[1] His previous achievements include 2001 junior European championship from Italy's Livigno and top-ten placings in the downhill World Cup during 2002–2004.

After the season Lehikoinen signed a deal with MS-Intense Racing, to become the leading rider of the team replacing Chris Kovarik.

Lehikoinen rehabilitated at the Red Bull training center in Austria and said to have 50% of his wrists movement back.

[citation needed] Lehikoinen has now fully recovered and was offered a deal from Evil Bikes for the 2009 WC downhill season.

[citation needed] During a World Cup Finals in Bromont, the 7th race of the season, Lehikoinen crashed on the sequence of drops resulting in a fractured collarbone and pelvis.