Jan de Vries facts for kids
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Jan de Vries (born 5 January 1944 – died 14 January 2021) was a famous Dutch motorcycle racer. He competed in Grand Prix motorcycle races, which are top-level events for motorcycles. Jan de Vries was born in a place called Sint Jacobiparochie in the Netherlands.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Racing
Jan de Vries grew up in the Netherlands. He became interested in motorcycles and racing from a young age. His passion led him to become a professional motorcycle road racer. This means he raced motorcycles on special tracks or roads.
Racing Career and Championships
Jan de Vries was a very successful racer. In 1971, he made history. He became the very first Dutchman to win a world championship organized by the F.I.M. (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme). This is the main group that controls motorcycle racing around the world.
He won this championship in the 50 cc class. This class is for motorcycles with smaller engines.
Another World Title
Jan de Vries continued his success. In 1973, he won another 50 cc world championship. This showed he was one of the best racers in his class.
Close Call in 1972
The year 1972 was very exciting for Jan de Vries. He almost won the world championship again. However, he lost to another great racer, Ángel Nieto, by a very small difference in points. It was one of the closest finishes in racing history.
Later Life and Death
After his racing career, Jan de Vries lived a quieter life. He passed away on 14 January 2021. He was 77 years old. He died in Purmerend, Netherlands, because his heart stopped working.
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