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Remember the Flying Dentist

Gerrit Wolsink interview

Posted on December 20, 2018

Nobody had ever hooked into the Carlsbad circuit in Southern California like Dutchman Gerrit Wolsink. With four USGP wins around the rock hard Carlsbad circuit no single man had dominated at the United States Grand Prix like the Dutchman. 

Wolsink arrived on the Grand Prix scene around the same time as legends Roger De Coster and Heikki Mikkola, and despite never reaching for the FIM gold medal like his two rivals the flying Dutchman did win 13 GP overalls, placing him 16th in the all-time winners list for 500cc machines, every man ahead of him had at least one World Motocross championship to his name, while behind him came Brad Lackey, Bengt Aberg, Andrea Bartolini, Shayne King and Graham Noyce, all former World 500cc champions. 

Wolsink would not retire disappointed, the fact he had raced side by side with the likes of De Coster and Mikkola was proof enough he belonged in amongst the legends.  Wolsink finished near the top of the World 500cc championship enough times to smell the taste of championship glory, and in his homeland is still considered one of the most important people in the sport of Motocross.

He was known as the flying dentist, raised in the socially warm country of Holland in Europe Gerrit Wolsink became one of the most exciting riders of his era. He spilt his blood in an era which saw seeing the Motocross powers turning to America. At a time when the Europeans were still the best in the World Wolsink was one of the riders on the front line against the every improving Americans.

Who will ever forget the knee dragging shot of Wolsink at his beloved Carlsbad, or the shots of him pushing his more illustrious team-mate Roger De Coster around the tough circuits of Europe? Going two 45-minute motos and still looking sharp at the end.

"For sure, back in the mid-70's I was as quick as anyone. Because I rode for Suzuki I knew I had the best bikes, and my speed was always good, didn't matter if it was sand, rock-hard or whatever."

America was more than likely the most interesting stop for Wolsink, girls, sun and a place called Carlsbad fitted into his plans. He might have been the quiet Dutchman, but on the treacherous Carlsbad layout the Dutch dentist let it rip.

"I would spent three or four weeks in America in the summer because we had the USGP then a month later the Canadian Grand Prix. In the winter I would spent three months in America, I did that for six-years in a row, and I loved it. I hadn't been back for a long time, I got to go back for the Las Vegas Supercross, which was interesting."

"In 1976 I was blocked by a rider for two heats for the complete race, the tracks were very dusty in those days, at the old track at Ettelbrook, I passed this guy twice and he crashed into me. I never got angry, but he cost me the World championship that year. We had a rule that we didn't get involved in the fights for the championship, this guy just went out to stop me being World champion, and I’ll never forget what happen."

"I talked to Honda in America, but the AMA locked up that the European riders couldn't go to America and rule. Jimmy Weinart was behind that. They were scared that if too many European riders went to America that we could stop them making money. I really was a long way along with Honda to race in America in 1975 or something like that. Then they came back to me and told me the AMA didn't want anyone from Europe racing there anymore, only the guys who were already involved, guys like Pierre Karsmakers. I didn't care I had a good deal with Suzuki in the Grand Prix, and to be honest Europe was the top level then, we were the best riders in the World. The money in America was getting better back then though, although Europe was also good back then."

While Wolsink dominated the USGP winning in 1974/5/6 and 1979 the Dutchman also suffered losses at the Carlsbad circuit. Even in the depth of his career he lost out to the Finnish ironman Mikkola, and again to two young Americans Chuck Sun and Marty Moates.

"Carlsbad was a really interesting place, you knew you were in America, and the American riders didn't ride with the same discipline as the Europeans, they didn't mind trying stuff. I remember back in Carlsbad in 1981, Roger De Coster was team manager for the Honda team, and I was on a semi-factory team. Roger asked me if I would like to race the USGP for the factory team over in America, and I remember in the first heat I started too late, and I got second and Chuck Sun won the USGP, I finished second. That really upset me, I mean to win the USGP was normal for me, and here I was riding for the factory Honda team and I couldn't win it. I just got a bad start in both motos and in the second heat I crashed in the start. The American riders were so wild, in Europe we rode so smooth, and those guys were stop and go, and we were more technical, always thinking. You could out trick the Americans, they were not that smart back then. We saw guys like Hannah and Smith improving, and once those guy's improved they were just too good for us."

While Woslink watched and wondered if the Europeans could duplicate the improvement of the Americans he also looked at ways to bring the new breed of American riders to Europe. It was at the Amsterdam stadium in early 1980 that Wolsink was part of history, bringing the first ever Supercross race to Europe. While everyone looks at Bercy as the threshold of European Supercross races it was in fact an event which included names such as Broc Glover and Mike Bell.

"I remember after Ricky Johnson won the USGPs and he came to me and was saying he was nearly as good as me, now RJ was a hero for me, although he was younger he rode the Supercross races I promoted in Europe, and he was all show. Ricky was such a class guy, and one night we were sitting around and he said he won a GP at Carlsbad and he was nearly as good as Wolsink, which meant a lot to me."

As good as Wolsink was, battling the best in the World, and on the odd occasion winning, the Dutchman never looked at himself as anything but an average rider.

"You don't realise how good you were, but now I see how difficult it was for the guy's I sometimes work with, how hard it is for them, I realise how good I was, and how good guys like De Coster were. Still I worked hard to get to the top of Grand Prix racing, we all did, it was 100% commitment, with not the same payback they have now, maybe that is also a problem, we did it more for the passion of winning, than for the money, sure the money was important, but times have changed, it is so easy now for a young rider to make a living from Motocross."

And as for the young riders of today, Wolsink doesn’t see them putting in the effort and time to make it. They want it now, while riders from the 1970s took the hard route, and it paid off.

"I think the youngest riders don't take the time to get to the top, they want to get to the top quickly, too quickly. If they put more thought into racing, how to prepare, how to get into the position of being at the top maybe we wouldn't see so many accidents and rider injuries. Look at what happened in France, they had so much help with their young riders, with Jacky Vimond helping out and Boneface working with the young riders, but that has also stopped, the French are not bringing in riders like they used to. Australia obviously are doing something, we in Holland have tried several times, but it does not always work out. They tried it in Italy back in the early 1990's, but again I'm not sure if the effort there anymore."

After retirement, Wolsink got into promoting and even worked with current MXGP promoter, Giuseppe Luongo.

"I was 35-years-old and I had lost interest, I had injuries, I was a full-time dentist, so I just got out, stood on the side, although I am very involved now. I did some promotions, ran some Supercross races, the first one in Europe that was in Amsterdam, back in the early 1980. I also worked with Giuseppe Luongo on his Masters series, rode the ISDE, then I was in the side again before I was the clerk of the course at the 1993 International Six Day Enduro in Assen, Holland, that was terrible, we had so much rain, the routes were terrible, so much politics. The FIM asked me to be in the Motocross commission, I always said no."

One of the very good Grand Prix riders of the 1970s, and still often seen at a GP event, the Dutch dentist will always be remembered for his domination of the American and GP riders in the burning heat of southern California and around the Carlsbad dust bowl.

Dealing With The Challenges Of The Dakar

Reed in for Suzuki Factory

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) and JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing is excited to announce its race teams for the 2019 Monster Energy Supercross series. Geared up for the 450 class is two-time 450 Supercross Champion Chad Reed and Justin Hill. In addition, Alex Martin will join Jimmy Decotis, Kyle Peters, and Enzo Lopes in the 250 class. The four-rider 250 program will race with the all-new 2019 Suzuki RM-Z250.

Weston Peick, a 450 class favorite, will also return to the JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team for his fifth year. However, due to a serious injury at the Paris Supercross in November where he suffered multiple facial injuries, Peick will not be competing until he is healthy and ready. Peick is hopeful to return to the track this season but until then, he will be signing autographs and meeting fans at various Supercross races.

Fan favorite Chad Reed (#22) continues with the JGRMX team for the 2019 Supercross season. Fourth on the all-time Supercross win list, with 44 main event victories, Chad Reed is easily one of the most popular riders in the paddock and will contest the 17-round 450 Supercross series on a Suzuki RM-Z450. The 36-year-old had a busy off-season, sweeping the S-X Open in New Zealand and capturing the International FIM Oceania Championship. He looks to carry that success into 2019.

After several successful 450 class outings in 2018, Justin Hill (#46) will now race the Suzuki RM-Z450 full-time during the 2019 season.

Justin Hill, the 2017 Western Regional 250 Supercross Champion, is moving up to the 450 class full-time in 2019. The Yoncalla, Oregon native contested several 450 Supercross rounds in 2018 and served notice by logging fast qualifying times and running up front. The 23-year-old is poised and confident heading into Anaheim 1 on January 5th.

Armed with Suzuki's new RM-Z250, Jimmy Decotis is back with the JGRMX 250 West Supercross effort for 2019.

Jimmy Decotis returns to the team for his second year. The Peabody, Massachusetts native earned a podium at the Dallas Supercross and positioned himself as a title contender, before sustaining a back injury midway through the series. Decotis is focused and ready for a great 250 West Supercross campaign.

Sporting a new competition number and teaming with Decotis in the 250 West Supercross championship, Brazil's Enzo Lopes (#67) is also on the new RM-Z250.

Brazil’s Enzo Lopes raced the 2018 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship under the JGRMX/Suzuki umbrella. The 19-year-old is excited to contest his rookie season of Supercross on the Suzuki RM-Z250. Lopes will join Decotis in the 250 West series.

New to Suzuki and JGRMX, Alex Martin (#26) has already put in the time and effort to get fast on his new RM-Z250.

Alex Martin, out of Millville, Minnesota, has three podiums and eight top-five finishes in his Supercross career. The 29-year-old has enjoyed a successful off-season with the JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team and is gunning for the 250 East series crown, which begins on February 9th in Minneapolis.

Joining Martin in the 250 East Supercross championship, Kyle Peters (#55) has surgery behind him and is ready to take on the new season.

Kyle Peters was the feel-good story of the 2018 Supercross series. The Greensboro, North Carolina resident showed determination and resilience by finishing third at the Foxborough Supercross, while racing with multiple torn ligaments in his knee. Peters underwent surgery and is eager to get back on the Supercross podium. He will join Martin in the 250 East series.

“Chad Reed is a consummate professional, and I see that he has that hunger to win,” said Jeremy Albrecht, JGRMX/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing team manager. "I’m also eager to see Justin Hill race in the 450 class. The kid is an incredible talent. He has really ramped up his training program this off-season. I am looking forward to Weston Peick lining up to the gate when he’s healthy. Peick is a tough person and fierce competitor.”

Albrecht continued, “In the 250 class, we scored a win and three podiums with three different riders in our first year as Suzuki’s 250 factory effort in 2018. With Decotis and Peters returning to the team, Lopes making his Supercross debut, and proven veteran Martin on the team, I expect bigger things in 2019. The all-new Suzuki RM-Z250 is an outstanding platform, and all of the guys are very happy with it.”

Stefan Everts - Recovering

Posted on December 17, 2018

Great news came in today from Belgium. The condition of Stefan Everts, who was struck by malaria, is evolving favorably. His condition is no longer critical. That is why it is no longer necessary to sediment the 10 time world champion motocross. 

Everts is still in the intensive care department of the University Hospital in Leuven, where he is closely monitored and where only family members are admitted. About the effects of malaria (the investigations continue) or about the duration of the recovery, nothing can be said at the moment.

MXGP Injury News: Glenn Coldenhoff

Glenn Coldenhoff suffers a big setback

Friday 14, December 2018

The Grand Prix contingent have been rather quiet in recent weeks; riders have been logging countless laps in remote locations to prepare for the upcoming term. Glenn Coldenhoff had been doing exactly that with his new team, Standing Construct KTM, too, but suffered a major setback in training today.

"To avoid some speculation and dramatising, Glenn Coldenhoff had a crash today in Lommel," the Standing Construct KTM outfit declared on social media. "He has compressed vertebrae but has no further complications of it. He also has a fracture in his wrist, which needs no surgery. He will be back soon at his Motocross of Nations speed."

There is no word on a recovery time at this early stage. One would presume that he'll be up against it to return and be at his best by the time that the first round of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship, the Grand Prix of Patagonia-Argentina, rolls around on the first weekend in March though.

Lake Havasu WCGP

Blayne Thompson takes us for a ride around the notoriously tough Lake Havasu race track in Arizona during the final WCGP race of 2018. The Chaparral Motorsports, Precision Concepts, Kawasaki Team Green rider was caught out off the start when Zach Bell’s downed his Husky in the first corner. Thompson picked up around 11^th, eventually catching third placed Trevor Stewart. The two pitted on different laps and the Precision Concepts pit crew did a great job getting him out in third position.

A few laps later, Thompson fell in the swampy waters on the edge of the lake with the bike on its handlebars, causing havoc with the controls. With throttle issues, Blayne pushed on back past Stewart and back onto the podium. Thompson’s third place meant third overall in the FMF Big 6 Series having also wrapped up the Heavyweight AA championship on his KX450 with a top-ten finish on Saturday.

“I was feeling really good coming into the weekend thinking I could get a podium or a win out here.” Said Thompson after the Havasu race weekend. “We ended up coming out with a third, so I’m not going to complain about that. I felt like I was riding better than that third, but I had a couple issues and went down, so I can’t complain about anything. 

“I was caught sleeping a little bit [off the start], but came into the corner halfway decent. Then, Zach [Bell] crashed in front of me so I ended up hitting his bike. I tried to pick off people every lap and stay on two wheels.

“Coming into the straightaway next to the lake, the mud was getting really deep. I swapped out and the bike shot me off and I landed on my head. That slowed me down for a good twenty seconds. I had to get the bike off of me, turn it around and get going again. 

“Then, Dalton [Shirey] was pushing me into Trevor [Stewart] big time. When I saw Dalton coming and I had to go because that was third place in the championship right there. If he got around me he would have got third. 

“But I wasn’t going to let that happen so I sent it that last lap and ended up getting Trevor for third.”

Italy To Host 2020 FIM International Six Day Enduro (ISDE)

Parc fermé Chile 2018. Photo: Dario Agrati

The FIM has informed FMI (Italian Motorcycling Federation) that the request by Moto Club Alfieri to organise the ISDE has in 2020 been accepted.

The FIM has informed FMI (Italian Motorcycling Federation) that the request by Moto Club Alfieri to organise the ISDE has been accepted.

The dates are still being defined, but the Six Days will certainly take place between the end of August and the beginning of September, over the Piedmont and Lombardy regions. Moto Club Alfieri will organise the event in collaboration with other FMI clubs, and they are already working to prepare a memorable ISDE. The Six Days will be making its return to Italy (after the 2013 edition in Sardinia) in a territory with a strong Enduro tradition.

Jorge Viegas, FIM President expressed his satisfaction: “Italy has a lot of experience in the organisation of the FIM ISDE, as the country will be hosting the competition for the ninth time since its origin in 1913. Italy’s experience and affection for Enduro is a guarantee of success for the 94th edition!”

Giovanni Copioli, FMI President added: "I am really proud, both as president and as a passionate motorcycle fan, that the FIM ISDE will return to Italy. Six Days is a unique competition because of its history and the challenge between national teams. Furthermore, after the victories in Chile, there is a lot of enthusiasm. Congratulations to the Moto Club Alfieri! We wish to give big encouragement to all the clubs that organise this event. All eyes of the Enduro world will be focused on Italy and there is no doubt that the ISDE will have a great (economic and not only) impact on the areas where the race will be held.”

Franco Gualdi, FMI Enduro Committee Coordinator concluded, added: "In our country there is a lot of passion for Enduro. The organisation of a second edition of the ISDE in Italy within just a few years’ time bears witness to this. Six Days is a great event for hundreds of enthusiastic amateur riders who will surely come to Italy. Moto Club Alfieri and the other clubs have a lot of experience and expertise to organise this big event.”

The Moto Club Alfieri is already hard at work with club President, Giorgio Bandoli, concluding: "We are very proud and excited to organise the 2020 FIM ISDE. In 2015 we had the idea of asking to host the Six Days and now we are already working very hard on it. We are enjoying a great collaboration with other clubs.”

Josh Strang Goes Green In 2019

Josh Strang and his Team Babbitt’s/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green Team.

Josh Strang has signed on with th new Team Babbitt’s/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green that will see the former GNCC champion contest the 2019 GNCC and Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series.

Kawasaki USA will continue it's long and successful racing relationship with Team Babbitt’s Online where they captured eight of the last nine AMA Arenacross Championships from 2010-2018. Joining the team aboard his all-new KX450 motorcycle will be former GNCC XC1 Champion and current Full Gas Sprint Enduro Champion Josh Strang.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to ride the all-new KX450,” said Strang. “It’s exciting to join a team like Kawasaki, who believe in the potential of my riding and my results. I rode Kawasaki’s in Australia for many years before moving to the U.S. to race, so it’s really gone full circle for me. I can’t wait to get back on a brand that helped start my career and continues to provide support, which is a big part of succeeding," the Australian concluded.

“We have been working hard to put these programs together and re-establish our presence in the off-road segment,” said Team Green Manager Ryan Holliday. “Having the opportunity to continue our successful relationship with Team Babbitt’s Online and be involved with the GNCC series was an easy decision for us. The combination of having a great new KX450 model, experienced riders and the knowledge of our team staff gives us the potential for success right away.”

Team Babbitt’s/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green along with the Team Green trackside support crew will take on the treacherous terrain of the Big Buck GNCC season opener in Union, South Carolina on February 24, 2019.

Cole Seely Returns

Cole Seely is working hard to come back into the AMA Supercross series with confidence and good results, after an injury riddled 2018 seaso. Heading to Torino this weekend for the supercross, the American had done some preperation in California