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 1982, 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.

Motocross racing career Early life 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. 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.

Suzuki years 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. Race judges ruled that Wolsink had crossed the finish line first for one of the most spectacular finishes in history of the Carlsbad Raceway. Wolsink in action during the 500cc Dutch Grand Prix on 27 July 1975.

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.

Later career Despite his performance, the Suzuki team released both Wolsink and De Coster at the end of the 1979 season, citing the desire to hire younger riders. Noyce and Malherbe were 10 years younger than the 32 year old Wolsink. In 1979, he worked as the stunt double for actor Rutger Hauer in the motocross scenes in the Paul Verhoeven film Spetters. He returned to race for the Maico team for the 1980 season however, by then the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers had begun to open a technological gap over the European manufacturers and the Maico motorcycles were no longer competitive.

Wolsink received sponsorship from Honda of Netherlands for the 1981 season with the assistance of his former teammate, De Coster, who had been hired by Honda in 1980.

After his motocross racing career, Wolsink returned to the Netherlands to resume his dental career.