Former Trackhouse manager Wilco Zeelenberg: “The end wasn’t so pleasant…”

Wilco Zeelenberg is a Grand Prix winner. The 60-year-old from the Netherlands won the 250cc GP at the Hockenheimring in 1990 – to this day, it remains the last victory by a Dutch rider in the middleweight World Championship category. He competed in his final race in 2000 in the Supersport World Championship, where he also worked for Yamaha Europe. From the 2010 season onwards, Zeelenberg was team manager for the Yamaha MotoGP works team in Jorge Lorenzo’s camp; he later went on to work with Maverick Viñales as well. His most recent roles were with the Petronas Yamaha satellite teams and, most recently, the newest team in the paddock, Trackhouse Racing.

As reported, Wilco Zeelenberg had to undergo heart surgery in June. Zeelenberg is now back at work as a TV pundit for the Dutch pay-TV channel Ziggo Sports, where he shares the workload with compatriots such as Barry Veneman. His desire for a job with a team is now rather limited. “I don’t really have any ambitions in that regard. For a long time, my life consisted solely of MotoGP all year round,” the pundit explained with a wink, adding: “I’ve been in the paddock since 1985.”

The Ziggo TV crew won’t be on site with the pundits for the upcoming Asian rounds of the MotoGP World Championship. Zeelenberg: “We’ll be commentating on the races from the studio – which is in Hilversum – which is very convenient for me. I can be at the studio in 30 minutes.” On the demands of working in TV: “We’re on site for ten to twelve races a year.” Regarding his departure as team manager at Trackhouse at the end of 2023 following the arrival of Davide Brivio, Zeelenberg says thoughtfully: “The way it ended here wasn’t exactly pleasant.”

Zuletzt war Wilco Zeelenberg bei Trackhouse Racing beschäftigt

Foto: Gold and Goose

Zeelenberg is now also working in another field alongside his job in private television. “I help young riders in my network with their career planning when they need advice and have to take the next step. My contacts in Spain and Italy, and with people like Emilio Alzamora, are helpful in this regard. I can then ask him if he has any places available for talented riders.”

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Whilst Zeelenberg has no plans for a comeback, another former team manager and interim TV pundit is back in his original role. Francesco Guidotti returned as team manager following his stint in television – at Trackhouse Racing.