Angel Nieto passes away

Thirteen-time world champion Angel Nieto has died, after succumbing to the injuries he sustained in a road traffic collision last week when his quad was involved in a crash with a car near his home on the Spanish island of Ibiza.

He suffered severe head injuries in the crash last week and was placed in an induced coma by doctors at the Policlinica de Nuestra Senora del Rosario hospital, but was reported to be making improvements, with doctors saying yesterday that they were planning on beginning the rices of waking him from the coma. However, he then suffered further complications that tragically turned out to be fatal.

Nieto was a lightweight machine specialist, winning thirteen titles (although superstitiously referring to them as 12+1) on 50cc and 125cc machinery. One of the first true Spanish legends of the sport and a harbinger of the current wave of ultra fast racers from the country, he had an incredible record that saw him retire in 1986 having won nearly half of his 186 Grand Prix starts.

He remained an important figure in the paddock even after his retirement, however, both nurturing the career of son Pablo and nephew Fonsi, running a team with fellow former world champion Emilio Alzamora, and commentating on Spanish television. 

Motorcycle News joins the wider racing fraternity in wishing our deepest condolences to Angel’s family, friends and fans.