Ángel Nieto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ángel Nieto |
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Ángel Nieto in 1972
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| Nationality | Spanish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 25 January 1947 Zamora, Spain |
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| Died | 3 August 2017 (aged 70) Ibiza, Spain |
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Ángel Nieto Roldán (born January 25, 1947 – died August 3, 2017) was a famous Spanish professional Grand Prix motorcycle racer. He was one of the best motorcycle racers ever! He won 13 World Championships and 90 Grand Prix races during his 23-year career, from 1964 to 1986. He mostly raced small bikes in the 50cc, 80cc, and 125cc classes. Only two other racers, Giacomo Agostini and Valentino Rossi, have won more Grand Prix races than him. In 2011, he was honored as an FIM Legend for his amazing achievements in motorcycling.
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A Racing Legend
Ángel Nieto was super good at racing smaller motorcycles, like the 50cc, 80cc, and 125cc bikes. Many other famous racers, including world champion Barry Sheene, thought he was one of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time. Even though he didn't win world titles in bigger bike classes, he won many Spanish National Championships. These included races in the 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, and 750cc classes.
He stopped racing in 1986 when he was 39 years old. He finished his career with 90 Grand Prix wins and 13 World Championships. Because he had a superstition about the number 13, he often said he won "12+1" championships.
Life After Racing
After retiring from racing, Ángel Nieto ran his own Grand Prix motorcycle racing team. His son, Ángel Nieto Jr., and another rider, Emilio Alzamora, raced for his team. Emilio Alzamora even won the 125cc title!
Ángel also worked as a commentator, explaining Grand Prix races for Spanish television. If you want to see some of his trophies and racing gear, there's an Ángel Nieto museum in Madrid. The FIM officially called him a Grand Prix "Legend" in 2000.
In 2008, Ángel Nieto went to the French Grand Prix. He wore a special shirt to congratulate Valentino Rossi for reaching 90 wins, just like him. Nieto even got on Rossi's bike, and they took a victory lap together, holding a flag that said "90 + 90".
Personal Life
Ángel Nieto lived in Ibiza for many years. His two sons, Ángel Jr. and Pablo, both followed in his footsteps and became motorcycle racers. His nephew, Fonsi Nieto, also became a racer.
His Passing
On July 26, 2017, Ángel Nieto was in an accident in Ibiza. He was riding his quad bike when a car hit him. He was taken to the hospital with a head injury and had surgery. Sadly, his condition worsened, and he passed away on August 3, 2017, at the age of 70.
Nieto on the Big Screen
A documentary film about Ángel Nieto, called Ángel Nieto: 12+1, was released in 2005. It was directed by Álvaro Fernández Armero. The film covers his entire racing career. It includes interviews with other racers, cyclists who were inspired by him, and reporters who covered his journey to become a world champion.
The year 1973, when Nieto raced with the 125 Morbidelli bike, is also featured in another documentary. This film is called Morbidelli – a story of men and fast motorcycles, and it came out in 2014.
Honours and Awards
Ángel Nieto received special recognition for his achievements:
- 1982: He was given the Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Civil Merit.
- 1993: He received the Knight Grand Cross in the Royal Order of Sports Merit.
See Also
In Spanish: Ángel Nieto para niños
