Robert Holden's 10th Anniversary

[Lord Derosso]

Checking out the anniversities tonight and cant believe its been 10 years since the accident. Isle of Man ? . RIP MR Holden.

He was such a great racer and still remember hearing of the loss and know some local members raced with and against him so thought I would post this as he deserves to be remembered accordingly.

Doesn't matter which part of NZ you are from because MR Holden had such an effect on getting road racing popular and was a real legend of Kiwi bikers.

Regards to any of his friends and family on site tonight.

[Madness]

Anniversary.

[Lord Derosso]

Gee thanks for the spelling error remark ! You still haven't told us why you were riding a 1100cc outside your 'current licence restrictions' as per your post the other night.
L Plate??????????

Been other the hill lately or in hiding? Hope to catch up again sometime.

[u4ea]

rip to a legend. ............................always sit on robert holden corner boxing day ,watch em comin out of the ses

[Kornholio]

The first time I seen Robert Holden racing was against the Britten at Manfield Superbike meeting in '92, I only seen him race at Paeroa after that but goddam that man had some balls.... kickin ass in F1 and doing monstrous wheelies up the main st... What a legend

RIP

[u4ea]

gee what awesome memories.holden and the britten ................awesome

[Juan]

Time flies.... didn't realise it was that long ago..always a NZ flag at the accident site.....

[Lord Derosso]

Hi Juan. Is anything being done to make the course safer? I mean we all know thats its suppose to be THE road race and as dangerous as riders make it re their speed and lack of endurance, hence causing spills, BUT I remember some rider hitting a horse one year, and suspect more than one fatality caused by animals on the course. My point is that riders are already in enough danger let alone coming across a horse at 130mph around a corner.
Its really hearting to hear that they still remember Robert Holden on site.
Cheers.

[James Deuce]

It's those sorts of accidents that removed the hybrid circuit/road tracks from top level car and bike racing.

It's those sort of questions that will ultimately result in all forms of motorsport being banned. The Isle of Mann is unique and the risks are accepted by those who enter the race. You can't protect everyone all the time.

Robert Holden wasn't the sort of bloke to shy from a challenge, and racing between stone walls, over a mountain, and through villages was just the sort of thing a great many NZers excel at. Because they accept the risks and then manage them.

[Juan]

Hi Juan. Is anything being done to make the course safer? I mean we all know thats its suppose to be THE road race and as dangerous as riders make it re their speed and lack of endurance, hence causing spills, BUT I remember some rider hitting a horse one year, and suspect more than one fatality caused by animals on the course. My point is that riders are already in enough danger let alone coming across a horse at 130mph around a corner.
Its really hearting to hear that they still remember Robert Holden on site.
Cheers.

There are more air fences this year, but if you just sit on a hedge and watch how fast these guys go between the hedges.... it can never be "safe"
Gene McDonell was the guy who hit the horse, it had been spooked by the helicopter that had landed to pick up a crashed rider...

The lap record was unoficially broken tonight by JM

[Lord Derosso]

What was he riding? Whats the action been like so far?

[Juan]

What was he riding? Whats the action been like so far?

Blade.... some good some very bad, usual mix really....

results here..
http://www.iomtt.com/LiveResults.aspx

[NodMan:Me]

SHIT..that long ago!!

Anybody else remember Robert round the street circuit at Hawkesbury(near blenheim)back early 80s???

not only did he and Hiscock boys blast the field on their Welly M/C hot rod/proddy Suzis BUT then he would come out during the lunch break and lap the circuit on the back wheel just for fun (us mortals could only get airborne over the humpback bridge)

Sure wish I'd seen him on the Isle...he was a true LEGEND....RIP Robert

[emaN]

Hi Juan. Is anything being done to make the course safer?

Those responsible for livestock must keep them a given distance from the road during practice & race week

Unreal that it's been over 10yrs.... geez....

[gav]

Man, I can remember reading about his accident so vividly. It was a cold shitty raining Saturday morning down here, and I was going for a job interview. Running a bit early and stopped and picked up a paper, flipped over to catch how Robert was going (he was racing a Duc Supermono and a 916) and couldnt believe that he had been killed. Just stunned, went for the inteview and just had no chance, just sat there like a stunned mullett!!
Had met Robert a couple of times, I had been on the committee that ran the Port Nelson road races and he came over and raced one year, just him and a mate, van, couple of bikes, just such a natural down to earth guy, nothing was a problem, only too happy to help with radio and newspaper interviews etc. Had met him again at the Sound of Thunder, and later that night watching the speedway next door at Ruapuna, just one of the lads!! Top bloke, certainly missed. He was just really starting to make his mark internationally too, with racing a Triumph at Daytona in the Classic classes etc. He was a guy that should have a crack at WSBK in the early days. He was unfortunate with injuries a couple of times because I think Suzuki had been keeping an eye on him and had some plans for him in Japan.