Double world 500 motocross champion Bengt Aberg has died aged 76. He passed away on Saturday March 6 and the news was announced on social media and in a Swedish newspaper on Sunday March 7. The family have not revealed any further details, but it is believed in recent years he battled with diabetes.

His local motocycle club posted tribute that said: “A legend has left us. Bengt Åberg, Bollnäs Motorklubb’s most successful driver, passed away on March 6 and leaves us in mourning and missing him.

“Bengt was also a very active club member. He has for many years been on Bollnäs MK’s board and has spent many hours building the courses we have at Eriknäsbo Motorstadion. Bengt was a great talent on motorcycle and an even bigger role model as an athlete and fellow human being.

“Our thoughts go out to Bengt’s relatives and friends. Rest in peace Bengt.”

The Swede was one of the top riders in the World Championships during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1968 he was part of the Swedish team that won the Trophée des Nations. He won the FIM 500cc Motocross World Championship in 1969 and 1970 while riding for Husqvarna.

He was a member of three victorious Swedish teams at the MX des Nations in 1970, 1971 and 1974. He later rode for the Bultaco factory in the 500cc class.

In 1977 he competed on a highly modified four stroke Yamaha XT500 built in collaboration with former world champions Torsten Hallman and Sten Lundin.  Aberg rode the bike to a victory in the first moto of the 1977 500cc Luxembourg Grand Prix and ended the season ranked 9th in the final world championship standings. In 1995 he won the Swedish ice speedway national championships aged 51!

Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and many fans around the world.