Jan de Vries (5 January 1944 – 14 January 2021) was a

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

Grand Prix Grand Prix ( , meaning ''Grand Prize''; plural Grands Prix), is a name sometimes used for competitions or sport events, alluding to the winner receiving a prize, trophy or honour Grand Prix or grand prix may refer to: Arts and entertainment ...

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

road racer.

Career

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses ( February 25, July 22 and August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 10, and August 6). The world population increased by 2.1% this year, the highest increase in history. Events Ja ...

he became the first Dutchman to win a F.I.M.

world championship A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

when he claimed the

50 cc The 50 cc class was the ultra-lightweight class in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, and formed part of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) World Championships from 1962 until 1983; when the class was replaced by 80 cc. History a ...

title. In

1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, U.S. ...

he won another 50 cc world championship. He lost the

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, me ...

world championship to

Angel Nieto In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles include ...

by the narrowest of margins. The two riders ended the season tied with 69 points and three victories apiece. The championship was decided on aggregate times, with Nieto given the title by mere seconds.50cc racing
Madmalc.screaming.net. Retrieved on 2016-07-25.

Gallery

File:50cc race. Links Jan de Vries , rechts Henk van Kessel lopen terug na valpartij., Bestanddeelnr 924-6804.jpg, Jan de Vries after a crash in

Assen Assen () is a municipality and a city in the northeastern Netherlands, and is the capital (politics), capital of the province of Drenthe. It received City rights in the Netherlands, city rights in 1809. Assen is known for TT Circuit Assen, the ...

in 1971, to the right is

Henk van Kessel Henk van Kessel (born 25 June 1946, Mill) is a Dutch former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He won the 1974 F.I.M. 50 cc world championship A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from ar ...

. File:Jan de Vries (Van Veen Kreidler).jpg, Jan de Vries on his 50cc racer 1971. File:Jan de Vries en Jos Schurgers (1971).jpg, Jan de Vries and

Jos Schurgers Jos Schurgers (born 18 February 1947, Haarlem) is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from the Netherlands. He had his best years in 1971 when he finished the 50cc season in third place behind Jan de Vries and Angel Nieto, and in 1973 w ...

1971. File:Wim 005.JPG,

Kreidler Kreidler was a German manufacturer of bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles. Kreidler was originally based in Kornwestheim, between Ludwigsburg and Stuttgart. It was founded in 1903 as "Kreidlers Metall- und Drahtwerke" (Kreidlers metal and wire f ...

50cc racer.

References

External links

50cc racing page
Dutch motorcycle racers 50cc World Championship riders 125cc World Championship riders Sportspeople from Friesland People from Het Bildt 1944 births 2021 deaths {{Netherlands-sport-bio-stub