We have been informed of the death from the Motocross icon and six-time World Champion Jöel Robert from Belgium. Robert was hit by the Corona virus a few weeks ago and ended up in hospital for this. Robert was released from the hospital again to recover at home. There, tragedy struck and Robert fell into a coma a few days later. Again, Robert was hospitalized and his life was soon feared. On 13th of January 2021 Robert has died. Robert can be seen as one of the greatest Belgian pilots both within Belgium and far beyond and enjoyed a huge crowd of fans worldwide. Robert competed all over the world from Russia to America and everywhere you can imagine in Europe. Robert was born on November 24, 1943 in the Walloon town of Grandrieu, on the border with France. Robert was literally brought up with the Motorsport on his plate, because his father was also a very experienced motorcycle racer. Robert made his debut in 1959 with the Belgian Motor Association (BMB) in the 50cc class. Robert would have liked to start active Motocross earlier, but the strict legislation within Wallonia prevented him from doing so. From 1961 Robert already drove the 250cc Inters with a Greeves. Strikingly Robert made his international debut in the Netherlands, in the Drenthe town of Dwingeloo, not very far from Assen. On Whit Monday, May 22, 1961, Robert was at the start during an International 250cc Motocross together with the former European Champion 250cc Motocross, the German Fritz Betzelbacher and his Maico Team and fellow countryman Karl-Heinz Matthes and, among others, the Dutch Rudi Boom, Frits Selling and Jan van de Hoek. Betzelbacher had started the day before during the race for the European Championship 250cc Motocross in Prague / Sarka and drove all night to be on time in Dwingeloo. Robert was also more or less introduced to the (Dutch) sand for the first time, but quickly gained the spotlight. In the first moto Robert finished with his Greeves within the top five, but in the second moto he dropped out with the well-known “sand eating”. The engines and filters were not yet optimally equipped for this at that time.
Also in 1962 Robert rode in the 250cc Inters with a Greeves.
In 1963, Robert appears for the first time in the results with a Greeves and ends in 28th place in the final standings for the 250cc Motocross World Championship. But Robert faced a long conscription as a soldier in the army and could therefore not compete in all the matches for the World Championship. Robert became world champion in the 250cc class no less than six times in 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972. Robert became three times Vice World Champion in the 250cc class in 1965, 1966 and 1967. His main competitors in those years were Torsten Hallman, Victor Arbekov, Sylvain Geboers and Hakan Andersson. Especially with his fellow countryman Sylvain Geboers, tensions once ran very high and the two support groups were not always friendly to each other.
In 1965 Robert amazed friend and foe by beating the reigning World Champion in the 500cc class, the Englishman Jeff Smith, in the first spring classic at Brands Hatch (GB) as reigning World Champion in the 250cc class.
Robert also won the famous Motocross der Azen in Sint Anthonis twice in 1965 and 1966 and mainly beat the established order in the 500cc class such as Jeff Smith and the Swedes Rolf Tibblin and Sten Lundin.
Robert won the World titles on the Czech brand CZ three times and then added the following three World titles on the very revolutionary Japanese brand Suzuki.
Robert has achieved no fewer than 50 Grand Prix victories over the years and is therefore still in fifth place in the ranking in terms of the number of individual Grand Prix victories behind his fellow countryman Stefan Everts, Antonio Cairoli, Jeffrey Herlings and Joël Smets, whose first name is also named after Joël Robert.
Robert was also multiple Belgian champion in the 250cc Inters, namely in 1963, 1964, 1966, 1972 and 1973.
Robert also participated five times on behalf of Belgium with the Trofee des Nations (Country races for bikes up to 250cc) and twelve times with the Motocross des Nations (Country races for bikes up to 500cc).
In the later years Robert was teammanager for the Belgian Team for a long time during the Motocross des Nations and visibly enjoyed all these successes.
Robert distinguished himself very much from the other drivers. Partly because of his exceptional talent and engine control, he achieved so many victories. On the other hand, Robert also liked to show that he was not working on a structured condition at all and that he just lived on it. Drink, cigarettes and women often preferred.
In September 2014, Joël Robert was still present during the large-scale Reunion Motocross of Aces in Sint Anthonis. He enjoyed the attention of his fellow drivers, but especially also the audience present. The memories were brought back while enjoying a beer. Robert spent the night together with his wife Josiane Marit, Sylvain Geboers and wife in Gasthoeve de Drompt in Elsendorp, where both also had memories with the Interlands Netherlands and Belgium, organized by the Motorclub MAC Cristoffel from Gemert. The next day Robert was again present at the Reunion and enjoyed the attention of the entire audience.
Joël Robert has fought so many duels with his fellow drivers in his active Motocross career and achieved so many victories.
In his later life Robert had to fight a lot for his health, had to put up with a lot with his health, but also with his private life. Robert was suffering from a severe form of diabetes and was diabetic.
In August 2016 we were in the opportunity to meet and interview Joël Robert at his home near Charleroi (B).
Joël Robert was 77 years old.
May we wish his wife Josiane Marit, further family and direct friends much strength in the coming period.
Grandrieu 24th of November 1943 - Charleroi / Gilly 13th of January 2021 †
Text and Photo: Marcel Hermans and Barbara Jonkman
