HISTORY

THE GOLDEN YEARS

After becoming a World Championship round, Imatranajo’s audience grew year by year and reached its peak in 1973 with 54,000 paying spectators. The event gained worldwide attention through TV broadcasts and exceeded all news thresholds, developing into Finland’s most international annual event. Imatra Week, in turn, became the largest public festival in Finland. Each year, competitors from all continents took part in the races.

At its peak, riders from well over forty different nationalities participated. Imatranajo also gained significant international recognition and prestige. For several years, it was considered the best-organized race of the entire World Championship series. Like all major events, Imatranajo had its own heroes. Italy’s pride, 15-time world champion Giacomo Agostini, achieved 16 class victories in Imatra over the years — a record no other rider has matched in the history of the event.

Finland’s all-time great, Jarno Saarinen from Turku, stood on the top step of the podium in the 250cc class in 1972, securing his world championship – which remains to this day Finland’s only Road Racing world title in the solo classes. Jarno Saarinen has left an indelible mark on the hearts and memories of the Finnish people, with his historic World Championship victory in Imatra forming an essential part of that legacy. In 2022, 50 years had passed since Saarinen’s championship.

Finnish success in the history of Imatranajo has also been represented by riders such as Matti Salonen, Martti Pesonen, Teuvo Länsivuori, Pentti Korhonen, Eero Hyvärinen, and Johnny Wickström. Famous class winners like Luigi Taveri, Jim Redman, Mike Hailwood, Phil Read, Barry Sheene, Angel Nieto, Johnny Cecotto, Randy Mamola, and many other top names became well known among the people of Imatra and the wider audience.

THE LARGEST IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES

Imatranajo has grown into the largest and most traditional street circuit motorcycle race in the Nordic countries.

In 2016, a 30-year wait came to an end as Imatranajo made a spectacular return to the racing calendar as part of the international road racing series (IRRC), immediately reclaiming its place in the hearts of both spectators and riders. The timing was ideal for its return, as street racing events in other parts of Europe—particularly in Ireland and the UK—had gained increased visibility and reached a wider audience. Since its comeback, the event has attracted approximately 50,000 spectators each year to witness an international motorsport spectacle.

Significant safety improvements have been made to the street circuit located near Imatra’s city center, including a complete resurfacing of the track to meet the demands of modern international motorcycle racing events. Major investments have also been made in spectator experience, and the event has once again developed into an internationally recognized, unique street race that attracts attention from around the world. The Imatranajo circuit has been featured in the Ride 4 console game, and the event has been selected as one of Finland’s top domestic travel destinations.

Imatranajo has achieved iconic status through its distinctive Karelian atmosphere and a world-class racing event organized to the highest standards, attracting the biggest stars of road racing year after year. Today, Imatranajo has preserved the unique atmosphere for which it has always been known.

LEGENDS AT IMATRA

1960s
Matti Salonen, Seppo Näppi, Jukka Petäjä, Jouko Ryhänen, Taneli Lepo, Hannu Kuparinen, Mike Duff, S-O Gunnarsson, Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Mike Hailwood, Jim Redman, Luigi Taveri, Kent Andersson, Dave Simmonds, Hugh Andersson, Jack Ahearn, Stuart Graham, Heinz Rosner, Klaus Enders & Ralf Engelhardt

1970s
Jarno Saarinen, Teuvo Länsivuori, Pentti Korhonen, Martti Pesonen, Johnny Cecotto, Ángel Nieto, Barry Sheene, Rodney Gould, Dieter Braun, Renzo Pasolini, Takazumi Katayama, Kork Ballington, Walter Villa, John Dodds, Gregg Hansford, Eugenio Lazzarini, Ricardo Tormo, Pier Paolo Bianchi, Pat Hennen, Gianfranco Bonera, Julien van Zeebroeck, Otello Buscherini, Michael Rougerie, Boet van Dulmen

1980s
Eero Hyvärinen, Johnny Wickström, Jussi Hautaniemi, Jari Suhonen, Esko Kuparinen, Marco Lucchinelli, Anton Mang, Joey Dunlop, Wil Hartog, Kenny Roberts, Randy Mamola, Christian Sarron, Jean-François Baldé, Iván Palazzese, Pier Francesco Chili, Armando Errico, Stéphane Mertens, Lorenzo Ghiselli, Rolf Biland & Kurt Waltisperg, Jock Taylor & Bengt Johansson

1990s (Imatranajo Revival / “Memories” Event)
Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kork Ballington, Luigi Taveri, Pier Paolo Bianchi, Dieter Braun, Christian Sarron, Rodney Gould, Steve Baker, Marco Lucchinelli, Jon Ekerold, Mario Lega, Teuvo Länsivuori, Bruno Kneubühler, Jean-François Baldé, Charles Mortimer, Gianfranco Bonera, Rolf Blatter, Roland Freymond, Patrick Plisson, Börje Jansson, Pentti Korhonen, Jos Schurgers, Heinz Rosner

2000s
Michael Rutter, Dan Kneen, Danny Webb, Davey Todd, David Datzer, Come Geenen, Didier Grams, Martin Jessopp, Marek Červený, Sébastien Le Grelle, Vincent Lonbois, Joey den Besten, Erno Kostamo, Pauli Pekkanen, Dan Kruger, Horst Saiger, Matthieu Lagrive, Laurent Hoffmann, Juha Kallio, Pekka Päivärinta & Kirsi Kainulainen, Tim Reeves & Mark Wilkens, Estelle Leblond & Frank Claeys