Marc van der Straten, the founder and owner of the Marc VDS Racing Team, has passed away at the age of 78.
Van der Straten established Marc VDS in the Moto2 World Championship in 2010, with the team going on to win riders’ titles in 2014, 2017 and 2019. The outfit later expanded into MotoGP in 2017 and also partnered with the Estrella Galicia Moto3 programme.
Today, Marc VDS continues to compete in WorldSBK, Moto2, and the FIM Endurance World Championship, remaining one of the most respected names in motorcycle racing.
The team confirmed the news in a statement on 5 July:
“The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is mourning the loss of its charismatic founder and owner Marc van der Straten, who sadly passed away peacefully at his home in Switzerland this morning.”
Van der Straten leaves behind a lasting legacy in international motorcycle racing, having built Marc VDS into a championship-winning team across multiple categories.
