he led his class in the number of wins. The 2001 season, during which he finished third behind Anders Eriksson and Mika Ahola, was Tiainen's last full season in the world championship. After his racing career, Tiainen continued with KTM as the team principal from 2003 to 2005. In 2011, Tiainen became the team principal for Ice 1 Racing, Kimi Räikkönen's team in the Motocross World Championship.

Career summary Season Series Class Team Races Wins Final placing 1989 European Enduro Championship 250 cc Suzuki 12 2 4th 1990 World Enduro Championship 250 cc Suzuki 14 6 1st 1991 World Enduro Championship 250 cc Husqvarna 16 8 1st 1992 World Enduro Championship 500 cc Husqvarna 12 5 1st 1993 World Enduro Championship 500 cc Husqvarna 14 7 2nd 1994 World Enduro Championship 500 cc Husqvarna 12 5 1st 1995 World Enduro Championship 500 cc Husqvarna 12 9 1st 1996 World Enduro Championship 500 cc Husqvarna 12 6 2nd 1997 World Enduro Championship 500 cc KTM 14 8 1st 1998 World Enduro Championship 500 cc KTM 14 8 2nd 1999 World Enduro Championship 500 cc KTM 14 7 2nd 2000 World Enduro Championship 500 cc KTM 10 7 1st 2001 World Enduro Championship 500 cc KTM 10 1 3rd 2002 World Enduro Championship 500 cc KTM 6 0 11th 2003 World Enduro Championship 250 cc KTM 2 0 19th

ISDE Season Location Class Team Final placing 1989 Walldürn, Germany Junior Trophy Finland 1st 1990 Västerås, Sweden World Trophy Finland 2nd 1991 Považská Bystrica, Czechoslovakia World Trophy Finland 11th 1993 Assen, Netherlands World Trophy Finland 10th 1994 Tulsa, United States World Trophy Finland 5th 1995 Jelenia Góra, Poland World Trophy Finland 3rd 1996 Hämeenlinna, Finland World Trophy Finland 1st 1997 Brescia, Italy World Trophy Finland 2nd 1998 Traralgon, Australia World Trophy Finland 1st 1999 Coimbra, Portugal World Trophy Finland 1st 2000 Granada, Spain World Trophy Finland 18th 2001 Brive-la-Gaillarde, France World Trophy Finland 16th 2003 Fortaleza, Brazil World Trophy Finland 1st 2008 Serres, Greece World Trophy Finland 5th