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Gaston Rahier (1 February 1947 – 8 February 2005) was a Belgian professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1967 to 1983, most prominently as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team where he won three consecutive FIM 125cc Motocross World Championships.[1][2][3] After his motocross career, he competed in long distance Rally Raid racing and was a two-time winner of the prestigious Paris-Dakar rally.[4] In 1977, Rahier was named the recipient of the Belgian National Sports Merit Award.[2]

Motocross racing career

Rahier was born in Herve, Wallonia, Belgium on 1 February 1947. At the age of 20, he competed in his first Motocross World Championship event at the 1967 250cc Belgian Grand Prix as a privateer aboard a ČZ motorcycle.[1] Despite his small stature (He stood 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) tall), he also competed in the larger 500cc class where he scored his first World Championship point at the 1968 500cc Belgian Grand Prix.[4]

Rahier joined the Suzuki factory racing team in 1973 competing in the 250cc World Championship in support of six-time World Champion, Joël Robert. He won the first overall victory of his career with Suzuki at the 1974 250cc West German Grand Prix where he finished ahead of perennial World Championship contenders, Gennady Moiseyev and his Suzuki teammates, Sylvain Geboers and Joël Robert.[4] Rahier was a member of the victorious Belgian team at the 1974 Trophée des Nations event in Vesoul, France on 1 September.[5]

As the sport of motocross experienced a surge in popularity during the early 1970s, the FIM introduced the 125cc Motocross World Championship in 1975. The Suzuki team entered Rahier into the new class, and he proceeded to dominate the season by winning eight out of twelve Grand Prix events to win the inaugural 125cc Motocross World Championship.[6] He also helped the Belgian team reclaim the Trophée des Nations event on 7 September 1975.[7]

He successfully defended his 125cc title in 1976 and was a member of victorious Belgian teams at both the Motocross des Nations and Trophée des Nations events.[8][9][10] Rahier’s title defense in the 1977 season was made more difficult by the strong opposition presented by Yamaha factory rider Gérard Rond who won three Grand Prix events.[11] Rahier was able to prevail by winning seven of twelve events to win his third consecutive 125cc motocross world championship, setting a record of 29 career 125cc Grand Prix victories.[4][12] In the 1978 125cc Motocross World Championship, Rahier finished the season in second place behind his Suzuki teammate Akira Watanabe.[13] On 10 September 1978, he helped the Belgian team win the Trophée des Nations event for the fourth and final time of his career.[14]

Rahier left the Suzuki team and raced a Yamaha to a third place finish in the 1979 125cc Motocross World Championship behind Suzuki teammates Harry Everts and Akira Watanabe.[15] He raced for the Gilera factory racing team in the 125cc motocross world championships in 1980 and 1981. Rahier moved back to the 250cc class in 1982 riding a Suzuki. He suffered a serious hand injury in the 1983 season that ended his professional motocross career.[1]

Rahier won 53 individual heat races and 30 Grand Prix victories during his world championship racing career.[16] He won three 125cc motocross world titles (1975-1977) and six Belgian motocross national championships.[16] He was a member of six victorious Belgian Trophée des Nations teams (1970, 1971, 1974-1976, 1978), and one victorious Belgian Motocross des Nations team (1976).[16]

Later motorsport racing career

Rahier (left) during the 1988 Paris-Dakar Rally.

After recovering from his injury, Rahier began a successful off-road racing career competing in rally raid events. As a member of the BMW factory racing team, he entered the grueling, long distance 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally. A mechanical failure forced him to abandon the rally while he was leading the event however, he returned to win the 1984 Dakar Rally.[2][4] He successfully defended his title by winning the 1985 Dakar Rally.[2][4]

Rahier also competed for BMW in the 1985 Baja 1000 desert race in Baja California.[17] Rahier and his co-rider Eddy Hau won Class 30 for riders over 30 years of age, and finished eighth overall ahead of all the cars and trucks entered in the race.[17] In 1985, Rahier and long-distance runner Vincent Rousseau were honored as co-winners of the Belgian Sportsman of the Year award. Rahier was also a three-time winner of the Rallye des Pharaons (1984, 1985, 1988).[4]

In the late 1980s, Rahier competed in sports car and touring car racing, taking part in the 1987 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1987 Spa 24 Hour endurance races.[18]

Rahier died in Paris on 8 February 2005, after a long battle with cancer.[1][2]

Motocross Grand Prix Results

Points system from 1952 to 1968:

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th 
Points 8 6 4 3 2 1

Points system from 1969 to 1980:

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1
Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Pts
R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2
1967 250cc ČZ ESP
– 		ESP
– 		CH
– 		CH
– 		FRA
– 		FRA
– 		BEL
17 		BEL
19 		GER
– 		GER
– 		NED
– 		NED
– 		ITA
– 		ITA
– 		UK
– 		UK
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		USR
– 		USR
– 		POL
– 		POL
– 		– 0
1968 250cc ČZ ESP
13 		ESP
10 		BEL
7 		BEL
12 		CZE
– 		CZE
– 		FRA
15 		FRA
14 		NED
– 		NED
– 		GER
– 		GER
– 		LUX
15 		LUX
14 		POL
– 		POL
– 		USR
– 		USR
– 		YUG
– 		YUG
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		UK
– 		UK
– 		AUT
– 		AUT
– 		– 0
500cc ČZ AUT
– 		AUT
– 		ITA
– 		ITA
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		GDR
– 		GDR
– 		CZE
– 		CZE
– 		UK
– 		UK
– 		GER
– 		GER
– 		FRA
– 		FRA
– 		NED
– 		NED
– 		BEL
9 		BEL
5 		LUX
– 		LUX
9 		CH
– 		CH
– 		25th 1
1969 250cc Ossa ESP
– 		ESP
– 		CH
13 		CH
11 		YUG
– 		YUG
– 		CZE
– 		CZE
10 		POL
10 		POL
11 		GER
– 		GER
– 		NED
– 		NED
– 		FRA
– 		FRA
14 		UK
– 		UK
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		USR
– 		USR
– 		37th 2
500cc ČZ AUT
– 		AUT
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		NED
– 		NED
– 		ITA
– 		ITA
– 		CZE
– 		CZE
– 		USR
– 		USR
– 		GER
– 		GER
– 		BEL
19 		BEL
9 		LUX
– 		LUX
– 		FRA
– 		FRA
– 		CH
– 		CH
– 		GDR
– 		GDR
– 		– 0
1970 250cc ČZ ESP
11 		ESP
9 		FRA
10 		FRA
5 		BEL
11 		BEL
12 		YUG
– 		YUG
– 		ITA
– 		ITA
– 		USR
– 		USR
– 		POL
– 		POL
– 		UK
– 		UK
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		GDR
– 		GDR
– 		CH
– 		CH
– 		AUT
– 		AUT
– 		16th 7
500cc ČZ CH
– 		CH
– 		AUT
– 		AUT
– 		NED
– 		NED
– 		FRA
– 		FRA
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		CZE
– 		CZE
– 		USR
– 		USR
– 		GER
– 		GER
– 		GDR
– 		GDR
– 		BEL
5 		BEL
7 		LUX
– 		LUX
– 		24th 5
1971 250cc ČZ ESP
3 		ESP
6 		CH
11 		CH
9 		POL
– 		POL
– 		GER
18 		GER
6 		YUG
– 		YUG
– 		ITA
3 		ITA
10 		NED
1 		NED
2 		GDR
1 		GDR
1 		FIN
2 		FIN
2 		SWE
8 		SWE
7 		UK
– 		UK
– 		AUT
– 		AUT
– 		11th 20
1972 250cc Husqvarna ESP
4 		ESP
4 		FRA
10 		FRA
9 		NED
15 		NED
8 		CZE
– 		CZE
7 		YUG
8 		YUG
6 		GER
6 		GER
– 		POL
10 		POL
8 		USR
– 		USR
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		UK
– 		UK
– 		CH
– 		CH
– 		13th 23
1973 250cc Suzuki ESP
– 		ESP
10 		ITA
10 		ITA
10 		BEL
– 		BEL
10 		CH
9 		CH
6 		POL
– 		POL
– 		YUG
– 		YUG
– 		FRA
– 		FRA
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		USR
– 		USR
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		AUT
– 		AUT
– 		20th 11
1974 250cc Suzuki ESP
10 		ESP
– 		ITA
– 		ITA
4 		CZE
8 		CZE
8 		POL
2 		POL
2 		YUG
4 		YUG
– 		UK
10 		UK
– 		GER
1 		GER
3 		NED
4 		NED
– 		FIN
9 		FIN
– 		SWE
8 		SWE
9 		CH
5 		CH
4 		5th 96
1975 125cc Suzuki FRA
1 		FRA
3 		UK
1 		UK
1 		YUG
1 		YUG
1 		SWE
1 		SWE
1 		NED
1 		NED
1 		POL
2 		POL
2 		GER
1 		GER
1 		CZE
1 		CZE
1 		USA
– 		USA
– 		CAN
3 		CAN
3 		ESP
2 		ESP
2 		BEL
1 		BEL
2 		1st 195
1976 125cc Suzuki AUT
2 		AUT
1 		ITA
1 		ITA
2 		UK
1 		UK
1 		BEL
1 		BEL
1 		DEN
1 		DEN
– 		FIN
1 		FIN
1 		CZE
2 		CZE
2 		FRA
1 		FRA
– 		USA
5 		USA
– 		GER
1 		GER
1 		ESP
1 		ESP
1 		CH
2 		CH
1 		1st 195
1977 125cc Suzuki FRA
1 		FRA
2 		ITA
1 		ITA
8 		BEL
1 		BEL
1 		DEN
2 		DEN
2 		POL
1 		POL
– 		YUG
1 		YUG
1 		CZE
1 		CZE
5 		GER
1 		GER
1 		CH
1 		CH
1 		USA
3 		USA
1 		CAN
2 		CAN
– 		ESP
1 		ESP
1 		1st 292
1978 125cc Suzuki AUT
1 		AUT
1 		ITA
1 		ITA
2 		BEL
2 		BEL
2 		DEN
3 		DEN
4 		NED
3 		NED
– 		FRA
1 		FRA
1 		YUG
4 		YUG
3 		GER
1 		GER
2 		CH
– 		CH
2 		POL
2 		POL
2 		USA
6 		USA
– 		ESP
3 		ESP
6 		CZE
2 		CZE
1 		2nd 249
1979 125cc Yamaha AUT
2 		AUT
– 		GER
– 		GER
– 		NED
4 		NED
– 		ITA
5 		ITA
– 		FIN
4 		FIN
3 		CZE
3 		CZE
3 		YUG
4 		YUG
3 		CH
4 		CH
1 		FRA
3 		FRA
2 		IRL
3 		IRL
3 		USA
3 		USA
5 		ESP
3 		ESP
3 		3rd 183
1980 125cc Gilera NED
4 		NED
6 		AUT
– 		AUT
2 		BEL
7 		BEL
– 		FRA
10 		FRA
– 		YUG
2 		YUG
1 		GER
– 		GER
– 		ITA
– 		ITA
– 		CZE
– 		CZE
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		USA
9 		USA
– 		ESP
– 		ESP
4 		9th 67
1981 125cc Gilera ITA
6 		ITA
4 		NED
4 		NED
5 		AUT
– 		AUT
– 		GER
5 		GER
7 		FRA
– 		FRA
5 		YUG
4 		YUG
8 		POL
6 		POL
– 		CH
2 		CH
– 		USA
– 		USA
– 		FIN
4 		FIN
8 		CZE
7 		CZE
8 		ESP
– 		ESP
4 		7th 97
1982 250cc Suzuki CH
– 		CH
– 		ESP
– 		ESP
– 		BEL
– 		BEL
– 		CZE
– 		CZE
– 		ITA
6 		ITA
9 		FRA
5 		FRA
5 		UK
– 		UK
– 		NED
– 		NED
– 		USR
9 		USR
7 		USA
– 		USA
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		15th 25
1983 250cc Suzuki ESP
– 		ESP
– 		FRA
6 		FRA
– 		ITA
– 		ITA
– 		NED
6 		NED
– 		BUL
– 		BUL
– 		GER
5 		GER
5 		UK
– 		UK
– 		CAN
– 		CAN
– 		USA
– 		USA
– 		CH
– 		CH
– 		SWE
– 		SWE
– 		FIN
– 		FIN
– 		22nd 10
Sources:[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][6][8][12][13][15][30][31][32][33]

Paris-Dakar results

Year Machine Position
1983 BMW R80G/S Abandoned
1984 BMW R80G/S 1st
1985 BMW R80G/S 1st
1986 BMW R80G/S 14th
1987 BMW R80G/S 3rd
1988 Suzuki DR-Z 600 9th
1989 Suzuki DR-Z 750 11th
1990 Suzuki DR-Z 800 9th
1991 Suzuki DR-Z 750 13th
Source:[34]

References

  1. ^ a b c d “Gaston Rahier loses fight against cancer”. crash.net. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e “So Farewell: Gaston Rahier”. the-independent.com. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  3. ^ “Gaston Rahier career profile”. bestsports.com. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g “Dirt Rider Magazine”. dirtrider.com. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  5. ^ “1974 Trophée des Nations classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  6. ^ a b “1975 125cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  7. ^ “1975 Trophée des Nations classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b “1976 125cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  9. ^ “1976 Motocross des Nations classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  10. ^ “1976 Trophée des Nations classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  11. ^ “A Day of Firsts and Lasts”. cyclenews.com. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  12. ^ a b “1977 125cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  13. ^ a b “1978 125cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  14. ^ “1978 Trophée des Nations classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  15. ^ a b “1979 125cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  16. ^ a b c “Gaston Rahier career statistics” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
  17. ^ a b Brown, Dale (March 1, 1985). “Beemers Over Baja”. Cycle World. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  18. ^ “Gaston Rahier driver data”. driverdb.com. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  19. ^ “1967 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  20. ^ “1968 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  21. ^ “1968 500cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  22. ^ “1969 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  23. ^ “1969 500cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  24. ^ “1970 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  25. ^ “1970 500cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  26. ^ “1971 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  27. ^ “1972 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  28. ^ “1973 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  29. ^ “1974 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  30. ^ “1980 125cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  31. ^ “1981 125cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  32. ^ “1982 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  33. ^ “1983 250cc motocross world championship race classifications” (PDF). memotocross.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  34. ^ “Gaston Rahier results at eWRC-results.com”. ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 6 March 2025.