Jan de Vries, 'mosquito' champion and Nieto's rival, has died

The first Dutch motorbike world champion, Jan de Vries, twice world champion in the smallest category with Kreidler, has passed away. He was 77 years old and was the victim of a heart attack.
Born in Het Bildt in 1944, he had won the 50cc titles in 1971 and 1973, losing in 1972 when he finished the championship on equal points with Angel Nieto.

In that year the Spaniard won by the sum of the seconds he had over the Dutchman.

Jan de Vries won 14 Grand Prix, finishing 27 times on the podium.