’12 plus one’ grand prix motorcycle world champion Angel Nieto is reported to have suffered a severe head injury after a quad bike accident in Spain.The 70-year-old was riding a quad bike on the road while in Ibiza when a car ran into the back of him, throwing him from the quad bike.
Details on his condition are scarce, but Spanish media are reporting Nieto suffered severe head trauma and is currently undergoing surgery, the Spaniard thought to be in a serious condition.
Enjoying a racing career spanning 22 years, Nieto etched himself into the history books with an astonishing 13 world titles across the 50cc and 125cc classes, tallying up an impressive 90 wins as well.
The first of those came at East German 50cc Grand Prix at the Sachsenring in 1969, two years after a he took his first world championship podium in the class at Assen.
Nieto went on to win the 1969 50cc title, repeating the feat the following year while also placing second in the 125cc class to German Dieter Braun.
The Spaniard secured his first 125cc title in 1971 on a Derbi, doing so again the following year, adding to his 50cc title tally in the process.
Nieto was champion once more in the 50cc class in 1975, winning it again in 1976 and 1977. He had to wait until 1979 for his next 125cc championship – winning every race he entered that year – and reclaimed the crown in 1981, 1982, 1983, claiming his last world title in 1984.