Jarno Saarinen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nationality | Finnish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born |
Turku, Finland |
11 December 1945||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 20 May 1973 Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy |
(aged 27)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jarno Karl Keimo Saarinen (11 December 1945 – 20 May 1973) was a Finnish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He is the only Finn to win a motorcycle road racing world championship. Saarinen died as a consequence of a crash involving another rider when racing in Italy.
Early in his career Saarinen won the Finnish ice track racing championship. Saarinen was also an accomplished motorcycle speedway racer. He had studied mechanical engineering and thus could modify his bike in addition to riding it. For example, in order for him to ride using his "hang-off" style, he lowered the handle bars and angled them downwards at an extreme angle.
Saarinen began his Grand Prix career during the 1970 season, at the age of 25. He finished fourth in the 250cc class, despite missing the last three races to return to his engineering degree studies - before a DNF at the Finnish TT he was tied for second. In 1971 Saarinen competed in both 250cc and 350cc classes. He won his first Grand Prix that year, claiming the 350cc class in Czechoslovakia. He finished third in 250cc World Championship and second in 350cc.
His success didn't go unnoticed as Yamaha signed him to ride its TD3 and TR3 bikes, For the 1972 season, Saarinen was given the second YZ635 works 250 after Barry Sheene complained about its performance at the third round in Austria and delivered as expected, winning the 250cc World Championship. He finished second in 350cc World Championship, giving defending champion Giacomo Agostini a strong challenge.