Gaston Rahier
Gaston Rahier (born February 1, 1947 in Chaineux , † February 8, 2005 in Paris ) was a Belgian motocross driver.
Career
In 1975 Rahier was the first Belgian to secure the world championship in the eight-liter class and repeated this triumph in 1976 and 1977. 29 Grand Prix victories and six successes with the Belgian team at the Nations Cup go to his account. In 1977 he was awarded the National Sports Merit Trophy.
Although he almost lost a hand in a serious accident in 1982, Rahier competed in the Paris-Dakar desert rally in 1983 . Rahier, who was only able to get on his motorcycle, a BMW R 80 GS , while rolling because of his height of only 1.64 m , was eliminated due to a technical defect.
After winning the Paris-Dakar Rally for the first time in 1984 after an exciting duel with his stable mate Hubert Auriol , he developed into a motorsport legend in the years that followed. In 1985, when he fell right at the start of the rally, he damaged his motorcycle so badly that it was almost irreparable. Nevertheless, thanks to his special driving skills, commitment and a great performance by the mechanics, he achieved overall victory. In the same year he was named Belgian Sportsman of the Year.
In 1986 he fell seriously again, breaking six ribs and breaking his collarbone. Despite his serious injuries, he drove the rally to the finish in Dakar.
He died at the age of 58 after a serious illness.
statistics
Le Mans results
| year | team | vehicle | Teammate | Teammate | placement | Failure reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 |
 Graff Racing
|
Rondeau M482 |
Jean-Philippe Grand
|
Jacques Terrien
|
Rank 12 |
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Rahier, Gaston |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Belgian motocross rider |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 1, 1947 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Chaineux , Belgium |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 8, 2005 |
| Place of death | Paris , France |