Santiago Herrero

Infobox Former Grand Prix motorcycle rider


Caption =
Name = Santiago Herrero
Nationality = Spain
Years = 1968 - 1970
Teams = Ossa
Races = 17
Championships = 0
Wins = 4
Podiums = 11
Points =
Poles = N/A
Fastest laps = N/A
First race = 1968 250cc West German Grand Prix
First win = 1969 250cc Spanish Grand Prix
Last win = 1970 250cc Yugoslavian Grand Prix
Last race = 1970 Isle of Man TT

Santiago Herrero (May 9 1943—June 8 1970) was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was born in Madrid, Spain.

Biography

At the age of 12 Santiago Herrero bought his first motorcycle. In 1962, he obtained his racing license, competing on a Derbi and doing his own maintenance. He soon moved up to a Bultaco Tralla 125 and caught the eye of Luis Bejarano, the owner of Lube (a Spanish motorcycle marque) who recognized Herrero's talent. Bejarano offered him a job in the company's competition department. In 1964, Herrero finished in third place in the 125cc Spanish National Championship and in 1965, he finished in second. Unfortunately, the Lube marque ran into financial difficulties and went out of business.

Herrero decided to go into business for himself, running a motorcycle repair shop in Bilbao. He purchased a Bultaco and competed as a privateer.

Around this period, Eduardo Giró, lead designer of the Ossa motorcycle company developed a revolutionary bike with a monocoque chassis. Recognizing Herrero's riding talent as well as his mechanical skills, Giró offered him a job to develop the Ossa 250cc race bike. Together they won the 250cc Spanish National Championship in 1967.

Grand Prix Championship

In 1968, he would move up to compete in the 250cc Grand Prix world championship. Although the single cylinder Ossa had 20 HP less than the powerful V4 Yamahas of Phil Read and Bill Ivy, the Ossa was 45 pounds lighter and its monocoque frame was much stiffer, giving it superior agility. The Yamahas swept the championship but, Herrero left no doubt that the little Ossa was quick and dependable. He finished seventh in the championship and claimed a third place in the final race of the season at Monza. He would once again take the 250cc Spanish National Championship.

1969 would be a big year for Herrero. He began the year winning his first Grand Prix at the opening race of the season in front of his countrymen at Jarama. After retiring from the German Grand Prix with mechanical problems, he returned with a victory at Le Mans. He followed this with third place at the Isle of Man TT, a considerable accomplishment considering his horsepower deficit on the infamous Snaefell Mountain Course. He triumphed again at Spa and was leading the championship points race when he was beset by bad luck. He crashed in the rain at the Ulster Grand Prix and suffered a broken left arm. Most observers considered his championship hopes dashed, but Herrero showed true grit by coming back to finish in a remarkable fifth place at Imola. At last race of the season in Yugoslavia, he held a one point lead in the championship. He started the race in the lead but crashed on the seventh lap, ending his championship hopes. He would finish third in the World Championship. He repeated as Spanish 250cc champion for a third consecutive year.

Herrero got the 1970 season off to a promising start. Although, he retired from the first race of the season in Germany, he finished in second in France and took a victory in Yugoslavia. The Grand Prix circus then moved to the treacherous Isle of Man venue. Tragically, Santiago Herrero crashed at the 13th Milestone (Westwood Corner) when lying in 3rd place on the last lap of the 250cc Lightweight TT Race during the 1970 Isle of Man TT Races. After experiencing a "tank-slapping" ["Isle of Man Courier" pp2 dated 19th June 1970] wobble, Santiago Herrero collided with Stanley Wood and crashed into a hedge. As a result of the accident Stanley Wood suffered a broken ankle and two broken collar-bones ["Mona's Hearld" pp2 dated 16th June 1970] and Santiago Herrero died of irreversible shock and from his injuries two days later. ["Isle of Man Courier" pp2 dated 19th June 1970] The cause of the accident was described by Stanley Wood as "may have been melting tar on the bend." ["Isle of Man Courier" pp2 dated 19th June 1970] He was 28 years old. His loss affected the Ossa factory so much that they abandoned racing altogether. Spain had lost one of their first racing heroes.

=Motorcycle Grand Prix results cite news | url=http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Santiago+Herrero | title=Rider Statistics - Santiago Herrero | publisher=MotoGP.com | accessdate=2008-08-31 ] =

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