RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP presents special retro liveries for Zonta van den Goorbergh and Barry Baltus in Assen
The RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP team will be in action at this weekend’s home Grand Prix at the TT Circuit Assen with a very special livery. Home rider Zonta van den Goorbergh will be dressed in the blue and white of the famous Riemersma Suzuki that Wil Hartog used to win the 500cc race in Assen in 1977, while Barry Baltus will start in the colours of his legendary namesake Barry Sheene.
This year the 75th anniversary of the Grand Prix World Championship will be celebrated extensively by Dorna Sports, the organiser of the MotoGP World Championship. At the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on the first weekend of August this will be celebrated, among other things, by having all MotoGP teams ride in a special livery. Initially, the plan was to do this at Assen, the only circuit that has remained on the calendar since the Grand Prix World Championship started in 1949.
RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP team manager Jarno Janssen decided to take matters into his own hands and appear at Assen with a special livery for the team’s home race, and in honour of the sport’s history.
From Saturday morning onwards, Zonta van den Goorbergh will ride his Moto2 machine in the colours of the bike which ‘The White Giant’ Wil Hartog made history with in 1977 by winning the 500cc race at the TT Circuit Assen. Barry Baltus will from then on appear in the familiar colours of two-time 500cc world champion Barry Sheene. Nice detail: the red, yellow and black in this livery corresponds to the colours of the Belgian flag.
Barry Baltus: “Of course, with my first name and the fact that I ride with number 7, it is no big secret that I am named after Barry Sheene. It’s quite an honour to ride in these beautiful colours at the team’s home race this weekend. I think it looks fantastic!”
Zonta van den Goorbergh: “Taking part in the Dutch Grand Prix at the TT Circuit Assen as a Dutchman remains very special. Of course, I grew up with an event like the Dutch TT and I have often seen the footage of Wil Hartog’s victory. I think it is very nice that he is here and I get to ride in his livery this weekend. The result has turned out great and hopefully it will help us towards good performances at the track this weekend.”
Jarno Janssen – RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP team manager: “What can I say, I think our bikes look great with this special livery. I grew up with names like Wil Hartog and Barry Sheene and they are legends of motorsport. I had this idea for a long time but it was not easy to implement it. I think it is important to also celebrate the history of our sport in Assen and I think we have done it beautifully this way. I can’t wait to see our bikes in these colours at the TT Circuit Assen and hopefully it will also bring us a bit of luck. Thank you to those who helped make this project a reality.”
The first time the RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP bikes will be seen in this special livery is Saturday morning during the third practice session, starting at 09:25.