Montesa works rider, rode and help develop the "VR" (Vehkonen Replica) motocross bike. He Gave Montesa a 4th place in the 1972 World Championship, and 1st. European make, ahead of Husqvarna, CZ, Bultaco and others. In March of 1973, at DeDuinen, Belgium, riding a 360cc prototype he rode to a 1st overall, beating out such notables as Roger DeCoster, Hakan Andersson, and Heikki Mikkola. Two weeks before at Lummer, Belgium, Vehkonen had won the first moto and was leading the second when he had engine problems. Here the field was even more impressive: Decoster, Robert, Geobers, Aberg, Mikkola and Jim Pomeroy. With his riding, and Pedro Pi's engineering skill, the VR became the most popular Montesa motocrosser ever built.