By The Netherlands has a strong history at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough, with many of the nation’s top pure road racers tackling over the past 75 years, the tight, twisty 2.43 miles long roads course.
Back in 1978, five times 500cc Grand Prix winner Wil Hartog claimed Oliver’s Mount Racing’s biggest prize, scooping the coveted Gold Cup crown.
Fast forward 35 years and another popular Dutch racer made the long trip to Scarborough, the much missed Jochem Van Den Hoek.
Back in 2013 following an impressive maiden Southern 100 tenure, Van Den Hoek took in the two day Cock O’The North Road Races, competing on a Ice Valley Racing by Motorsave Ltd supported R1 Yamaha.
Chipping away his knowledge, pace, confidence around England’s only active road race circuit, Van Den Hoek went onto take a top 20 finish within the showpiece Cock O’The North encounter, alongside taking victory in the Solo Non Finalists race.
To this day Van Den Hoek, second fastest Mountain Course newcomer at TT 2016, success remains the last victory by a rider from the Netherlands at North Yorkshire’s ‘Mini TT’.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
