Nico Bakker GTR750 Suzuki's

Rob Bron on the Bakker HRD GTR750 at Daytona in 1975.

Here we have all the Bakker GTR750's at one spot. The HRD ones have a horizontal monoshock, the other 3 have a vertical mounted shock. All the frames still exist. The Rob Bron bike was found a few years ago and is perfectly restored by the current owner.

Bakker HRD GTR750 type 1

Bakker HRD GTR750 type 2

HMC Bakker TR750

Manniën Motors Bakker GTR750

Bakker GT750

Bakker HRD Suzuki TR750 (2)

Nico Bakker made a beautiful alloy fueltank for the Bakker HRD TR750. 

For more information and pics see 

Bakker HRD Suzuki TR750

Bakker HRD Suzuki TR750

Yesterday when I was searching on the Dutch auction site Marktplaats this bike popped up. I had to look twice, because I always thought that it was scrapped. This is one of the HRD Suzuki TR750's made by Derk Haan who had a company called Haan Racing Development (HRD). It was ridden by Willy Dijkema and Rob Bron and sponsored by Nauta Motoren. Rob Bron raced it at Daytona in 1975 in his famous golden racing outfit as a member of the Dutch Daytona Racing Team. He had some problems with it, first the front wheel broke, after that the crank lost his life and after a 30 hour spannering marathon by Derk and Willy he managed to qualify. After 16 rounds in the race the expansion pipes broke and that was the end of his 1975 Daytona adventure. This is not a factory TR, the engine is a tuned GT750 and the frame is made by Nico Bakker. I did some bidding on the bike, but someone had more luck and after a while the advertisement was removed. Could this be one of Rob Bron his old bikes? Hope to see the bike somewhere in the near future!
Update 20-5-2020: According to the new owner it is Rob Bron's old bike.
For more pics see
Bakker HRD TR750
and
Nico Bakker GT/TR750

Rob Bron

Rob Bron was in 1971 the first Dutchman to gain a podium place in the 500cc class, during the TT in Assen he finished as second behind Giacomo Agostini. He would finish third in the World Championship that year behind Agostini and New Zealander Keith Turner. Agostini was the only one in those days who raced with factory material (MV Agusta). The others, including Bron, raced on  production racers. He was racing a Suzuki TR500 under the flag of Dutch Suzuki importer Nimag. Bron is since 1971 the best-classed Dutch racer in the 500cc class. Wil Hartog, Boet van Dulmen and "Jumping" Jack Middelburg did not equal this.
He is still the holder of the maximum speed record at Daytona, in 1978 he topped a lap at 342 kph. He ended his career in 1985. From that time he started a motorcycle shop and racing service. His nickname was "Rough Robbie".
Rob Bron died in 2009 at the age of 64.
For more pics see
Rob Bron