Wil Hartog

Wil Hartog (born 28 May 1948) is a Dutch former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He competed in the Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championships from 1972 to 1981. Hartog was the first Dutch competitor to win a 500cc Grand Prix race.

Motorcycle racing career Born in Abbekerk, North Holland, Hartog became the first Dutchman to win a 500cc Grand Prix when he claimed a victory at the 1977 Dutch TT. When Suzuki factory team rider Pat Hennen suffered career-ending injuries while competing in the 1978 Isle of Man TT, Hartog was hired as his replacement to help their number one rider, Barry Sheene, defend his world championship. However, Sheene was unhappy when his Hartog won the 1978 Belgian Grand Prix ahead of Kenny Roberts and Sheene in second and third places. He challenged Roberts and Sheene during the 1979 season however, he crashed while leading four Grand Prix races and ended the season ranked fourth in the 500cc World Championship.

Hartog won five Grands Prix during his career. Standing over 1,80 meters tall, he was at a disadvantage against his jockey-sized competitors yet he still managed impressive results. With his penchant for wearing all white riding apparel, he was nicknamed The White Giant. Hartog (30) competing in his first World Championship race, leads Walter Szabo (23) and Dieter Braun (11) during the 1970 125cc Dutch TT.

To commemorate the fortieth anniversary of his 1977 Dutch TT victory, Hartog was honored during the 2017 Dutch TT by riding a lap of the Assen TT circuit on the motorcycle he won on, accompanied by Freddie Sheene, the son of Hartog's late teammate, on one of his father's motorcycles.

Wil's nephew, Rob Hartog, is a motorcycle racer who has taken part in the Supersport World Championship and the FIM Endurance World Championship.

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

Races by year (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Pts 1970 125cc Yamaha GER FRA YUG IOM NED BEL DDR CZE FIN NAT SPA NC 0 1972 250cc Yamaha GER FRA AUT NAT IOM YUG NED BEL DDR CZE SWE FIN SPA NC 0 500cc Riemanoc GER FRA AUT NAT IOM YUG NC 0 Yamaha NED BEL DDR CZE SWE FIN SPA 1973 350cc Yamaha FRA AUT GER NAT IOM YUG NED CZE SWE FIN SPA NC 0 500cc Yamaha FRA AUT GER IOM YUG NED BEL CZE SWE FIN SPA 25th 8 1974 250cc Yamaha GER NAT IOM NED BEL SWE FIN CZE YUG SPA NC 0 350cc Yamaha FRA GER AUT NAT IOM NED SWE FIN YUG SPA NC 0 1975 350cc Yamaha FRA SPA AUT GER NAT IOM NED FIN CZE YUG 26th 5 500cc Suzuki FRA AUT GER NAT IOM NED BEL SWE FIN CZE NC 0 1976 500cc Suzuki FRA AUT NAT IOM NED BEL SWE FIN CZE GER 21st 10 1977 500cc Suzuki VEN AUT GER NAT FRA NED BEL SWE FIN CZE GBR 10th 30 1978 500cc Suzuki VEN SPA AUT FRA NAT NED BEL SWE FIN GBR GER 4th 65 1979 500cc Suzuki VEN AUT GER NAT SPA YUG NED BEL SWE FIN GBR FRA 4th 66 1980 500cc Suzuki NAT SPA FRA NED BEL FIN GBR GER 6th 31 1981 500cc Suzuki AUT GER NAT FRA YUG NED BEL RSM GBR FIN SWE 23rd 2