William Garth "Ginger" Molloy, an acclaimed international motorcycle racer, has passed away at the age of 88.
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According to Haven Funerals, Molloy passed away on Sept. 16. No cause of death or further details were provided.
Born in 1937 in New Zealand, Molloy grew up in a mining town called Huntly. And while this town wasn't one known for motorcycle racing, he began making a name for himself in the early 1960s. This led to him departing New Zealand and heading to Europe in 1963, thus kicking off a race-winning career.
The man known as Ginger due to his hair spent six weeks traveling to Southampton, England, with his Matchless G50, a toolbox, and a suitcase. As he told motor.nl, he spent more time repairing ship engines than sunbathing, but he successfully made it to his destination.
Ha fallecido el neozelandés Ginger Molloy, un histórico del motociclismo español.
Aunque su mayor éxito fue el subcampeonato mundial de 500cc en 1970 tras el imparable Giacomo Agostini con la mítica Kawasaki H1R, hasta ese año había competido siempre con Bultaco, logrando dos… pic.twitter.com/CwNtSpYiW6
— Swinxy (@Swinxy) September 17, 2026
Molloy spent about 10 years competing in professional motorcycle racing, and he successfully represented the Spanish brand Bultaco while facing off with better-funded riders. For example, he won the 1966 Ulster Grand Prix (250cc class).
Molloy also raced on British single-cylinder motorcycles, Yamahas, Harley-Davidsons, and Kawasakis during his career.
He achieved particular success with his Kawasaki H1-R 500 while becoming the first New Zealand racer in history to finish runner-up in the 500cc World Championship. He finished behind Giacomo Agostini, the undisputed ruler of the class.
"(Agostini) had a team, a truck, mechanics — everything," Molloy told motor.nl in 2007. "I had a bike, a toolbox, and a few friends who knew their way around an engine.
"But I was having fun, and that's worth more than money. Plus, I returned to New Zealand with a wife and three children."
Molloy ultimately returned to New Zealand after his stint in the World Championship, but he continued to race around the world. He competed in the United States, New Zealand, Asia, and Australia. He also launched a motorcycle business in Huntly.
The 66-time winner remained involved in motorsports into his 70s while competing in classic motorcycle races. He was inducted into the Motorcycling New Zealand Hall of Fame in 2014.
