1974
Van Veen, who was developing a big Wankel engine powered motorcycle, decided to stop the 50cc racing activities. Jan de Vries' Van Veen Kreidler was ridden by Dutch national champion Henk van Kessel, who had done well on his private Kreidler, and he was managed during 1974 by Jan de Vries. Jan Bruins had switched from Monark to Jamathi. Van de Zeebroeck rode an older type Van Veen Kreidler.
First GP of the season was in France, where Van Kessel led from start to finish. Second was Rudolf Kunz (Kreidler), then 3. Othello Buscherini (Malanca), 4. Herbert Rittberger (Kreidler), 5. Gedlich (Kreidler) and 6. Ulrich Graf ( Kreidler).
The top racers boycotted the GP of Germany on the Nurburgring because of safety concerns, and so the 50 cc was won by Ingo Emmerich (Kreidler), with 2. A. Teuchert (Kreidler), 3. W. Golenbeck (Kreidler), 4. P. Rüttjeroth (Kreidler), and 5. W. Fries (Kreidler).
Next race was the GP of Italy, where Van Kessel (Van Veen Kreidler) again took the checkered flag first, with 2. Jan Bruins (Jamathi), 3. Buscherini (Malanca), 4. Graf (Kreidler), 5. Huberts (Kreidler), and 6. C. Lusuardi (Villa).
Of course the Dutch TT was NOT won by Van Kessel, and the sequence was; 1. H. Rittberger (Kreidler), 2. H. v. Kessel (Van Veen Kreidler), 3. J. Bruins (Jamathi), 4. R. Kunz (Kreidler), 5. S. Dörflinger (Kreidler) and 6. H. Hummel (Kreidler).
Francorchamps was won by G. Thurow (Kreidler), followed by 2. H. v. Kessel (Van Veen Kreidler), 3. R. Kunz (Kreidler), 4. J. v.d. Zeebroeck (Van Veen Kreidler), 5. J. Huberts (Kreidler) and 6. C. v. Dongen (Kreidler). Jan Bruins' Jamathi had 2 bhp more than the previous year, but was 20 seconds slower than in 1973, unexplainable!
In Sweden Henk van Kessel (Van Veen Kreidler) won, with 2. H. Rittberger (Kreidler), 3. J. v. d. Zeebroeck (Van Veen Kreidler), 4. G. Thurow (Kreidler), 5. O. Buscherini (Malanca), and 6. u. Graf (Kreidler).
In Finland it was V. d. Zeebroeck (Van Veen Kreidler) who won, with 2. Kunz (Kreidler), 3. Graf (Kreidler), 4. Thurow (Kreidler), 5. Dörflinger (Kreidler) and 6. Timmer (Jamathi). Van Kessel had a very bad start, and while trying to close the gap he fell off.
Next race was Czechoslovakia, where Van Kessel (Van Veen Kreidler) won, which gave him the world title. He was followed by 2. J. van de Zeebroeck (Van Veen Kreidler), 3. G. Thurow (Kreidler), 4. H. Hummel (Kreidler), 5. H. Rittberger (Kreidler) and 6. T. Timmer (Jamathi).
Next race was Yugoslavia, which was won again by Van Kessel (Van Veen Kreidler), with 2. Van de Zeebroeck (Van Veen Kreidler), 3. Graf (Kreidler), 4. Thurow (Kreidler) 5. Kunz (Kreidler).
Last GP of the season was Barcelona, and Van Kessel (Van Veen Kreidler) won, with 2. Rittberger (Kreidler), 3. Van de Zeebroeck (Van Veen Kreidler), 4. Thurow (Kreidler), 5. Graf (Kreidler) and 6. Dörflinger (Kreidler).
The world championship was won by Henk van Kessel (Van Veen Kreidler), second was Herbert Rittberger (Kreidler) and third Julien van de Zeebroeck (Van Veen Kreidler).
J.Kortekaas 2006
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