The year 1981
A little boy, named Daniël Willemsen, drove his first meters on an 50cc Honda with a home made side car attached to it his brother Marcel was riding with him as his passenger. These boys were only 6 and 4 years old and had recently learned how to ride a bike, now it was time for the real thing. Father Berry, who was also a sidecar cross driver, looked thrilled as he saw his two sons driving around.

The year 1985 Then when they were ten and eight years old the source was replaced by 80cc Honda and father Berry had told the boys how to drive and how to be a good passenger and they drove their first races. Because a special youth class for the sidecars has never existed they simply started with the solo's and also all the way in the back. Extremely handy they drove their combination up front and possibly then, the base has been laid for their unprecedented competence in catching up with anyone and anything.

The year 1990
The Willemsen brothers decided they wanted to try and drive for an organisation. The problem was that they were too young too start with the big organisation in Holland, the KNMV. So they tried to get a license at the MON, there they were accepted and they started out in the Junior Class. There age is now 15 and 13 years old. They won 3 races in a row and they were promoted to the senior class, were they became 14th at the end of the season. Everybody knew the Willemsen brothers by now... a promise for the future of sidecar cross.

The year 1992
In 1992, they became third in the end of the MON listings.

The year 1993 in 1993, they gained the Dutch champion title, 17 and 15 years young. No one else then they were entitled to that title, because of the 80 manches which were held, they won 70! Almost was also the European Title from the IMBA on their name, but it was a close call and the tile went to Marc Leysen/Jac Bax. The last race in Switzerland was cancelled because of heavy rain fall. This was the last season for Dani‘l and Marcel at the MON, they moved on and next season they would start at the KNMV.

The year 1994
At the MON they were done and in 1994, they signed themselves in again at the KNMV.
There they were in the meanwhile also persuaded of the talent of the Willemsen brothers and they got immediately all facilities to build at their career. They could start in the competition for the Dutch championship; however they had to start the first two races as from the second row. In the second race for the Dutch championship in Oldebroek they ensured a complete surprise as they were coming from the second row and finished as the winners Nevertheless there was still one problem, Marcel was not yet eighteen years old and could therefore according to the regulations of the FIM not take part in Grand Prix. Then Daniël decided to take part with Reinier van Stuyvenberg in his first GP. In spite of the very tough sand circuit and a new passenger he gained a Second place in his first Grand Prix act, immediately behind the Belgian winners Gunther Govaerts/Sven Verbrugge.

The year 1996
By their outstanding performances the boys could not be made crazy and continued building quietly to their career.
Their first complete Grand Prix season they drove in 1996, but because Marcel broke his shoulder in the French Ahun the results were rather changeable. However, they gained two triumphs, one in France and one in Belgium and they finished in the world championship 12th.

The year 1997
In 1997, they set off seriously to the world title. On June 29th they won their first Grand Prix in Estonia, and then one week later this was in Latvia once more repeated. With still three Grand Prix to go they stood on first position in the standings for the World Championships Title. And the also young riders Kristers Sergis/Artis Rasmanis were second. It seemed as if their first world title was seriously within range.

Unfortunately it went wrong, during a race for the open German championship in Aichwald they crashed hard during the start and both continued lying unconscious. Marcel was also once more run over by another combination and incurred a heavy concussion and at three places he brook his cheekbone. Daniël also incurred two broken back spines and a concussion. Marcel was transported by trauma helicopter to the hospital in Esslingen; Dani‘l was brought by ambulance to a hospital 80 kilometres from his brother. Due to their heavy accident they had missed the Belgian Grand Prix as a result of which point delay incurred. But only one month after their accident they took their positions in the Czech Grand Prix. The last Grand Prix in the Dutch Oss Daniël drove with Sven Verbrugge, but in spite of a victory they finished on the third place for the world championship that year behind Kristers Sergis (1) and Alois Wenninger(2).

The year 1998
In 1998, the fight for the world championship went purely between Willemsen and Sergis.
In the second last Grand Prix in the Dutch Lierop they had brought back their delay to one miserable point. The last race in the German Rudersberg had to bring the decision.Considerably nervous Daniël and Marcel came to the start and Sergis took the head in a tough race. Daniël and Marcel then afterwards came back on their well-known way to a spectacular race but at an attempt to pass Sergis they were pressed off the track. With a totally exhausted Marcel they still came on a third position over the finish line. The world title went again to Sergis-Rasmanis and the Willemsen brothers became second. That year Dani‘l and Marcel became Dutch champion for the first time. For their particular performance Dani‘l and Marcel received the Ben Majoor Trophy by the KNMV as most talented youthful team.

The year 1999 Daniël and his brother Marcel were determined to take the world title home this year. Last year they missed it by a few points and bad luck, but that was all going to change. The season started out good and they won several races, one after another. The Result? They became world champion after the first heat in., Switzerland! With lots of fireworks, produced by all the fans that came along from Holland, Dani‘l and Marcel took the last jump and became World Champions!!

It looked as if it wouldn't get any better than this, but something came up... Sergis/Rasmanis (Latvia) went to the jury for a protest; the Dutch boys would have had help on the track so they said, and they had film footage to prove it. So Daniël had to go to the jury room with Kristers Sergis and a long hour of insecurity, disbelieve and stress began. Briefly for the start of the second heat the releasing answer came; the protest was not explained receptive and Willemsen preserved its points, and so the brothers were still world Champs. The second heat was about to start and Dani‘l and Marcel decided to take sportively revenge on Sergis. In the second heat, at a distant jump on full speed, Marcel however hurt his knee and instead of winning the heat Marcel had to the hospital and they couldn't finish the race. Time to go home.. Afterwards Sergis/Rasmanis made their protest pending at the FIM. They also lost this one and Willemsen/Willemsen were officially World Champion 1999.

During the annual party the KNMV in 1999, awarded the Hans de Beauforttrophy to Daniël Willemsen because of gaining its world championship. This trophy, named after an engine sportsman who was shot in the war, is only granted to Dutch motocross driver which has achieved something exceptional. Standing there Dani‘l dedicated this trophy to his brother.

The year 2000
After their first world title the future of the boys saw particularly rosy. In the spring of 2000 they drove to the Italian track Tinolo to practice, and on Friday afternoon the 25th of February something terrible happened what would separate the ways of the two brothers definitively. At a fast jump their engine shot from acceleration and the combination fall hard. Daniël had a broken collarbone; his brother on the other hand had much more serious injuries. At the fall he broke a back spine and his seventh chest spine. That resulted in an incomplete paralysation. Daniël set off to the Netherlands after one week, but Marcel had to stay behind in an Italian hospital. When they came home the family realised the full seriousness of the matter because it looked as if Marcel would never walk again.

It was Marcel himself who, from the hospital in Italy, Daniël exhorted to continue, but with another passenger. The first Grand Prix of the season 2000 Daniël had already missed, but he appeared the following race to the start! The very experienced Belgian passenger Sven Verbrugge, with whom Dani‘l already once earlier had driven, was an excellent substitute for Marcel and they won the first Grand Prix whom they drove! Marcel didn't have the intension of sitting at home watching tv either, he started to come back in the world of sidecarcross. He was getting stronger each day en also started practice on a sidecar he changed a bit, so he could drive it more safely. He did all this so fast and good that by the end of 2000, Marcel drove on a normal sidecar again. Only 10 months after that terrible accident, Marcel Willemsen recovered more than even the doctors had hoped for!

The year 2001
The familiarisation to the new passenger cost more effort than Daniël had expected. On Marcel he trusted blindly and their style had been exactly coordinated in the course of years. Sven Verbrugge was a very experienced passenger and for this reason they had often difference of insight what led to mutual discussions.
But once on the engine, they went purely for the victory. For this reason the cooperation between both was continued and they were both highly motivated and intended to catch the World Title. But the season started badly, with technical problems as a result of which they sunk back to a provisional sixth place and also this impacted on the mutual relations. A very strong second half of the season brought them back to the second place and the world title went to Sergis. As a plaster on the wound Daniël could call himself, for the third time, Dutch Champion.

There was no longer a good understanding within team Willemsen, and it seemed for both Dani‘l and Sven better to go from each other. Particularly sad, because undoubtedly Daniël was best driver and Sven the best passenger but they must form of course a strong team. When also still an important sponsor pulled out it became not very easy for Daniël, but at the correct moment Ejo Elburg came to reinforce the team as their manager.

The year 2002
In the winter months Daniël went in search for a new passenger and after long tests with several candidates the choice fell eventually on the Belgian Alfons Eggers. Although the beginning was promising, they won the first Grand Prix of the season, appeared nevertheless already fast that Alfons could not continue the murderous tempo of Daniël. Sometimes it went good, it frequently went badly. Halfway the season Alfons himself indicated he wanted to stop and brought Daniël in the difficult position that he had to find a passenger. Were could he find a good passenger in the middle of the season? Fortunately a couple phone calls with Sven Verbrugge were sufficient to make him decide to temporary take place in the sidecar with Daniël. Also Bart Notten jr was temporary his passenger, and the season was completed with the Belgian passenger Dagwin Sabbe. Dani‘l became Dutch Champion, European Champion and, for the third time vice World Champion.

The year 2003
What now, Daniël thought because suitable passengers are difficult to find. Already rapidly came from an unexpected angle the solution. Reports that Daniël was looking for a passenger reached of course also Latvia. And the former passenger of Sergis, Artis Rasmanis, suggested to Daniël, this still unknown but ambitious and just 20 year old person, Kaspars Stupelis. Rapidly Daniël came to the German ckuff to drive a number of rounds and it did not last long before Daniël was persuaded of the qualities of Stupelis.

Many people thought this was not going to work, this boy was very young. Stupelis appeared with Dani‘l in Halle for the first time, they were going strong and Kaspars showed he had character; it looked as if Dani‘l had found the correct partner. A week later the first Grand Prix took place in Spain and Daniël and Kaspars drove well. The rest of the season was extremely exiting between Sergis and Willemsen. On 24 august 2003 in the Dutch Lichtenvoorde for the second time the world title was gained. Beside their world title Dani‘l and Kaspars became also once more European champion sidecar cross for country teams.

And they also became Dutch Champions. The Hans de Beaufort trophy of the KNMV is only distributed at exception, someone who receives him twice is still more exceptional. Though Daniël Willemsen received this trophy again in 2003, and nobody looked surprised.

Daniël Willemsen remains a miracle in motor sports because his talent goes much further then only sidecar cross. He has a 125cc Suzuki solo engine and loves to drive solo. On two, three or four wheels, it does not matter, Dani‘l always throws himself for the full hundred percents in the fight and that makes him particularly loved by motorsport fans all the way. No wonder that in 2003 he was the winner of the semi-official title: all-round motor sportsman of the year!

The year 2004
Daniël showed himself strong again this season, but by missing one heat in Spain he was behind a lot of points with Sergis. In the German Aufenau reversal came when Sergis made a heavy crash and
was eliminated for a long time. Daniël and Kaspars built up a very strong position and already three races before the end of the competition their world title was a fact. This race took place in Latvia, the home country of Kaspars and an ultimate dream for Kaspars came true. But then at the start of the first heat a bizarre fall party occurred. Daniël took head start but beside him was his brother Marcel who left exactly this way, rapidly. In first turn it were both brothers who touched each other and Marcel came heavily at fall.

He was wounded and an ambulance arrived. Marcel was treated however at the track and managed to start in the second heat with a broken cheekbone, a concussion and a broken jaw! After a ceremony in Lochem (with many people) and the last GP's, both Dani‘l and Marcel heard that their passengers both wanted to stop. Marcel found a new passenger in Bart Notten jr. but for Daniël the search was a bit more difficult. Kaspars wanted to go home to Latvia and he told Dani‘l he was going to be the new passenger for Kristers Sergis. Daniël called Sven Verbrugge and he immediately said yes, this duo is meant to be a success he said This season the Dutch and World title both went to Daniël Willemsen and Kaspars Stupelis. Daniël also participated in the contest for allround motor sportsman of the year. A lot of fun and laughter that day and Dani‘l ended on a second position. Again he showed that it can be fun to try everything!

The year 2005
After Kaspars Stupelis left the team, Daniël looked for another passenger. He also had contact with Sven Verbrugge whom he knew very good allready. After a few talks and training , they decided to start the new season together. The dream for Sven was to become the first Belgium World Champion and he knew he had a good change to become that with Daniël Willemsen. Daniël looked for an experienced passenger, and he knew Sven was one of the best. Unfortunately Daniël got an injury on his leg and had to have surgery, so the first race in Harfsen for the Dutch Championship they could not participate. But they showed everybody what they were made of in the following races for both the Dutch and World Championship.

They became World Champions in Dardon Geugnon in France with one more race to go and they managed to become 3rd in the Dutch Championship at the end of the season. Next year, in 2006, Daniël and Sven will try to win the World Title again and also go for the Dutch Title.