Mechanics: Henk Zanting
The drivers are always in the spotlight, no matter how good they are. Without a good mechanic, the motocross bike cannot achieve its performance. That's why we want to put a technician in the spotlight once a month. That is this month Henk Zanting.
MXMag: Introduce yourself:
HZ: “My name is Henk Zanting and I come from De Wijk in Drenthe. From this season I will be working at Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing.”
MXMag: How did you get into motocross:
HZ: “That happened because of my older brother who raced. As a boy I went to see the big names of that time, Andre Malherbe and Dave Thorpe. I was very impressed by the HRC event at the time.”
MXMag: Which riders/teams have you worked for:
HZ: “That's a nice list, starting with Klaas Hofstede, Marcel Hartman, Omar Bolle and Jason Prins. I then ended up at Gebben Racing-Van Venrooy-Kawasaki where I worked with Toms Macuks, Maxime Desprey and Alessandro Lupino. I recently switched to Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing with Sven van der Mierden, Micha Boy de Waal and Raivo Dankers as the riders.”
MXMag: What is your position within your current team:
HZ: “Technical coordinator; I am responsible for the technology and management of the mechanics in the workshop and on the circuits.”
MXMag: Highlight as a mechanic:
HZ: “Then I go back to my time with Marcel Hartman. As a small team, the rider and the mechanic, complete the Grand Prix and try to qualify. That was a wonderful time! But I also think back with great pleasure to finishing twelfth during the first round of the French GP in Ernee. Desprey rode a great race and that also applies to Lupino's seventh place earlier this year during the British GP.”
MXMag: Favorite Tool:
HZ: “Oops, I can't choose between the Haan Wheels spoke wrench and the Nepros T-key 8.”
MXMag: Never stand in the pit lane without:
HZ: “Backpack ;)”
MXMag: Best pit board shout:
HZ: “Relax, no stress.”
MXMag: Prefers to tinker with two-stroke or four-stroke:
HZ: “Now the 4-stroke, but that took a while.”
MXMag: Who is the world champion among mechanics:
HZ: “Cliff White was once a mechanic for legends such as David Bailey and Jean Michel Bayle. He has been active at American Honda for many years.”
MXMag: Finest GP:
HZ: “I found out in Italy! Maggiora, Arco di Trento or actually almost any hard track in Italy! Those Tifosi, the delicious food and the beautiful courses.
Thank you for your cooperation!
By: Steven van Kempen/KEMCO
Photo: Gebben Racing
Also to read
An update on Camden MCLellan's injury
South African Triumph factory rider Camden McLellan broke his fibula in Agueda and has to sit out a number of races. However, his start to the season went well and he was even able to ...Langenfelder is going to try it this weekend
Last weekend during the mud festival, Simon Langenfelder was injured. The GasGas rider crashed in the early stages of the second moto and broke his collarbone. The German is finished…Ferruccio Zanchi makes his return this weekend
Good news for Ferruccio Zanchi and Team HRC because the Italian makes his return this weekend. The 17-year-old motocross rider crashed during training before the Grand Prix in Sardinia...Kawasaki comes with a factory team in the MX2
Good news from Kawasaki because from 2025 the Japanese brand will field an official factory rider(s) in the FIM MX2 World Championship. This will happen under the banner of IceOne Racing. It …
Your reactions