Willy Bauer

Willy Bauer (born 17 November 1947) is a German former professional motocross racer. He competed in the FIM Motocross World Championships between 1969 and 1978, most prominently as a member of the Maico factory racing team. Bauer narrowly missed winning the 1973 500cc Motocross World Championship after a season long battle with the reigning champion Roger De Coster. His racing career ended when he suffered spinal cord injuries while competing in the 1978 250cc British Grand Prix.

Motocross racing career Early racing Bauer was born on 17 November 1947 in Stuttgart, West Germany where his father owned an auto repair business. He began racing motorcycles in 1964 and in 1965 he was sponsored by the 1957 250cc European Motocross Champion Fritz Betzelbacher. He finished the series ranked seventh overall behind his Maico teammate Weil who finished the series in second place behind the overall winner Sylvain Geboers (Suzuki).

Bauer scored his first podium result in 1972 when he finished second overall to Roger De Coster (Suzuki) at the season opening 500cc Austrian Grand Prix. Since the event would be broadcast live on Austrian television, race promoters decided to hold the race but not award world championship points due to the difficult riding conditions. Bauer easily won the second leg after De Coster experienced a mechanical failure.

Going into the final race of the season at Sint Anthonis, Holland, Bauer held a 4-point lead over De Coster in the championship points standings. After the world championships, Bauer traveled to the United States to compete in the 1973 Trans-AMA series where he won Round 5 in Washington, Indiana and finished the series ranked third overall behind his Maico teammates Weil and Wolsink.

Later career and injury Bauer then signed a contract to race for the Suzuki team with the assistance of Wolsink and De Coster. After a 12th-place finish in 1977, he signed a contract to race and develop a prototype motorcycle for the Sachs factory in the 1978 250cc world championship.

Career overview Bauer won 7 individual heat races and 4 Grand Prix victories during his world championship racing career.