Jack Middelburg

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. Middelburg never earned a factory-sponsored race bike, yet managed to post some impressive results.

Motorcycling career

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

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. On 2 April, he lost control of his motorcycle, and was run over by Boet van Dulmen. He was rushed to hospital, and died a day later.

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

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 Pts 1977 350cc Yamaha VEN GER NAT SPA FRA YUG NED11 SWE FIN CZE GBR NC 0 500cc Suzuki VEN AUT GER NAT FRA NED11 BEL SWE FIN CZE GBR NC 0 1978 350cc Yamaha VEN AUTDNQ FRA NAT NED13 SWERet FIN GBR16 GER CZE YUG NC 0 500cc Suzuki VEN SPA AUTRet FRA NAT NED15 BEL SWE13 FIN GBR14 GER11 NC 0 1979 500cc Suzuki VEN AUT15 GER7 NAT7 SPA7 YUGRet NED7 BELDNS SWE2 FIN4 GBRDNS FRA 7th 36 1980 500cc Yamaha NATDNS SPA15 FRARet NED1 BELRet FINRet GBR9 GER8 9th 20 1981 500cc Suzuki AUT8 GER8 NAT7 FRA9 YUGDNS NED5 BEL6 RSM7 GBR1 FIN4 SWE3 7th 60 1982 500cc Suzuki ARG9 AUTRet FRADNS SPARet NAT NEDRet BELRet YUG6 GBR SWE RSM5 GERRet 16th 13 1983 500cc Honda RSA FRA10 NATRet GER11 SPA8 AUT8 YUG11 NED6 BELRet GBRRet SWEDNS RSMRet 12th 12