Angel Nieto

Ángel Nieto was a Spanish professional Grand Prix motorcycle racer who was one of the most accomplished and influential riders in the history of the sport. He won 13 World Championships and 90 Grand Prix races in a career that spanned 23 years from 1964 to 1986. He competed mainly in the 50cc, 80cc and 125cc categories, where he demonstrated his skill and talent on small displacement bikes. He was known for his smooth riding style, his tactical intelligence and his charisma. He was also a mentor and an inspiration for many other Spanish riders who followed his footsteps, such as Jorge Martínez Aspar, Álex Crivillé, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Márquez. Nieto was born in Zamora, Spain, in 1947, but moved to Madrid with his family when he was one year old. He grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Vallecas, where he developed his passion for motorcycles. He started working as an apprentice mechanic at the age of 13, and soon began racing in local competitions. He made his Grand Prix debut in 1964 at the Spanish Grand Prix, riding a Derbi. He achieved his first victory in 1969 at the German Grand Prix, also on a Derbi. He went on to win six world titles in the 50cc class and seven in the 125cc class, riding for different manufacturers such as Derbi, Morbidelli, Kreidler, Bultaco, Minarelli and Garelli. He also raced occasionally in the 250cc and 350cc classes, but without much success. He retired from racing in 1986, after finishing third in the 80cc championship. Nieto was a popular and respected figure in the motorcycling world, both in Spain and internationally. He was awarded several honors and distinctions for his achievements, such as the Gold Medal of Sports Merit, the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports and the FIM Legend status. He also received numerous tributes and homages from fans and fellow riders. He was nicknamed "El Niño" (The Kid) or "El Maestro" (The Master) by his admirers. He was also known for his superstition and his preference to refer to his number of titles as "12+1" instead of 13, due to his fear of the number 13. After retiring from racing, Nieto remained active in the motorcycling scene as a team manager, a commentator and a promoter. He ran his own team with his sons Ángel Jr. and Pablo as riders, and also supported other young talents such as Emilio Alzamora, who won the 125cc title in 1999 under Nieto's guidance. He also worked as a TV analyst for Spanish channels, offering his insights and opinions on Grand Prix races. He was involved in several projects to promote motorcycling in Spain, such as the creation of a museum dedicated to his career and memorabilia in Madrid. Nieto died on August 3rd, 2017, at the age of 70, due to complications from a head injury he suffered in a traffic accident on July 26th. He was riding a quad bike on the island of Ibiza when he collided with a car. He was taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery and was placed in an induced coma. His condition worsened after being woken up from the coma and he passed away surrounded by his family and friends. His death caused a great shock and sadness in the motorcycling community and in the Spanish society. He was buried in the Cementerio de la Almudena in Madrid, where thousands of people attended his funeral to pay their respects and say goodbye to a legend.