Jaak van Velthoven

Jaak Van Velthoven
Nationality Belgian
Motocross career
Years active 1970 - 1983
Teams Husqvarna, Yamaha, KTM
Wins 5

Jaak Van Velthoven is a Belgian former professional motocross racer.[1] He competed in the F.I.M. 500cc motocross world championships during the 1970s. Van Velthoven's best individual performance was a third place in the 500cc World Championship in 1973 with the Yamaha factory racing team.[2][3] He helped Yamaha develop a revolutionary motorcycle rear suspension that utilized a single shock absorber (invented by the Belgian engineer Lucien Tilkens)[4] instead of the traditional dual shock absobers.

Van Velthoven also rode for the Husqvarna and KTM factory racing teams. He was a member of four winning Belgian teams at the Motocross des Nations in 1972, 1973, 1976 and 1977. Standing well over 6 feet tall, it was not difficult to distinguish him in the pack and he was often referred to as 'Long tall Jaak'.

References

  1. ↑ "Jaak Van Velthoven career profile". bestsports.com. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "1973 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "1973 500cc motocross world championship". akejonsson.com. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  4. ↑ Magazine Moto73


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