21 Facts About Eric Geboers

1.

Eric Geboers was a Belgian professional motocross racer and racing driver.

2.

Eric Geboers competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1980 to 1990, winning five world championships in eleven years.

3.

In 2011, Eric Geboers was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements.

4.

Eric Geboers was born in Neerpelt, Belgium where his father owned a petrol station and sold automobiles as well as mopeds and scooters.

5.

Eric Geboers was the youngest of five brothers who raced motorcycles, including his eldest brother, Sylvain Geboers who finished in the top three of the 250cc motocross world championships for five consecutive years between 1968 and 1972.

6.

Eric Geboers began racing professional motocross in the 1980 125cc motocross world championship for the Suzuki factory racing team managed by his brother Sylvain.

7.

Eric Geboers made an immediate impact by winning the 1980 125cc French Grand Prix in only the second Grand Prix of his career.

8.

Eric Geboers 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.

9.

Eric 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.

10.

In 1982, Eric 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.

Eric Geboers successfully defended his title for Suzuki in 1983 by winning six out of twelve Grand Prix races during the 125cc motocross world championship.

12.

Eric Geboers ended the year ranked fifth in the 500cc motocross world championship behind his three Honda teammates and Kawasaki-mounted Georges Jobe.

13.

Eric 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.

14.

Whitlock convinced Eric Geboers to compete in the 250cc world championship in 1987, with the promise that he could return to the 500cc class if he won the 250cc title.

15.

Eric Geboers won five Grand Prix races to win the 1987 250cc world championship, earning a return to the premier 500cc division.

16.

Eric Geboers's performance earned him the 1988 Belgian National Sports Merit Award and he was named the 1988 Belgian Sportsman of the year.

17.

Aged 28 years, Eric Geboers retired at the top of his sport in 1990 by winning the premier 500cc world championship in his final season of competition.

18.

Eric Geboers won the final race of his career at the 1990 500cc United States Grand Prix.

19.

Eric Geboers won the Le Touquet beach race three consecutive times between 1988 and 1990.

20.

Eric Geboers managed the Suzuki motocross team along with his brother, fielding Belgian riders Clement Desalle and Kevin Strijbos.

21.

Eric 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.