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Jack Middelburg

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Jack Middelburg
Middelburg at the 1980 Dutch TT
NationalityDutch
Born(1952-04-30)30 April 1952
Naaldwijk, Netherlands
Died3 April 1984(1984-04-03) (aged 31)
Groningen, Netherlands
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years1977 - 1983
First race1977 350 cc Dutch TT
Last race1983 500 cc San Marino Grand Prix
First win1980 500 cc Dutch TT
Last win1981 500 cc British Grand Prix
Team(s)Yamaha
Championships0
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
37 2 4 2 1 141

Jack Middelburg (30 April 1952 – 3 April 1984) was a Dutch professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Together with Wil Hartog and Boet van Dulmen, he was part of a contingent of Dutch riders who competed at the highest levels of Grand Prix racing in the late 1970s.[1] Middelburg never earned a factory-sponsored race bike, yet managed to post some impressive results.

Motorcycling career

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Jack Middelburg (Left) with Boet van Dulmen on the starting line at a race in Heeswijk in 1982

Middelburg became the second Dutchman to win the Dutch TT in 1980, and in 1981 he pulled off an unexpected upset when he defeated the defending world champion, Kenny Roberts at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.[2] His British Grand Prix victory aboard a Suzuki RG500 marked the last time a privateer competitor would win a 500cc Grand Prix race, as motorcycle Grand Prix racing became increasingly professional during the 1980s.[3] His best years were in 1979 and 1981, when he finished in seventh place in the 500cc world championships.[4]

Middelburg (1) competing in a 350cc Dutch National Championship race at the Zandvoort Circuit in 1978
Wil Hartog (Carrying Middelburg's helmet),leads pall bearers during Middelburg's funeral.

Middelburg was killed while competing in a street circuit race in Tolbert, Netherlands in 1984.[5][6] On 2 April, he lost control of his motorcycle, and was run over by Boet van Dulmen. He was rushed to hospital,[7] and died a day later.[8]

Career statistics

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Grand Prix motorcycle racing

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Races by year

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pos. Pts
1977 350cc Yamaha VEN GER NAT SPA FRA YUG NED
11
SWE FIN CZE GBR NC 0
500cc Suzuki VEN AUT GER NAT FRA NED
11
BEL SWE FIN CZE GBR NC 0
1978 350cc Yamaha VEN AUT
DNQ
FRA NAT NED
13
SWE
Ret
FIN GBR
16
GER CZE YUG NC 0
500cc Suzuki VEN SPA AUT
Ret
FRA NAT NED
15
BEL SWE
13
FIN GBR
14
GER
11
NC 0
1979 500cc Suzuki VEN AUT
15
GER
7
NAT
7
SPA
7
YUG
Ret
NED
7
BEL
DNS
SWE
2
FIN
4
GBR
DNS
FRA 7th 36
1980 500cc Yamaha NAT
DNS
SPA
15
FRA
Ret
NED
1
BEL
Ret
FIN
Ret
GBR
9
GER
8
9th 20
1981 500cc Suzuki AUT
8
GER
8
NAT
7
FRA
9
YUG
DNS
NED
5
BEL
6
RSM
7
GBR
1
FIN
4
SWE
3
7th 60
1982 500cc Suzuki ARG
9
AUT
Ret
FRA
DNS
SPA
Ret
NAT NED
Ret
BEL
Ret
YUG
6
GBR SWE RSM
5
GER
Ret
16th 13
1983 500cc Honda RSA FRA
10
NAT
Ret
GER
11
SPA
8
AUT
8
YUG
11
NED
6
BEL
Ret
GBR
Ret
SWE
DNS
RSM
Ret
12th 12

References

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  1. ^ "Ryder Notes: Assen Memories". superbikeplanet.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Middelburg In Upset". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. 2 August 1981. p. 4. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  3. ^ "SUZUKI RG500: RG BARGY". amcn.com. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Jack Middelburg". MotoGP.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  5. ^ Jack Middelburg career profile at Motorsport Memorial
  6. ^ "Cycle Racer Dies Of Injuries". The Modesto Bee. 4 April 1984. p. 6. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  7. ^ "Jumping Jack zwaar gewond". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 2 April 1984. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Middelburg bezwijkt aan verwondingen". Trouw (in Dutch). 4 April 1984. Retrieved 7 March 2022.