An 82-year-old takes care of the Swiss motocross sensation

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Willy Läderach (82) stands on a jumping hill in the middle of the motocross track and says, “It’s a dream that we did it. A lot of people said to me, now let’s be good with your race.” But the Thurgau did not leave it at that. At the age of 82, after a five-year break, the OC boss is bringing the Motocross World Championship back to Frauenfeld, where the best riders in the world raced from 2016 to 2018.

Motorcycle jack of all trades in Läderach. Snow-white hair, a bit of a hoarse voice from the non-stop talking these days, the gait is a little limp, but with full body tension, three children of course long grown, five grandchildren, two divorces. Always on the ball. Always available.

A life for the motorcycle. Three-time Swiss motocross champion, participation in World Championship races.

Läderach was Swiss motocross champion

He has had his motorcycle license for 66 years. «After a single driving lesson I was allowed to take the exam. Before that, of course, I raced motocross from the age of 16,” he says with a smile. Every year he still drives 10,000 to 15,000 km on his motorcycle.

And by the way, he is bringing the MXGP event back to Switzerland. “You can’t do it alone,” says Läderach. “You can only do that in a team. There are ten great people at OK. There are also 30 team leaders who manage their areas quite autonomously. We employ 460 people at the event itself.”

Is Läderach the busiest pensioner in Switzerland? Possible. Over the past three years, the Thurgauer has shown unparalleled perseverance. When permits ran out in 2018, Läderach surveyed around 30 areas across Switzerland as a new GP location, squabbled with conservationists mainly over a possible GP in Bürglen TG – and then, thanks to a trick, came back to Frauenfeld.

The track is far from the paddock

Because now the MXGP stars just race on the Schollenholz circuit instead of the stadium-like, no longer approved temporary circuit at the sugar factory. National races have been held in Schollenholz for decades at Easter. The stars of the world championship riding on Easter Monday.

It’s a compromise solution: because the paddock is on the sugar factory grounds, as it was until 2018, the racers have to cover several 100 meters on closed public roads through the residential area until they reach the starting gate. Läderach: “That is not the yellow of the egg. But the World Cup organizers gave the green light and in January we had received all permits from the authorities.”

Then the women’s fields will kick off the MXGP event in two months. With a restless 82-year-old like Zampano.

Source : Blick