It is 1987, Rob and former Suzuki teammate Bob Toomey are hustling around the Wanganui ‘Cemetery circuit.’
Toomey would become crew chief to 2000 world 500cc champion Kenny Roberts Junior, while Rob Holden would also go on to be well-known in Europe – but for different reasons.
Holden was on the highly modified ex Bob Brown Eurobike Ducati Pantah TT2 850 and Toomey on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike. That day Rob shared the Eurobike Ducati with international journalist Alan Cathcart. Today the Wanganui event includes the Robert Holden Memorial Trophy: fitting…
Rob also raced a Ducati 851 at the NZ World Superbike round at Manfeild that same year while his initial foray racing Harley-Davidsons with success began during the 1989 season. Holden was, by now, sponsored by Dallas Rankine under his BMS banner, with additional assistance from Ducati agent Don O’Connor of Eurobike Wholesale.
The acquaintance led to Robert being invited to race in Europe in 1988 on a Bob Brown Ducati racing for Luke Taylor in the UK – world recognition wasn’t far away for Robert Lorne Holden… after all, he’d won most things in New Zealand.
The world stage…
Rob rode a Suzuki GSX-R750 during his first Isle of Man visit, the 1988 Senior TT. In 1989 he raced a Bob Brown Ducati in the UK, the same year he raced a Britten at Daytona to fifth in the Battle of the Twins race. He made his one and only 500cc Grand Prix appearance during the 1989 British GP on a Honda RS500, where he qualified 26th and finished a tidy 17th.
Rob soon landed a
