Nationality Belgian Name Jaak Velthoven Wins 5 | Teams Husqvarna, Yamaha, KTM Years active 1970 - 1983 | |
 | ||
Jaak Van Velthoven is a Belgian former professional motocross racer. 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. He helped Yamaha develop a revolutionary motorcycle rear suspension that utilized a single shock absorber (invented by the Belgian engineer Lucien Tilkens) 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'.