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{{short description|Belgian motorcycle racer}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox Motocross rider
{{Infobox Motocross rider
| name = Joël Smets
| name = Joël Smets
| image = [[File:Joël Smets.jpg|240px]]
| image = [[File:Joël Smets.jpg|240px]]
| caption =
| caption =
| nationality = {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Belgium|Belgian]]
| nationality = [[Belgium|Belgian]]
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|6 April 1969}}
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|6 April 1969}}
| birth_place = [[Mol (Belgium)|Mol]], [[Antwerp]], Belgium
| birth_place = [[Mol (Belgium)|Mol]], [[Antwerp]], Belgium
| death_date =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| years = 1986 - 2005
| years = 1989 – 2005
| teams = Vertemati, [[Husaberg]], [[KTM]]
| teams = Vertemati, [[Husaberg]], [[KTM]]
| races =
| races =
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}}
}}


'''Joël Smets''' (born 6 April 1969) is a [[Belgians|Belgian]] former professional [[motocross]] racer and current Racing Sports Director for [[KTM]] motorcycles.<ref name="Joel Smets appointed KTM Motocross Factory Racing Sports Director">{{cite web |url=https://www.mxgp.com/news/joel-smets-appointed-ktm-motocross-factory-racing-sports-director |title=Joel Smets appointed KTM Motocross Factory Racing Sports Director |publisher=mxgp.com |access-date=29 January 2020 }}</ref> He competed in the [[Motocross World Championship]]s from 1989 to 2005. Smets is notable for being a five-time motocross world champion, six-time Belgian national champion and was ''[[Belgian Sportsman of the year]]'' in 2000.<ref name="Joel Smets appointed KTM Motocross Factory Racing Sports Director"/> His 57 career Grand Prix victories ranks him fourth overall among motocross world championship competitors.<ref name="Mickael Pichon interview – Legend">{{cite web |url=https://www.mxlarge.com/news/mickael-pichon-interview-legend |title=Mickael Pichon interview – Legend |publisher=mxlarge.com |access-date=21 March 2020 }}</ref>
'''Joël Smets''' (born 6 April 1969 in [[Mol (Belgium)|Mol]], [[Antwerp]]) is a former [[motocross]] [[List of motocross World Championship results|world champion]] from [[Belgium]], who was named ''Belgian Sportsman of the Year'' in 2000.


==International career==
==International career==
Nicknamed ''The Flemish Lion'' during his career, Smets was named after his parents’ favorite rider [[Joël Robert]]. He didn't start racing until he was seventeen years old and found his feet on the Grand Prix scene rather quickly. In 1993 Smets won the German Grand Prix, and finished the season in third place in the 500cc championship.
Smets was born in [[Mol (Belgium)|Mol]], [[Antwerp]]. Nicknamed ''The Flemish Lion'' during his career, Smets was named after his parents' favorite rider [[Joël Robert]].<ref name="Joel Smets Calls It Quits After 57 GP Wins">{{cite web |url=https://motocrossactionmag.com/joel-smets-calls-it-quits-after-57-gp-wins/ |title=Joel Smets Calls It Quits After 57 GP Wins |publisher=motocrossactionmag.com |access-date=29 January 2020 }}</ref> He didn't start racing until he was seventeen years old and found his feet on the Grand Prix scene rather quickly. In 1993 Smets won the German Grand Prix, and finished the season in third place in the 500cc championship.


A year later Smets, riding the [[Vertemati]] machine, won two Grands Prix and again finished third in the world. By 1995 and racing for the [[Husaberg]] factory he was set to clinch his first ever world title, winning the 500cc championship from American [[Trampas Parker]].<ref>[http://www.bestsports.com.br/db/atlpag.php?atl=3175&lang=2 Joël Smets career profile]</ref> The battle between Parker and Smets was a tense one with Smets wrapping up the title in the last round of the series in [[Germany]].
A year later Smets, riding the [[Vertemati]] machine, won two Grands Prix and again finished third in the world. By 1995 and racing for the [[Husaberg]] factory he was set to clinch his first ever world title, winning the 500cc championship from American [[Trampas Parker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929cf400b2701 |title=1995 500cc motocross world championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=29 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bestsports.com.br/db/atlpag.php?atl=3175&lang=2 |title=Joël Smets career profile |publisher=bestsports.com |access-date=29 January 2020 }}</ref> The battle between Parker and Smets was a tense one with Smets wrapping up the title in the last round of the series in [[Germany]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=qPcDAAAAMBAJ&dq=joel+smets&pg=PT49 Vohland and Parker Come Up Short], ''American Motorcyclist'', November 1995, Vol. 49, No. 11, {{ISSN|0277-9358}}</ref>


A knee injury during the 1996 season hampered the defense of his world championship and, New Zealand's [[Shayne King]] claimed the championship crown. Smets came back from his injury to win two consecutive 500cc world championships in 1997 and 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929ce00cbbd02 |title=1997 500cc motocross world championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=29 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929cdb104c602 |title=1998 500cc motocross world championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=29 January 2020 }}</ref> He also represented Belgium at the 1998 [[International Six Days Enduro]], a form of [[Off-roading|off-road]] motorcycle Olympics, and won a gold medal by winning the 400cc four stroke class.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fullnoise.com.au/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_full&news_id=2748&section=1&Ntitle=Enduro%3A%20ISDE%20%2D%20Joel%20Smets’%20Last%20Race |title=ISDE – Joel Smets' Last Race |publisher=fullnoise.com |access-date=30 January 2020 }}</ref> Smets' title defense in the 1999 season was marred by eight mechanical failures as he finished third in the championship.
A shock defeat by New Zealand's [[Shayne King]] in the 1996 season didn't stop Smets from returning in 1997 and taking his second world 500cc title. He followed with 500cc titles in 1998, riding a [[Husaberg]], and in 2000 on a [[KTM]]. In 2003, he came up against the Frenchman [[Mickael Pichon]] and fellow Belgian [[Stefan Everts]] in the newly formed [[FIM Motocross World Championship|MX1-GP]] championship. He rode a KTM to a second place finish behind Everts in an exciting season of racing. Smets also contested the MX3 class for bikes with a 650cc engine capacity in 2003, winning that title and picking up his 57th Grand Prix victory. He moved to the [[Suzuki]] factory team for 2004 but suffered a major injury at the season opening round in the Mantova International.


Smets joined the KTM factory racing team for the 2000 500cc world championship and dominated the competition by winning 12 out go 16 Grand Prix races, including eight Grands Prix in a row.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929ccb0c3ed02 |title=2000 500cc motocross world championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=29 January 2020 }}</ref> He finished second to [[Stefan Everts]] in the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
⚫
The injury saw him miss his assault on any title in 2004. The 2005 season was another season he would not reach his true potential as he battled to match Everts on the track. He did win races, but could never get that Grand Prix overall. His season ended at the Gaildorf circuit in Germany when he injured his knee.


In 2003, competed in the newly formed MX1-GP championship for machines with 450cc four stroke engines. He rode a KTM to a second-place finish behind Everts in an exciting season of racing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/visite/index.php#0440929ca80bef702 |title=2003 MX1-GP motocross world championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=29 January 2020 }}</ref> Smets also contested the MX3 class for motorcycles with a 650cc engine capacity in 2003, winning that title, picking up his 57th Grand Prix victory and his fifth open class world championship leaving him ties with [[Roger De Coster]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929cd80c80002 |title=2003 MX3 motocross world championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=29 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Glenday, Craig |title=[[Guinness World Records]] |publisher=Bantam Books |location=New York |year=2008 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=keCMNVyeroYC&dq=joel+smets&pg=PA427 427] |isbn=978-0-553-58995-5 }}</ref>
Smets has also helped Belgium to win the [[Motocross des Nations]] in 1995, and 1997. He sits in second place in the all time Grand Prix winners list with his 57 Grand Prix victories, and is only led by Stefan Everts who has 101 Grand Prix wins. In mid-2005 Smets announced his retirement from Grand Prix racing after injury forced him out of the 2005 season and being sacked by the [[Suzuki]] factory team.


⚫
Smets joined [[Sylvain Geboers]]' Alstare [[Suzuki]] Team for the 2004 season but, suffered a major injury at the season opening round in the Mantova International. The injury saw him miss his assault on any title in 2004. The 2005 season was another season he would not reach his true potential as he battled to match Everts on the track. He did win races, but could never get that Grand Prix overall. He announced his retirement from international competition at the age of 37 after injuring his knee at the Gaildorf circuit in Germany.<ref name="Joel Smets Calls It Quits After 57 GP Wins"/>
==Second career==

⚫
At the beginning of the 2006 season Smets teamed up with MTM Suzuki to race in international races and the Belgium national championship races. After the 2006 season, Smets retired from international and national racing all together. At the start of the 2007 season Smets was managing a small team. By mid season Smets had moved to [[BMW]] to work on development of their new 450cc enduro machine, which saw Smets competing in some rounds of the [[World Enduro Championship]].
Smets retired with 57 Grand Prix victories. At the time of his retirement, his 57 career Grand Prix victories ranked second only to Stefan Everts 87 victories at the time.<ref name="Joel Smets Calls It Quits After 57 GP Wins"/> As of 2019, he ranks fourth all-time behind Everts (101), [[Antonio Cairoli]] (86), and [[Jeffrey Herlings]] (84).<ref name="Mickael Pichon interview – Legend"/> Smets was also a member of victorious Belgium teams at the [[Motocross des Nations]] in 1995, and 1997.

⚫
At the beginning of the 2006 season Smets teamed up with MTM Suzuki to race in international races and the Belgium national championship races. After the 2006 season, Smets retired from international and national racing altogether. At the start of the 2007 season Smets was managing a small team. By mid season Smets had moved to [[BMW]] to work on development of their new 450cc enduro machine, which saw Smets competing in some rounds of the [[World Enduro Championship]].

After retiring, he managed the Belgian Motocross des Nations team for 11 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motoheadmag.com/tag/joel-smets/ |title=Smets Quits As Belgians Nations Manager |publisher=motoheadmag.com |access-date=30 January 2020 }}</ref> In 2015, Smets was named Racing Sports Director for [[KTM]] motorcycles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://press.ktm.com/News_Detail.aspx?id=33377&menueid=7311 |title=Joel Smets Appointed KTM's Motocross Factory Racing Sports Director |publisher=ktm.com |access-date=30 January 2020 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{MX3 world champions}}
{{MX3 world champions}}
{{Belgian Sportsperson of the Year}}
{{Belgian Sportsperson of the Year}}
{{Belgian National Sports Merit Award}}


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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2012}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Smets, Joel
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Motocross racer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 6 April 1969
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Mol, Belgium
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smets, Joel}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smets, Joel}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Antwerp (province)]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Antwerp Province]]
[[Category:Belgian motorcycle racers]]
[[Category:Belgian motocross riders]]
[[Category:Motocross riders]]
[[Category:Enduro riders]]
[[Category:Enduro riders]]
[[Category:People from Mol, Belgium]]

Latest revision as of 06:36, 17 March 2023

Joël Smets
NationalityBelgian
Born6 April 1969 (1969-04-06) (age 55)
Mol, Antwerp, Belgium
Motocross career
Years active1989 – 2005
TeamsVertemati, Husaberg, KTM
Championships500cc- 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000
MX3-GP- 2003
Wins57

Joël Smets (born 6 April 1969) is a Belgian former professional motocross racer and current Racing Sports Director for KTM motorcycles.[1] He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1989 to 2005. Smets is notable for being a five-time motocross world champion, six-time Belgian national champion and was Belgian Sportsman of the year in 2000.[1] His 57 career Grand Prix victories ranks him fourth overall among motocross world championship competitors.[2]

International career[edit]

Smets was born in Mol, Antwerp. Nicknamed The Flemish Lion during his career, Smets was named after his parents' favorite rider Joël Robert.[3] He didn't start racing until he was seventeen years old and found his feet on the Grand Prix scene rather quickly. In 1993 Smets won the German Grand Prix, and finished the season in third place in the 500cc championship.

A year later Smets, riding the Vertemati machine, won two Grands Prix and again finished third in the world. By 1995 and racing for the Husaberg factory he was set to clinch his first ever world title, winning the 500cc championship from American Trampas Parker.[4][5] The battle between Parker and Smets was a tense one with Smets wrapping up the title in the last round of the series in Germany.[6]

A knee injury during the 1996 season hampered the defense of his world championship and, New Zealand's Shayne King claimed the championship crown. Smets came back from his injury to win two consecutive 500cc world championships in 1997 and 1998.[7][8] He also represented Belgium at the 1998 International Six Days Enduro, a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics, and won a gold medal by winning the 400cc four stroke class.[9] Smets' title defense in the 1999 season was marred by eight mechanical failures as he finished third in the championship.

Smets joined the KTM factory racing team for the 2000 500cc world championship and dominated the competition by winning 12 out go 16 Grand Prix races, including eight Grands Prix in a row.[10] He finished second to Stefan Everts in the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

In 2003, competed in the newly formed MX1-GP championship for machines with 450cc four stroke engines. He rode a KTM to a second-place finish behind Everts in an exciting season of racing.[11] Smets also contested the MX3 class for motorcycles with a 650cc engine capacity in 2003, winning that title, picking up his 57th Grand Prix victory and his fifth open class world championship leaving him ties with Roger De Coster.[12][13]

Smets joined Sylvain Geboers' Alstare Suzuki Team for the 2004 season but, suffered a major injury at the season opening round in the Mantova International. The injury saw him miss his assault on any title in 2004. The 2005 season was another season he would not reach his true potential as he battled to match Everts on the track. He did win races, but could never get that Grand Prix overall. He announced his retirement from international competition at the age of 37 after injuring his knee at the Gaildorf circuit in Germany.[3]

Smets retired with 57 Grand Prix victories. At the time of his retirement, his 57 career Grand Prix victories ranked second only to Stefan Everts 87 victories at the time.[3] As of 2019, he ranks fourth all-time behind Everts (101), Antonio Cairoli (86), and Jeffrey Herlings (84).[2] Smets was also a member of victorious Belgium teams at the Motocross des Nations in 1995, and 1997.

At the beginning of the 2006 season Smets teamed up with MTM Suzuki to race in international races and the Belgium national championship races. After the 2006 season, Smets retired from international and national racing altogether. At the start of the 2007 season Smets was managing a small team. By mid season Smets had moved to BMW to work on development of their new 450cc enduro machine, which saw Smets competing in some rounds of the World Enduro Championship.

After retiring, he managed the Belgian Motocross des Nations team for 11 years.[14] In 2015, Smets was named Racing Sports Director for KTM motorcycles.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Joel Smets appointed KTM Motocross Factory Racing Sports Director". mxgp.com. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Mickael Pichon interview – Legend". mxlarge.com. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Joel Smets Calls It Quits After 57 GP Wins". motocrossactionmag.com. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  4. ^ "1995 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Joël Smets career profile". bestsports.com. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  6. ^ Vohland and Parker Come Up Short, American Motorcyclist, November 1995, Vol. 49, No. 11, ISSN 0277-9358
  7. ^ "1997 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  8. ^ "1998 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  9. ^ "ISDE – Joel Smets' Last Race". fullnoise.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  10. ^ "2000 500cc motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  11. ^ "2003 MX1-GP motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  12. ^ "2003 MX3 motocross world championship final standings". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  13. ^ Glenday, Craig (2008). Guinness World Records. New York: Bantam Books. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-553-58995-5.
  14. ^ "Smets Quits As Belgians Nations Manager". motoheadmag.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  15. ^ "Joel Smets Appointed KTM's Motocross Factory Racing Sports Director". ktm.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
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