Joël Robert

Joël Robert (26 November 1943 – 13 January 2021 ) was a Belgian professional motocross racer. He was one of the most successful motocross racers competing in the Motocross World Championships during the 1960s and early 1970s, winning the 250cc class six times including five times in succession from 1968 to 1972. His battles with Sweden's Torsten Hallman were considered some of the best in the history of the championships. Between 1964 and 1968, the pair finished first or second to one another in the world championship four times.

Motorcycle racing career
Born in Châtelet, Belgium, Robert began his professional motocross racing career in the early 1960s, racing in the European motocross championship. In 1962, the European championship was granted world championship status by the FIM. Robert won the 1964 250cc world championship as a twenty-year-old privateer riding a CZ motorcycle, becoming the youngest motocross world champion at the time. In 1965 he became a factory sponsored rider for the Czechoslovakian firm CZ. Robert won the 250cc crown for CZ again in 1968 and 1969. For the 1970 season, Robert was wooed from CZ by the Japanese manufacturer Suzuki, who was seeking to make inroads into the European dominated sport. He continued his winning streak with Suzuki by capturing the 250cc Grand Prix championship in 1970, 1971 and 1972. His record of 50 motocross Grand Prix victories stood for more than 30 years until it was broken by fellow Belgian, Stefan Everts, in 2004.

Robert also played a role in the introduction of the sport of motocross in the United States by participating in the 1970 and 1971 Trans-AMA motocross series. His participation in the year-end Trans-AMA series gave credibility to America's first motocross championship and, served as inspiration to early American motocross racers. Robert was recognized for his contribution to the development of American motocross in 2000 when, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. In 2020, Robert was named an FIM Motocross Legend.

Robert is remembered as one of the most naturally talented motocross riders in history. In one of the most physically demanding disciplines in sports, he was notorious for his lack of training as well as his cigarette smoking. He once even put his cigarette out on the crossbar of Sylvain Geboers's handlebars while on the start line at a series finale, which Robert eventually won. American Grand Prix motocross racer, Jim Pomeroy, commented on Robert's impressive physical strength in an interview, recalling how he watched him lift the rear end of a small car.

Later life
Robert was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame along with Torsten Hallman in 2000. He also acted as manager for Belgium's Motocross des Nations team.

Joël Robert contracted COVID-19, was hospitalized, and then suffered a heart attack which left him comatose. He died on 13 January 2021.