Ginger Molloy (88): New Zealand’s first 500cc World Championship runner-up has died

Rugby is undisputedly New Zealand’s number one national sport. So it is no wonder that, as a teenager, William Garth Molloy, like many of his peers, was captivated by the game. In his home town, he played for Huntly United in the Rugby League in the late 1950s. One of his team-mates at the time was Hugh Anderson, with whom he also shared an interest in motorbike racing.

Anderson quickly established himself as a top rider in Europe. In 1963, the New Zealander – who had been promoted to Suzuki works rider – became double world champion in the 50cc and 125cc classes. In 1963, he claimed his third world title in the so-called ‘shot glass’ class, and in 1965 he once again left his rivals trailing in the 125cc category.

Spurred on by his friend’s successes, Molloy also took the plunge and headed to Europe to try his luck. After some impressive results in international races, he made his debut in the World Championship at the Ulster Grand Prix on a Bultaco 250; not only that, but Molloy even managed to secure his first World Championship point by finishing sixth.

For Molloy, who was soon known simply as ‘Ginger’ because of his shock of red hair, Ireland proved to be fertile ground, as just one year after his World Championship debut he won the quarter-litre class race at the Dundrod Circuit. With eight points, the Bultaco rider finished tenth in the final World Championship standings.

Grand-Prix-Sieger Ginger Molloy

Foto: Archiv/Helmut Ohner

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After a mixed 1967 season, things went considerably better the following year. Following second-place finishes in Spain and the Netherlands and a fourth place in Ireland, he finished third in the 125cc World Championship behind the Yamaha works riders Phil Read and Bill Ivy. In the 250cc and 350cc classes, he ultimately finished fifth in each.

After another year to forget, a season followed that could hardly have gone much better for the affable New Zealander and proved to be the finest of his remarkable career. Riding his Kawasaki H1R in the 250cc class in 1970, he was only beaten by the unbeatable Italian Giacomo Agostini on his legendary MV Agusta.

This success made him a legend, particularly in New Zealand, as he was the first rider from that small country to become runner-up in the premier class. In 1971, Keith Turner achieved this feat, and in 1973 it was Kim Newcombe, riding a home-built machine fitted with a König engine, who finished the World Championship in second place.

After eight years, he packed his bags with his wife – whom he had met in Europe – and returned to his homeland. Molloy only made an appearance in Europe on special occasions. He continued to race in New Zealand until the age of 71. It was only a serious head injury that forced him to scale back his activities. He died in mid-September at the age of 88.