Gaston Rahier

Gaston Rahier ( born 1 February 1947 in Chaineux; † 8 February 2005 in Paris) was a Belgian motocross racer.

In 1975, the first Belgian Rahier secured the world championship in the eighth liter class and repeated this triumph in 1976 and 1977. 29 Grand Prix wins and six hits with the Belgian team in the Nations go to his account. In 1977 he was awarded the National Sports Merit trophy.

Although he almost lost in a serious accident in 1982 a hand Rahier went to the wilderness Paris-Dakar Rally in 1983. Rahier, who could only roll on his motorcycle, a BMW R 80 GS, ascend because of his height of only 1.64 m, but dropped out due to a technical defect.

After he had after a thrilling duel with his stable mate Hubert Auriol won in 1984 for the first time the Paris-Dakar Rally, it developed in the coming years for motor sports legend. In 1985 he damaged so badly that it was almost beyond repair in a crash at the start of the rally his motorcycle. Nevertheless, he achieved by special driving skills, commitment and a great achievement of the mechanic overall victory. In the same year he was Belgian athlete of the year.

In 1986, he crashed in turn hard and broke six ribs and collarbone. Despite his severe injuries he drove the rally to the finish in Dakar.

He died at the age of 58 after a long illness.

Le Mans results

• Motorcycle World Champion
• Motorcycle racer (Belgium )
• Motocross rider
• Belgian
• Born in 1947
• Died in 2005
• Man
• Drivers in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
• World Sports Car Championship racer
• Sportsman of the Year (Belgium )