Eric Geboers
| Eric Geboers | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Born | 5 August 1962 Neerpelt, Belgium |
| Died | 6 May 2018 (aged 55) Mol, Belgium |
| Motocross career | |
| Years active | 1980 - 1990 |
| Teams | Suzuki, Honda |
| Championships | 125cc- 1982, 1983 250cc- 1987 500cc- 1988, 1990 |
| Wins | 39 |
Eric Geboers (5 August 1962 – 6 May 2018) was a Belgian professional motocross racer and racing driver.[1] He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1980 to 1990. Geboers is notable for being the first motocross competitor to win world championships in the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc divisions.[2] His 39 career Grand Prix victories ranks him fifth overall among motocross world championship competitors.[3] In 2011, Geboers was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.[4] Geboers died in a drowning accident in 2018.[5]
Biography
Nicknamed The Kid, Geboers began racing professional motocross in the 1980 125cc motocross world championship for the Suzuki factory racing team managed by his older brother and former world championship competitor, Sylvain Geboers.[6] He made an immediate impact by winning the 1980 125cc French Grand Prix in only the second Grand Prix of his career.[7] He went on to win two more Grand Prix races in Germany and Czechoslovakia to finish the season ranked third in the championship behind Harry Everts and Michele Rinaldi.[7][8] Geboers won three more Grand Prix races in the 1981 125cc motocross world championship, improving to second place in the championship behind Everts, who had successfully defended his title.[9][10] In 1982, Geboers dominated the second half of the 125cc motocross world championship season by winning five of the last six Grand Prix races to claim his first world championship for Suzuki.[11][12] He successfully defended his title for Suzuki in 1983 by winning six out of twelve Grand Prix races during the 125cc motocross world championship..[13][14][15]
In 1984, Geboers advanced to the premier 500cc motocross world championship as a member of the powerful Honda factory racing team that included the reigning world champion André Malherbe as well as David Thorpe and André Vromans.[16] He ended the year ranked fifth in the 500cc class behind his three Honda teammates and Kawasaki-mounted Georges Jobé.[17] Geboers improved to third place in the 1985 500cc motocross world championship behind his Honda teammates Malherbe and Thorpe and, this result was repeated in the 1986 world championship with the three Honda teammates capturing the top three results in the season final standings.[18][19]
Geboers then switched to the 250cc class and won five Grand Prix races to win the 1987 250cc world championship.[13] The following year, he won his first of two FIM 500cc World Championships to become the first competitor to win FIM world championships in all three classes.[5][6] His performance earned him the 1988 Belgian National Sports Merit Award and he was named the 1988 Belgian Sportsman of the year.[6][20] Geboers retired at the top of his sport in 1990 by winning the premier 500cc world championship in his final season of competition.[13] Geboers won the final race of his career at the 1990 500cc United States Grand Prix.[13]
Geboers also won the Le Touquet beach race three consecutive times between 1988 and 1990.[21]
After his retirement from motocross racing, Geboers began a career in sports car endurance racing, competing in the 2001 and 2002 FIA GT Championship in events such as the 2001 FIA GT Jarama 500km and the Spa 24 Hours in 2001 and 2002. Geboers managed the Suzuki motocross team along with his brother, fielding Belgian riders Clement Desalle and Kevin Strijbos.
Death
Geboers died on May 6, 2018 in a drowning accident on a lake in Mol, Belgium after jumping off a boat to save his pet dog.[2][5] Geboers immediately had difficulty and failed to surface.[5] Rescue crews recovered his body the next day.[5] The dog, a recent gift from his wife, reportedly survived.[5]
References
- ^ "Eric Geboers career profile". mxgp.com. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Eric Geboers". suzuki-racing.com. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Mickael Pichon interview - Legend". mxlarge.com. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ^ "FIM Legends" (PDF). fim-live.com. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "RIP Five-Time World MX Champion Eric Geboers". dirtbikes.com. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ a b c "Remembering Eric Geboers". amcn.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ a b "1980 125cc motocross world championship race winners". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "1980 125cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "1981 125cc motocross world championship race winners". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "1981 125cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "1982 125cc motocross world championship race winners". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "1982 125cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d "RIP Eric Geboers". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ^ "1983 125cc motocross world championship race winners". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "1983 125cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Ray (2003). Motocross Racers: Thirty Years of Legendary Dirt Bikes. ISBN 9780760312391. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "1984 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "1985 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "1986 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Eric Geboers: One of the Best Motocross Riders of all time". newsbeezer.com. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Le Touquet Enduro results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 26 November 2020.