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Gerrit Wolsink
Gerrit Wolsink (born 3 March 1947) is a Dutch former professional Grand Prix motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1968 to 1981, most prominently as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team alongside five-time World Champion Roger De Coster. A two-time 500cc Class Vice Champion, Wolsink was one of the top competitors in the 500cc Motocross World Championships. He is notable for winning the 500cc United States Motocross Grand Prix five times within a six-year span.
Wolsink was born in Hengelo, Gelderland where his father operated a shop that sold bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles and automobiles. His uncle was former motocross racer Bennie Hartelman, who had raced a BSA Gold Star motorcycle in the 500cc Motocross World Championships against former World Champions such as Sten Lundin and Bill Nilsson during the 1950s and 1960s. As a young boy, Wolsink spent time attending motorcycle races with his uncle which helped to spark his interest in racing. He began motocross racing using modified 50cc mopeds.
Wolsink progressed to racing as a privateer aboard a Husqvarna motorcycle in the Dutch national championships however, his mother insisted that he should graduate from university. He was able to finance his education by racing motocross during the summer months. At the age of 21, Wolsink won the 1968 Dutch National Championship and competed in his first Motocross World Championship event at the 1968 500cc Austrian Grand Prix riding a Husqvarna motorcycle. At the 1968 500cc Dutch Grand Prix, he placed ninth in the first moto (heat race), then he scored an impressive fourth-place finish in the second moto ahead of former World Champion, Jeff Smith (BSA).
Wolsink graduated from university with a dental degree in Periodontology at the end of 1972 but, put his dental career on hold to fully commit to becoming a professional motocross racer. When Åke Jonsson left the Maico factory team to join Yamaha's 500cc team after the 1972 season, Wolsink was hired to replace him alongside teammates Adolf Weil and Willy Bauer. The first overall victory of Wolsink's career came in his first race as a Maico team member at the season opening 1973 500cc French Grand Prix, where he took the win ahead of Oldrich Hamrsmid (ČZ) and teammate Bauer.
After placing fifth in the 1973 500cc World Championships, Wolsink participated in the 1973 Trans-AMA series in the United States. The Trans-AMA was an international series established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States. He won Round 2 held in John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and finished the series in second place behind his Maico teammate Adolf Weil.
Wolsink was contracted ride for the Suzuki factory racing team as defending champion, Roger De Coster's teammate for the 1974 season. In 1974, Wolsink won the first of what would be four consecutive victories at the Carlsbad Raceway, site of the 500cc United States Motocross Grand Prix. Wolsink was leading Husqvarna factory team rider Heikki Mikkola on the final lap of the second moto with Mikkola gaining rapidly. Wolsink lost control of his motorcycle and crashed as he reached the finish line, just as Mikkola was about to pass him. Race judges ruled that Wolsink had crossed the finish line first for one of the most spectacular finishes in history of the Carlsbad Raceway. His 1974 Carlsbad victory brought him to international prominence due to the race being broadcast on ABC's highly rated Wide World of Sports television program.
Mikkola eventually won the 1974 500cc Motocross World Championship with Wolsink ending the season ranked fourth in the world. After the world championship season, Wolsink returned to the United States to compete in the 1974 Trans-AMA motocross series where he won Round 4 in Orlando, Florida and finished the series in second place behind his Suzuki teammate, De Coster.
In 1975, Wolsink improved to third in the 500cc World Championship as his teammate De Coster won his fourth title with Mikkola in second place. He won his second consecutive 500cc United States Grand Prix in 1975 as well as victories at the 500cc British Grand Prix and his home Grand Prix in the Netherlands. For the third consecutive year, he placed second in the Trans-AMA series in the United States, as his teammate De Coster claimed the 1975 series win.
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Gerrit Wolsink
Gerrit Wolsink (born 3 March 1947) is a Dutch former professional Grand Prix motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1968 to 1981, most prominently as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team alongside five-time World Champion Roger De Coster. A two-time 500cc Class Vice Champion, Wolsink was one of the top competitors in the 500cc Motocross World Championships. He is notable for winning the 500cc United States Motocross Grand Prix five times within a six-year span.
Wolsink was born in Hengelo, Gelderland where his father operated a shop that sold bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles and automobiles. His uncle was former motocross racer Bennie Hartelman, who had raced a BSA Gold Star motorcycle in the 500cc Motocross World Championships against former World Champions such as Sten Lundin and Bill Nilsson during the 1950s and 1960s. As a young boy, Wolsink spent time attending motorcycle races with his uncle which helped to spark his interest in racing. He began motocross racing using modified 50cc mopeds.
Wolsink progressed to racing as a privateer aboard a Husqvarna motorcycle in the Dutch national championships however, his mother insisted that he should graduate from university. He was able to finance his education by racing motocross during the summer months. At the age of 21, Wolsink won the 1968 Dutch National Championship and competed in his first Motocross World Championship event at the 1968 500cc Austrian Grand Prix riding a Husqvarna motorcycle. At the 1968 500cc Dutch Grand Prix, he placed ninth in the first moto (heat race), then he scored an impressive fourth-place finish in the second moto ahead of former World Champion, Jeff Smith (BSA).
Wolsink graduated from university with a dental degree in Periodontology at the end of 1972 but, put his dental career on hold to fully commit to becoming a professional motocross racer. When Åke Jonsson left the Maico factory team to join Yamaha's 500cc team after the 1972 season, Wolsink was hired to replace him alongside teammates Adolf Weil and Willy Bauer. The first overall victory of Wolsink's career came in his first race as a Maico team member at the season opening 1973 500cc French Grand Prix, where he took the win ahead of Oldrich Hamrsmid (ČZ) and teammate Bauer.
After placing fifth in the 1973 500cc World Championships, Wolsink participated in the 1973 Trans-AMA series in the United States. The Trans-AMA was an international series established by the American Motorcyclist Association as a pilot event to help establish motocross in the United States. He won Round 2 held in John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and finished the series in second place behind his Maico teammate Adolf Weil.
Wolsink was contracted ride for the Suzuki factory racing team as defending champion, Roger De Coster's teammate for the 1974 season. In 1974, Wolsink won the first of what would be four consecutive victories at the Carlsbad Raceway, site of the 500cc United States Motocross Grand Prix. Wolsink was leading Husqvarna factory team rider Heikki Mikkola on the final lap of the second moto with Mikkola gaining rapidly. Wolsink lost control of his motorcycle and crashed as he reached the finish line, just as Mikkola was about to pass him. Race judges ruled that Wolsink had crossed the finish line first for one of the most spectacular finishes in history of the Carlsbad Raceway. His 1974 Carlsbad victory brought him to international prominence due to the race being broadcast on ABC's highly rated Wide World of Sports television program.
Mikkola eventually won the 1974 500cc Motocross World Championship with Wolsink ending the season ranked fourth in the world. After the world championship season, Wolsink returned to the United States to compete in the 1974 Trans-AMA motocross series where he won Round 4 in Orlando, Florida and finished the series in second place behind his Suzuki teammate, De Coster.
In 1975, Wolsink improved to third in the 500cc World Championship as his teammate De Coster won his fourth title with Mikkola in second place. He won his second consecutive 500cc United States Grand Prix in 1975 as well as victories at the 500cc British Grand Prix and his home Grand Prix in the Netherlands. For the third consecutive year, he placed second in the Trans-AMA series in the United States, as his teammate De Coster claimed the 1975 series win.