International Road Race Legend from Yesteryear: Jurgen van den Goorberg

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

Jurgen vd Goorberg Racing

Who is Jurgen van den Goorbergh?

Name : Jurgen van den Goorbergh
Nickname : -
Date of Birth : 29th December 1969
Nationality : Dutch
Current Residence: Rojales, Spain
Start of road racing career : 1988
Race Classes Active in : Dutch 250cc Championship, European 250cc Championship, 250cc Grand Prix, MotoGP, WorldSSP, WorldSBK
Championship Titles: -
End of road racing career : 2005
Current profession : Manager & coach, real estate entrepreneur (realtor)

How did you first get involved in road racing?

My father was a racer, and so was my brother Patrick, so I naturally got involved as well. Initially, we were active in trials before transitioning to road racing.

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

That would be Max Biaggi in the European Championship when we were competing for the title in the 250cc class. Those were some incredible battles.

Best motorcycle you've ridden and why?

The Konica Minolta Honda in MotoGP—it was an absolute beast of a machine.

Favourite circuit you've ridden on and why?

Phillip Island. The fast corners and the unique layout always suited me well. I usually found my rhythm quickly there and achieved some great results.

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

CMSNL is based in the Netherlands
Definitely, the Dutch TT was always very special. Especially in the premier class, riding the Rizla Honda, I even led the race briefly. It was a short moment, but it was incredible to experience. And of course, racing in front of the home crowd was always one of the highlights of the season.

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

That would probably be in 1999 on the MuZ during the Dutch TT. On the old Veenslang, there was a slight left kink that you took flat out, not even sticking your knee out. At that point, I crashed at 286 km/h. Suddenly, I was on the ground, sliding across the asphalt. I started on my left side, but it got too hot during the slide as my suit began to wear through. I managed to roll over onto my right side and ended up in the grass. Luckily, I didn’t hit anything. Crashing at that point is practically impossible. Photos showed the front tire had come off the rim—something must have exploded, but it all happened in just tenths of a second. They took me back to the medical center, but I only had a scrape on my back. During the next session, I managed to improve my lap time on my second bike. In hindsight, it was a hilarious moment, and I probably still hold the record for the fastest crash at Assen.

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

The memories. You experience so much over the years. I could write a book about it, and I wouldn’t trade that period for anything.

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

I stayed primarily active in motorsport and initially dived into the Dakar adventure. I’ve competed in the Dakar Rally over ten times, on bikes, in cars, and even in a truck.

Are you still involved in the sport in any way?

Yes, of course. For the past eight years, I’ve primarily focused on managing Zonta’s career.

Jurgen with son Zonta on the grid

Which current or past motorcycle would you like to ride?

A modern MotoGP machine—specifically, the latest Ducati MotoGP bike. It would be fantastic to experience what it’s like to ride a bike with so much electronics and other technology.

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

If I have to name one, it would be Jorge Martin. Winning the world title this year as an Independent Team rider after so much adversity says everything about what a fighter he is.

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

In the Netherlands, of course, it’s Collin and Zonta. Internationally, Pedro Acosta. We’re going to hear a lot from him in the future. What that guy can do on a motorcycle is incredible. That he rated himself a 5/10 for his rookie season in MotoGP says it all. He was a bit wild at the start of the season, but what he’s already shown in the MotoGP class promises a lot for the future.

Who will be the 2025 MotoGP and WorldSBK world champions?

In WorldSBK, I’m going with Toprak [Razgatlioglu] again. What he’s shown this year is incredible, and I think he’s only going to get better. In MotoGP, there are three contenders: Francesco Bagnaia, Marc Márquez, and Jorge Martin. If I had to choose, I’d say Martin will give the other two a hard time. If Aprilia can provide him with a competitive bike like at the start of last year, then the two Ducati factory riders will have their hands full with him. Also, I expect tension in the Ducati Lenovo Team garage. Two absolute top riders in one team is, in my opinion, asking for trouble.

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

Internationally, the level in Grand Prix racing is incredibly high. The margins are very small—too small, in my opinion. It’s all become extremely professional, and the bit of amateurism that existed in my time is completely gone. The level is so high that the pressure on riders, especially in Moto2 and MotoGP, is immense from the very first session of a Grand Prix weekend. Riders can hardly afford to make a single mistake; otherwise, they’ll be playing catch-up for the rest of the weekend. Sometimes I wonder if it’s all gone too far and if we’re putting too much pressure on the riders.

Do you have anything to add?

Yes, I’d like to say that, in addition to what I mentioned earlier, we’ve gone way too far with all the electronics and aerodynamic components. We can’t blame the manufacturers—they’re just using the room they’re given within the rules. But I think it’s overboard, and it’s only a matter of time before something goes seriously wrong. In my opinion, they should have acted on this much sooner and not waited until 2027.

This blog was written in collaboration with Racesport.nl

source: https://www.racesport.nl/de...
issued: Thursday, December 05, 2024
updated: Thursday, December 05, 2024

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