Jack Middelburg

Jack Middelburg (30 April 1952, in Naaldwijk – 3 April 1984, in Groningen) 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.

Jack Middelburg
Middelburg at the 1980 Dutch TT
NationalityDutch
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

Motorcycling career
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 best years were in 1979 and 1981, when he finished in seventh place in the 500cc world championships.[3] Middelburg was the last privateer to win a motorcycle Grand Prix in the 500cc class.

Middelburg was killed while competing in a street circuit race in Tolbert, the Netherlands in 1984.[4][5]

Career statistics

Races by year

(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
  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. "Jack Middelburg". MotoGP.com. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  4. Jack Middelburg career profile at Motorsport Memorial
  5. "Cycle Racer Dies Of Injuries". The Modesto Bee. 4 April 1984. p. 6. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
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