Jack Middelburg was the son of a family of farmers from Naaldwijk, a small town in the Dutch province of South Holland, about ten kilometers southwest of The Hague, Netherlands. He began his racing career in 1974, and was crowned Dutch Champion in 1977 and 1978 in the 350 cm3, 500 cm3 and 750 cm3 series. Because of his rough riding style, he was nicknamed "Jumping Jack", after the famous song "Jumping Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones.
In 1984 he took part in the Netherlands National RR Championship, 500 cm3 class. He won the opening round of the series, then in the following race at Tolbert, on Sunday, 01 April of that year, Jack Middelburg fell at high speed. The accident occurred during the second lap, on the approach to the faster bend of the 2.574-kilometer street course, while trying to overtake Rob Punt, who led the race. Middelburg lost control of his machine, hit a lamp post protected by straw bales and bounced back on track, being run over by oncoming competitors van Dulmen, Schreuder and Smeter.
Middelburg was transferred to the Neuro-surgical University Clinic of Groningen, Netherlands, where he was operated three times. It was the same hospital where Franco Uncini was taken after his huge crash, pretty similar to Middelburg's, during the 1983 Netherlands Grand Prix at Assen, when he fell down and was hit by Wayne Gardner.
Jack Middelburg succumbed to his injuries two days later, at 12h15 on Tuesday, 03 April 1984, victim of a cerebral hemorrhage. In the accident he lost his helmet, this may have been a factor in the death of the rider. He was 31.
R.I.P
In 1984 he took part in the Netherlands National RR Championship, 500 cm3 class. He won the opening round of the series, then in the following race at Tolbert, on Sunday, 01 April of that year, Jack Middelburg fell at high speed. The accident occurred during the second lap, on the approach to the faster bend of the 2.574-kilometer street course, while trying to overtake Rob Punt, who led the race. Middelburg lost control of his machine, hit a lamp post protected by straw bales and bounced back on track, being run over by oncoming competitors van Dulmen, Schreuder and Smeter.
Middelburg was transferred to the Neuro-surgical University Clinic of Groningen, Netherlands, where he was operated three times. It was the same hospital where Franco Uncini was taken after his huge crash, pretty similar to Middelburg's, during the 1983 Netherlands Grand Prix at Assen, when he fell down and was hit by Wayne Gardner.
Jack Middelburg succumbed to his injuries two days later, at 12h15 on Tuesday, 03 April 1984, victim of a cerebral hemorrhage. In the accident he lost his helmet, this may have been a factor in the death of the rider. He was 31.
R.I.P
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