International Road Race Legend from Yesteryear: Henk van der Mark

The international road racing legend of yesteryear, where has he gone, what is he up to now, and how does he view today's road racing sport? In this section, we ask these former heroes a series of (the same) questions. This week: Henk van der Mark

Who is Henk van der Mark?

Name : Henk van der Mark
Nickname : -
Date of Birth : 10th of Februady 1957
Nationality : Dutch
Current Residence: Rotterdam
Start of road racing career : 1976
Race Classes Active in : Superbike, 500cc Grand Prix, Endurance
Championship Titles: Three-time Dutch Champion (1981, 1986, 1987)
End of road racing career : Retired in 1988, restarted in 2002 with Classic Endurance
Current profession : Transport Entrepreneur

How did you first get involved in road racing?

I wrecked my bike twice on the public roads, both times not my fault. Then I thought, this isn't going to end well – I should get my racing license and only ride on the track. Especially because back then, we only knew one throttle position: full gas, of course.

Which rider did you have the best battles with on the track?

Without a doubt, Gérard Coudray. This was during the Le Mans 24H race in 1984, which we ultimately won. In the 500cc, I also had fantastic battles with Swedish rider Peter Linden. Interestingly, I meet him again now in the Classic Endurance races, where we continue our rivalry as if nothing has changed.

Best motorcycle you've ridden and why?

The Nico Bakker suzuki. We could adjust the steering head on it, and with Proflex suspension and ventilated brake discs (unique for that time), we had an amazing setup at our disposal.

Favorite Circuit you have raced?

Brands Hatch, in my opinion, the most natural and craziest track I’ve ever ridden on.

Favourite circuit you've ridden on and why?

Spa-Francorchamps and Assen. Both have many high-speed corners, which suited me well back then. Interestingly, Michael is the same – he got that from his father.

What is the strangest or most hilarious experience you've had in racing?

There are too many to mention, but here’s one. After our victory at Le Mans in 1984, Hideo Yoshimura, the famous Japanese tuner, invited us to participate in the Suzuka 8H at his expense. We only had to bring our own gear, excluding the engine, which he provided. KLM gave us extra baggage allowance, so we took the bike apart, packed all the parts in regular suitcases, and traveled like that. When we arrived in Japan, customs detained us because they’d never seen a complete bike packed into several suitcases. We were held for 24 hours, but luckily everything was resolved in time, and we made it to Suzuka. An unforgettable experience, even though we had technical issues and had to retire from the race.

Do you have a special memory of racing in the Netherlands?

CMSNL is based in the Netherlands
Of course, the Dutch TT was always very special. Back then, we didn't want to miss any part of the event as riders. We would go to the "Night of Assen" and often didn't get to bed until 3:00 a.m. on race day. But we could manage because the 500cc class raced later in the day, so we didn’t have to wake up too early. Those were wonderful times.

What is the best thing you've gained from racing?

People skills, perseverance, and never giving up. These qualities benefit me every day as an entrepreneur.

What did you do after your active road racing career ended?

I took over a transport company – a family business that’s now over a hundred years old.

Are you still involved in the sport in any way?

Yes, I initially coached and guided my son Michael at the beginning of his career. Now, I’m actively participating again in Classic Endurance.

Which current or past motorcycle would you like to ride?

The BMW M 1000 RR that Michael currently rides. I have ridden a BMW before, but not the current one. I was supposed to race a Classic Endurance event on a BMW this year, but my hip injury prevented it. We’ll aim for it next season.

For which current rider do you have a lot of respect and why?

Toprak Razgatlioglu. Besides his talent and sportsmanship, he’s a fantastic person who remains grounded. No arrogance, just himself – something many could learn from.

Who do you see as the greatest upcoming road racing talent and why?

Again, I’d say Toprak. His control over a bike is exceptional. There are few riders with such skill – it’s a joy to watch him ride.

Who will be the 2024 MotoGP world champion?

I’m rooting for Jorge Martin. Seeing how he’s fought against the odds and keeps coming back is impressive. In my view, he deserves the title.

With your experience, how do you view the current developments within international road racing?

In my time, we sometimes had race weekends where we had to split the class into two or even three races due to the large number of entries. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case, which is a shame. Back then, as a teenager, you could save up your pocket money and earnings from a side job to go racing. Nowadays, you have to start much earlier if you want to progress, which makes beginners dependent on their parents’ support. Also, fewer young people are getting into racing. They’d rather buy a video game and spend hours in front of a screen. This has reduced national participation, and we lack facilities like those in Italy and Spain. Internationally, though, we have two fantastic world championships with impressive technology.

Do you have anything to add?

Yes, I want to compliment the people at BMW Motorrad. Watching how they’ve treated Michael over the last two years with his injuries is something other teams could learn from. Despite the setbacks, they’ve always believed in him, never pushed him to rush his recovery, and even offered him a new contract for 2025. Many teams only focus on the short term, but BMW has never forgotten what Michael has done for them in the past. By giving him time and trust, we’re seeing glimpses of the ‘old’ Michael again. Marc Bongers and the whole team have played a huge and important role, and that deserves to be acknowledged.


This blog was written in collaboration with Racesport.nl

source: https://www.racesport.nl/de...
issued: Wednesday, November 06, 2024
updated: Wednesday, November 06, 2024

link to this page:
https://www.cmsnl.com/news/international-road-race-legend-from-yesteryear-henk-van-der-mark_news11993.html

https://www.cmsnl.com/news/international-road-race-legend-from-yesteryear-henk-van-der-mark_news11993.html