In 1973 his knee didnt get any better and he earns only 15 GP points and ends up 18th in the 250 World Championships. The 250cc series was given world championship status in 1962. Also you will be riding on such tracks as: Valkenswaard, Eersel, Honda park Olmen, Eindhoven, Lille and more! At other events he would travel with follow racers or journalists, sometimes by train with his bike torn down and checked in as luggage. In the area of 35 kilometers there are 15 motocross tracks, all tracks always prepared. He had come from Brussels by bike to see the victory. The regional rider, Hubert Scaillet, a native of Spontin, had bad luck at these competitions. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". He won six straight Trans AMA races in the fall of that year. Cycle News Staff | January 13, 2021. Pauls Jonass (Cut Arm) Sidelined for MXGP of Flanders. TV and online schedules, race day schedules, and more. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. He also rode for the Suzuki factory team and while Robert was dominating the 250cc class, De Coster was in control of the 500cc class. Vomit, mega waves and incredible backcountry exploration. The second half of the 50s saw the rise of the British and, above all, the Swedes. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The six-time 250 World Champion (1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972) was born in Chatelet, Belgium, on November 26, 1943. Here are some of their legends. Untimely thumb injury limits pre-season of returning Duffy, KTM Group Australia and New Zealand managing director updates, Honda Red Nation Demo Day set for QMP this month, SCP becomes Australian distributor of Spectro Performance Oils, Watch: GasGas Racing Team 2023 introduction, Boost Mobile named MX1 title sponsor at Honda Racing team. [2] Contents: Top- ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ- Nationalities- Notes- References This is a dynamic listand may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. The British Jeff Smith and Don Rickman won these two editions respectively. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy. MXlarge lists the 10 most successful riders ever from Belgium ahead of the 2012 GP. These are the real legends of the Motocross World Championship. Races of all kinds followed each other for more than 7 hours. Since retiring hes gone on to work as race director of the KTM factory team as well as helping to run the Everts MX Camp established by his father, thus ensuring the continuing development of future Belgian Motocross champions. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. From 1975 until 1984 Suzuki won every FIM World 125cc title and just like Harry Everts did from 1979 until 1981, Rahier won his titles in succession, winning in 1975, 76 and 77. and other premium content from the pages of Racer X magazine. Despite its paltry size, Belgium is the third most successful country and often the only team that has been able to break Americas recent dominance. Results and standings from around the world. With his white overalls and a larger body than his opponents, he was easily recognisable. In 2009 a national demonstration was held in Brussels with more than 2000 motocross riders and fans present passing by the different administrations. . The sector wants herewith to give a positive signal to the authorities. Joel is just a simple man but, inside his heart, he is the sweetest man you could ever meet." Baeten repeated his feat the following year on a rain-soaked circuit, overtaking most of his competitors. was there to take the shot, which became an iconic image in motocross history. Geboers was known for his professional approach to the sport and his desire to win at any cost. Find out more about the riders whove made a major impact on the sport of motocross. Part of the secret of this incredible success comes from his association with. But from the 1950s until 2007, the Citadel at Namur had been the beloved venue for the Belgian 500cc Grand Prix. Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions. 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship MXGP of Flanders (Belgium) EMX125, EMX250 Races Lommel Lommel July 24, 2022 Articles MXGP Results MX2 Results EMX250 Results GP Report MXGP of Flanders. Techniek: De installatie van een mousse binnenband; . 500cc (1971, 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976 Suzuki). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. During the seventies, where at least one Belgian rider featured on each World Championship podium for a decade save for one occasion, Belgium boasted 60 MX tracks for training and competition, more than any other country in Europe at the time and unheard of for a country of 11 million people. In the winter he trains and races in England. Roger DeCoster and Joel Robert with the King and Queen of Belgium. In one of the most physically demanding disciplines in sports, he was notorious for his hard partying lifestyle, lack of training as well as his cigarette smoking. Slick, good looking and always confident De Coster won five FIM World 500cc Championships and 36 GPs in the 1970s. It was the back end of the British domination of the motocross world, and just before an official World championship had begun. Get access to the entire catalog of Racer X digital editions with your subscription. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The first day of racing at the MXGP of Flanders has concluded with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racings Jeremy Seewer and Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racings Kay de Wolf victorious in the deep sandy conditions of Lommel. He is now team manager of the Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 team, and promoter of the Grand Prix of Limburg. This year a special action was launched at the international motor-show in Brussels by selling trees. Living legend Stefan Everts has a record of 10 world championship titles and 101 GP victories. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. [1] The MX2 class allowed two-stroke engines of up to 125cc and four-stroke motors of up to 250cc. Robert began racing in 1960 and within a month of starting his racing career he earned his first victory in an extraordinary way. Not only does he have 10 world titles, but he also has 101 grand prix victories, the second most GP wins is 57 by now retired Joel Smets. To start or stop I needed a wall or a tree to lean against. His boyhood heroes were Belgium motocross stars Rene Baeten and Auguste Mingels. Robert was also significant to American motocross. He completed the 12 laps of a course that already started from the esplanade of the citadel in just over 45 minutes. 250cc (1995 Kawasaki KX 250; 1996 and 1997 Honda CR 250), MX1 (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 Yamaha YZF 450). The Americans learned fast, very fast. When the Trans-AMA Series launched in 1970, Robert was there. But five years later on 7 August 1988, he became a folk hero for a different reason - becoming the first rider to stop mid-moto in a World Championship Grand Prix to skull a beer. The Belgian team of Ken De Dycker, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Clement Desalle were victorious in the 2013 Motocross des Nations, bringing to an end the nine year gap since Stefen Everts led Belgium to their last victory in 2004. Belgium is a proud country, not just in motocross, but in life in general, but it is motocross that once carried the Belgians on their shoulders, from celebration to celebration. He retired at the end of the 2006 season, the year he won 14 out of 15 GPs. The first winner of the new European Championship in 1952 was Belgian rider Victor Leloup. Joel wins 4 GPs and his fourth 250 World Championship. The regional rider, Hubert Scaillet, a native of Spontin, had bad luck at these competitions. The trio were greeted with a heros welcome upon their return to Teutschenthal in Germany. ), 122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 | 304-284-0084 |. Through the site we got a lot of questions in recent weeks about how newcomers are under an obligation to obtain authorisation. Thorpe won both motos, Vromans went 3-DNF. Last updated: 04 September 2022. His compatriot, Leslie Archer, won the following year. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. In 1957, the World Motocross Championship was officially launched. Check out all the exclusive content this month. Trans-AMA competitor. He did it again the following year, on 11 April 1948, before a crowd of 40,000 spectators attracted by a very rich programme. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". At the end of the season, the Belgium CZ importer proposes to give Joel a factory 250 CZ for 1964. If size was disadvantage then Eric Geboers would have nothing under his name, but the size of his heart made sure that he was always in the heat of battle against the best motocross riders in the world. Joel suffered his first stroke while on holiday in France back in July of 2018. Many races are organized on temporary tracks with only a permit for one, two or maximum 3 events per year. Berbagai kejuaraan yang akan diikuti antara lain, EMX 125 Motocross World Championship; MX Nasional Belgia (National Belgium Motocross Championship) dan MX National Belanda (ONK Dutch Master Motocross Championship). The bike was also very good. Belgium has frequently hosted one of the biggest events in the Motocross calendar, the Motocross des Nations, where teams of riders from around the world attempt to bring glory to their nations. At age 6, his father who was a motocross and speedway racer, built him his first bike. New Zealand rider takes top spot in front of sell out crowd in Mexico City. Only the victories in the GPs are considered, this result is given by the sum of the results of the single races, when the GP is disputed over two races.[3]. Il s'agit de l'avant dernire preuve du Championnat de Belgique dans toutes les catgories (sauf Inters) et il est donc probable que les premiers champions y pourront tre couronns. Without the European Championships. The first Belgian edition of this international competition took place in Spa in 1948. Here are the Top 10 Belgian FIM Motocross World Champions. No other motocross track in the world was as magnificent, awe-inspiring, or absurd as the Citadel of Namur in Belgium. The trees will be planted near the remaining training tracks to compensate the CO2 emissions.. For more information: www.motorcrossCO2bos.be Contact: | Copyright 2022 FIM Europe | Terms of use - Privacy statement |, Kevin Moonen, Red de Motorcross Mail: k_moonen@hotmail.com, Stijn Vancuyck, consultant deux-roues de FEBIAC GSM: 0496 51 21 77 Mail: svc@febiac.be, 11, Route de Suisse 1295 Mies (Switzerland), Viale delle Arti 181 I-00054 Fiumicino (Italy). This event was the pride of the Belgian motorcycling world which decided to organise three Motocross des Nations. He enters some GPs and finishes 4th in Switzerland, 6th in Great Britain, 6th in Tchecoslovaquia, 10th in Belgium and 11th in Deutschland. His apprenticeship paid off when he earned the 250cc World Championship in 1964, riding a privateer CZ. In 1934 the first race in the world named Motorcross was organized in Belgium (Zoete Waters Oud-Heverlee). The British Jeff Smith and Don Rickman won these two editions respectively. Seewer and de Wolf Win Respective Qualifying Races at MXGP of Flanders at Lommel. He especially won the 1951 Motocross des Nations at the head of a Belgian delegation that took the first four places against the English who were considered invincible. Of course, any passing is sad, however 77 wasn't a bad run for Belgians first real legend. Calendrier Championnat de Belgique Motocross quads; La FMWB prsente une application de coaching ses lites sportives; FIM Commissions Conference Lille; Tremblement de terre en Turquie et en Syrie : la FIM lance un appel l'aide; Entranements libres enduro du samedi 18 fvrier annuls In fact, BSA gear boxes and other components were sometimes used in the construction of works racers in other nations. Born November 26, 1943 in Chatelet, Belgium, Robert grew up in a family of motorcycle racers. The spiritual home of GP racing. Roger is so respected in the motocross world that he's simply known as The Man. World Motocross Championships AMA Motocross (28) British Motocross (52) Join here World Motocross DVDs, Downloads & Blu-rays Top Sellers World 250 Motocross Review 2000 Download No reviews yet 4.99 World 250 Motocross Review 1998 Duke. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I watched Joel Robert come over and just grab it and lift the whole wheels off the ground and set it down all by himself. Smets won five FIM World titles and 57 GP victories. Stefan Everts - 10 World Titles Stefan Everts record of success will be very difficult to beat. , his team-mate, tried to achieve this feat for a number of years, but without luck. It followed the organisation of a competition launched by the Auto-Moto-Club of Namur, the previous year, on 7 April 1946 in Jambes under the name of motocross du Casino. Never really came up to scratch when it mattered against Everts, but could handle just about every other rider of his era and did give Everts a lot of trouble when they did meet. It is, quite frankly, the last place in the world youd expect to find a motocross track. A 125cc Gillet. At the end of century there where only about 6 tracks left open for practices. Ramon was there on both occasions to pick up the pieces courtesy of his solid results throughout the whole season. State WA Motocross champions Western Australia has had many champion riders over the years. 250cc (1964, 1968 and 1969 CZ; 1970, 1971 and 1972 Suzuki). The Belgians invented the starting gate that is still largely used today around the world and a Belgian, by the name of Victor Leloup, won the inaugural World Championship and European Champions, with Belgium dominating the early years of international competition. In 1972, Joel wins 6 GPs and his sixth World Championship. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Lommel last held a Grand Prix back in 1997 when Estonian Avo Leok shocked the world to win the 500cc Grand Prix ahead of Joel Smets. A lot of lobbying was done by the sector, but remained unsuccessful so far. In 1968 Joel win 6 GPs and wins his second FIM 250 World Championship. He also showed flashes of brilliance outdoors, securing his first-career overall win with 1-3 moto finishes at the High Point National. He had a heart attack and was put into an induced coma but he never recovered. LIVE STREAMING :: Belgian Championship Tessenderlo 2023 at Tessenderlo, Belgium || To Watch Full Access, Please Click The Link Below..Go Live Now http. list of british motocross champions list of british motocross champions (No Ratings Yet) . He had trailed Josh Coppins by around 100 points before Coppins crashed out of the Grand Prix of Czech Republic ending his championship assault. There is one arena where Belgium remains a superpower, punching well above their weight Motocross. One motocross world championship after another, starting way back in Rene Baeten in 1957 until Steve Ramon in 2007. Though he focused more on the European scene than American Supercross whenever he faced US riders he generally came out on top. Pos. began to compete at the tender age of seven and he's not looked back since. In the years that have followed the 1970s the Belgian government began to tighten restrictions on the permits required for Motocross tracks which lead to many facilities closing. Bavo Swijgers #MXGP #Motocross #MX . Lommel, Belgium. A year after the passing of Geboers and the sickness of Everts, another Belgian motocross legend Jol Robert passed away aged 77 after it was reported the six-time world champion died from contracting coronavirus at the beginning of the year. The series runs 18 events with two races per class at each round. My first win was a win by KO (knock out). In the early 1960s, Robert began competing in the European 250cc championships. He has some mechanical problems in the 250 GPs, but wins 3 GPs and gets second overall behind Viktor Arbekov in World Championship and repeats as the Belgium Champion. His uncle and cousin also raced. Of course, Belgian riders had already started making their mark at the start of the 1950s with Victor Leloup, Augste Mingels and Baeten dominating the European 500cc championships in 1952, 1952 and 1954. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Eight round of FIM Sidecar Motocross World Championship Season 2023 Where is it happening? Without him, perhaps it would never have happened. In 1971 Joel wins 8 GPs and his fifth 250 World Championship. In this game, the Englishman John Draper was the fastest, completing the 18 laps in 1h28. The new MX1 class became the premier class, allowing two-stroke engines of up to 250cc and four-stroke engines of up to 450cc. In 2003 Stefan Everts won in the three classes (125cc, MXGP and 650cc) during the same day in Erne (France). It was the 11th of May, 1960, with my road Zndapp, which was clearly less powerful than the motocross bike of the era. CATCH UP ON THE LATEST VIDEOS: IN-DEPTH EXPLANATIONS OF FACTORY BIKES, LARRY BROOKS INTERVIEW: THE LIFE OF KEN ROCZENS TEAM MANAGER, WATCH THE 2023 OAKLAND SUPERCROSS 250/450 HIGHLIGHTS IN UNDER 3 MINUTES, FACTORY BIKES UP CLOSE // 2023 OAKLAND SUPERCROSS, BEST IN THE PITS VIDEO // 2023 OAKLAND SUPERCROSS, TAKE A LAP SATURDAY NIGHTS 2023 OAKLAND SUPERCROSS TRACK LAYOUT, FLASHBACK! The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. He dominated the 250 class for almost ten yearsfirst for CZ and later for Suzuki. The MX3 class allowed two-stroke engines of up to 500cc and four stroke engines of up to 650cc.[1]. Joel Robert earned many 250 World and international victoriesincluding six 250 World Championship and 50 GP wins. In 1960 Joel wins his first race at Chimay Belgium. Robert won the title again in 1969 over fellow Belgium and CZ rider Sylvain Geboers. A versatile rider, he was not only the best in MX but also excelled in trials and Enduro even winning a gold medal in the ISDE (International Six Days Enduro). In 1970, on a new bike. His supremacy is logically reflected in the first European championship title created in 1952. Stefan Everts - 10 World Titles Stefan Everts record of success will be very difficult to beat. Search for crossword clues found in the Daily Celebrity, NY Times, Daily Mirror, Telegraph and major publications. Motocross Todd Kellet wins the infamous 2023 Enduropale du Touquet Sand Race England's Todd Kellet emerges victorious at the 47th edition of the infamous Enduropale du Touquet, this all just weeks after claiming the 2023 French Beach Race Championship and now the first round of the inaugural FIM Sand Races World Cup. Event Location & Nearby Stays: Host or . The Prince offered him the winners bouquet in front of his father, who had lost a foot, and surrounded by a hysterical crowd. At the age of 2 I was able to take a chain off a bike, link by link. In school, Robert enjoyed other sports such as soccer and basketball, but at 7 he was given his first motorcycle, a Gillet 125, and it would mark the course of his life. WDW. 28 Feb 2023 10:44:17 The Monaco of the Motocross World Championship. Possessing smooth style, effortless control and a unquenchable thirst to win. A 125cc Gillet. After his Championship days were behind him he raced a short time for the Puch factory in 1976. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Belgium is an important nation of motocross with an incredible list of World Champions spanning across decades. Not only did Everts have an amazing racing career, but as team manager of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team effort. Live Streaming Online Belgian Motocross Championship Tessenderlo 2023 at Tessenderlo, Belgium : Mar 4, 2023 - Mar 5, 2023 https://www. Not only does he have 10 world titles, but he also has 101 grand prix victories, the second most GP wins is 57 by now retired Joel Smets. Not only is it in the center of Belgium, it was for many years one of the most highly-anticipated Grands Prix due to its tradition - being a track which spawned many great Belgian champions. Introduction to Individual Speedway EC Final Series, Introduction to the Enduro EC final round in Slovakia, European Races of the weekend 06-07/04/2019, EMX 125 and 250 at Assen (The Netherlands), EMX of European Nations at Gdansk (Poland) Day 1, European Mini Bike Road Racing at Franciacorta (Italy), 2019 MXGP of Hong Kong announced in Ottobiano. During his career he was able to maintain an almost impossible consistency, in part due to his experience and talent. He competes in all the 250 GPs and at the German GP, tries a CZ for the first time and makes first contact with the CZ factory. Advertisement. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson list of british motocross champions. The Belgian team of Ken De Dycker, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Clement Desalle were victorious in the 2013 Motocross des Nations, bringing to an end the nine year gap since Stefen Everts led Belgium to their last victory in 2004. In central Belgium, at the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre rivers, lies a narrow triangle of steep, rocky land, upon which stands a sprawling ancient fortress known as the Citadel of Namur. We were coming out of the trophy awards and my Spanish mechanic Rubio and American mechanic Arty Beamon were talking, and Marcel Wurtz said, See that Volkswagen over there? At the end of the year Joel signs his first contract with Suzuki for 1970. It does not store any personal data. We reported on Monday, January 11, that Joel Robert had been hospitalized in critical condition, and we have just learned that the Belgian motocross legend has passed away. [1] He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1996 to 2011. Live streaming FIM Motocross Belgian Championship 2023 Official Broadcast Location : Tessenderlo, Belgium Date : 4-Mar-23 Born November 24, 1943, in Grandrieu, Belgium. Copies of his racing boots were sold in the U.S. under the brand name Full Bore. At the age of 30, Vromans momentarily retired, before being tempted back for the last GP of 1986, in which he scored a solitary point! Last edited on 23 February 2023, at 20:35, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_motocross_riders&oldid=1141189271, WMA Pro National Champion 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, ACU Maxxis British Motocross Championship MX1 20072008, Aus. In 1975, Joel is ninth in the 250 World Championships and Suzuki releases him from his contract. Not only did he serve as an inspiration to early American motocross racers, but he also raced in the Trans-AMA Series in the U.S., winning seven Trans Am Nationals during the 1970 and 1971 seasons. After a 64-year history, here are the real Kings of Motocross. Marcel Meunier is the first winner. In 1969 Joel wins 6 GPs and wins his third 250 World Championship. The Belgian rider finally won the race, which still comprised 18 laps, in 1h15. The series runs 18 events with two races per class at each round. Belgiums contribution to sporting history has been pretty limited so far. This race, which now counts for the European championship, also awards the titles (junior and senior) of Belgian champions. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Custom Content. There's no way to match his willpower and love for the sport. Freddy Merckx is one of the best cyclists in history, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters briefly topped tennis while the Belgian football team have yet to deliver on their potential. Victory went once again to Marcel Meunier on a Triumph. That earned him the title of Mr 875cc. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Combined with his 101 Grand Prix wins, Everts is the greatest European rider in history. Joel Robert 6 World Titles The first winner of the new European Championship in 1952 was Belgian rider Victor Leloup. At the age of 16 he decided to give up a promising career in football to turn to MX where he was determined to make history. In 1968, his luck finally turned around and he reclaimed the 250cc world title by two points over Swedens Torsten Hallman. A fortnight later, Baeten won again in Ettelbrck and became the first Belgian motocross world champion. BELGIQUE 2004 Bloc 117 Belgian international Sport Champions motocross en parfait tatFeuillet Bloc 117 de 12 timbres Prior l'ffigie des plus grands champions de Motocross belges 2 feuillets disponibles - prix la pice Frais d'envoi = en fonction du pays de destination partir de 3 His last professional race was an international race in France on a Puch 400MC. Get immediate access to this issue + 12 more issues, Subscribe or renew for a chance to win a Greenger X Honda CRF-E2 (Subscribe now! Because of the weather conditions, the race was reduced to 14 laps. His three FIM World 125cc Championships came in the golden era of the Suzuki factory team. Magazine pioneer Joe Parkhurst solicited the help of the visiting European MX stars to lay out a motocross track on his property in Irvine, California. Robert has not only six FIM world titles, but also 50 GP victories. AMA Motocross heads to Washington and MXGP heads to the Belgium as GNCC is in summer break. Everts would put together seven wins at Namur, six GP wins and a Motocross des Nations overall victory in 2001. Of course, nobody achieves what Cairoli has without supreme talent. Stefan Everts record of success will be very difficult to beat. Both world titles came in unusual circumstances. Belgian Legends Belgium might not have had a world champion since Steve Ramon in 2007, but they are still the most powerful country in world motocross. It was a marvelous, unforgettable trip, Robert remembers. Andre Malherbe 3 World Titles MX1 (2009 Yamaha YZ 450F; 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 KTM SXF 350). The 21-year-old had a break-out season in 2021, claiming a strong second-place at Arlington SX before rounding out the series with a top-five overall in the championship standings. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It seems slightly incongruous for the sleepy, polite people of Belgium to be raging petrolheads, but the country is the most successful in the sport per capita and will forever be linked with the sports history. Father of Stefan won four FIM world titles, one in the 250cc class and three in the 125cc class. In 1967, Joel wins 5 GPs, is second again in the 250 World Championship behind Torsten Hallman. Known as a character, Robert once raced three races in a weekend, won them all and partied after each race. Suzuki came after Robert in the off season. Joel Smets 5 World Titles In 1965, Joel gets his first full factory contract with the Czechoslovkian CZ firm. ADAC MX Youngster Cup Championship Final Standings: 1. The young Roger De Coster was barely fourteen years old. History [ edit] Nobody could control the machine the way he did. Victor Leloup replaced, then, Marcel Meunier in the hierarchy of European motocross. Countries in bold currently hold a Grand Prix. The Belgian teams were no match for the Motocross des Nations organised in Namur in 1956 and 1959. It happened in 1984, during the British GP, when Job flew over Andr Malherbe, his toughest. No reviews yet 9.99 USA 125 Motocross 1999 Download No reviews yet 4.99 Photos: MXA archive, Early Years of Motocross Museum, James Bremmer, Justyn Norek, Jody Weisel. So to make our selection we studied the track record of every rider. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. With 57 GP victories under his belt, Smets ranks third in the overall standings, just behind Stefan Everts (101) and Antonio Cairoli (75).