Jarno Saarinen

Jarno Saarinen was a Finnish professional motorcycle racer, born on 11 December 1945 and raised in Turku. He competed in the FIM Grand Prix world championships from 1968 to 1971 as a Yamaha privateer and then with full factory support in 1972 and 1973. In 1972 he won the 250cc World Championship after winning four of the last six races, and he finished second in the 350cc class behind Giacomo Agostini, whom he beat at the Nürburgring German Grand Prix. He is known for a distinctive riding style, keeping his chest low over the tank and shifting his body and knee to the inside of a corner, which influenced Kenny Roberts. He was killed at the 1973 Nations Grand Prix in Italy, a death that increased demands for safer racing conditions. He remains the only Finn to have won a solo motorcycle road racing world championship and was inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame in 2009.