Georges Jobé

Georges Jobé (6 January 1961 – 19 December 2012) was a Belgian professional motocross racer. He competed in the FIM Motocross World Championships from 1979 to 1994. Jobé is notable for being a five-time FIM Motocross World Champion. He was named Belgian Sportsman of the year in 1987 and 1992.

Jobé was born in Retinne, Belgium on 6 January 1961. His older brother Claude Jobé competed in the motocross world championships for the Montesa factory racing team in the early 1970s. Jobé entered his first motocross race when he was 10-years-old. He won the 1977 250cc Belgian junior motocross championship riding a Montesa.

At the age of 18, Jobé joined the Suzuki racing team operated by former racer Sylvain Geboers. In his first year of international competition, he finished seventh in the 1979 250cc Motocross World Championship. Jobé won the 1980 250cc Motocross World Championship through sheer consistency. Eight different competitors won Grand Prix events during the season, however none of them were able to score points consistently to challenge Jobé. At 19 years, 6 months and 14 days, Jobé dethroned Joël Robert for the honorary title of youngest Motocross World Champion in history at the time. Jobé was the top individual points scorer at the 1980 Trophée des Nations as he led the Belgian team to victory in the team event. One week later at the 1980 Motocross des Nations event, he finished second to his Belgian teammate André Malherbe, helping the Belgian team to the overall victory.

Jobé led the 1981 250cc Motocross World Championship by 53 points over his closest rival, Neil Hudson (Yamaha) with four rounds remaining and appeared to be heading towards a second consecutive World Championship when he was injured while competing in a Belgian National Championship race. He attempted to compete in the penultimate round in Russia but was injured again, allowing Hudson to overtake him and win the World Championship by only two points in the final standings.

Jobé once again led the 250cc Motocross World Championship in 1982 when he suffered an elbow fracture at mid-season during the 250cc French Grand Prix. Danny LaPorte (Yamaha) then won three consecutive Grand Prix races to take the championship points lead from Jobé. The championship would not be decided until the last race of the season in Sweden where LaPorte finished ahead of Jobé by 13 points. Jobé began the 1983 250cc Motocross World Championship by winning 5 of the first 6 heat races to build a commanding 60-point lead. He then posted consistent results to maintain his points lead and clinch the title over LaPorte with two rounds remaining.

Suzuki's decision to withdraw from the Motocross World Championships at the end of the 1983 season due to a worldwide economic recession led Jobé to sign a contract to race for the Kawasaki factory racing team in the premier 500cc motocross world championship. The 1984 500cc Motocross World Championship featured one of the most talented field of competitors of the 1980s including all three of the previous year's world champions – Håkan Carlqvist (500cc), Jobé (250cc) and Eric Geboers (125cc). Jobé was challenged by the powerful Honda HRC team of Malherbe, David Thorpe and Geboers as well as Yamaha's defending 500cc World Champion Carlqvist. Jobé fought Malherbe and Geboers in a tight points battle that would not be decided until the last race of the season in Italy where Malherbe succeeded in maintaining his points lead and clinched his third 500cc Motocross World Championship by just 11 points over Jobé.

Jobé accomplished one of the most audacious passes in motocross history during the 1984 500cc British Motocross Grand Prix, held at Hawkstone Park, Shropshire, England. In 1984, the Hawkstone Park circuit included a large "double jump" (before they were customary on top motocross circuits). Few riders had the courage to attempt to clear the jump during practice, let alone during the actual race. However, during the second race of the Grand Prix, Jobé passed rival André Malherbe by clearing the double jump, physically jumping over his rival in the process. Photographer Nick Haskell captured the moment, and the image of Jobé flying over Malherbe with spectators cheering in the background, is considered by motorsports journalists to be one of the most iconic images of Grand Prix motocross racing.

Jobé represented Belgium at the 1984 International Six Days Trial (ISDT) in Holland. The International Six Days Trial, now known as the International Six Days Enduro, is a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics which is the oldest annual competition sanctioned by the FIM dating back to 1913.