The first words he heard from his doctor was that he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair and recovery would be limited.

At first the Belgian Motocross legend was in disbelief, confused and sad, but slowly he began to build on that same determination that had taken him to Motocross immortality and look for a way to return to an acceptable life style.

There is no time like the present that Jobe needs that fighting quality and that same attitude that took him to his World titles is now seeing him fight another battle, a battle with his own body.

I have known Jobe for maybe 15 years and visited his amazing home nestled in the countryside on the outskirts of Liege in Belgium. To say that Jobe had a good lifestyle would have been an understatement. Views overlooking the hillsides, a huge house, swimming pool, and a garage full of mens toys, a luxury most of us could only dream of.

All that though came tumbling down around him one winter’s day in 2007.

We caught up with Jobe and asked him about his progress and what it is like to live in the body of a handicapped person, after being one of the most successful sportsmen not only in our sport, but to come out of his country.

Q: Georges, how are you doing, you look good?

Jobe: I am working even more than when I was racing. For me every day is a Grand Prix. Every morning I go walking as much as I can, because I have a lot of spasm in the night. I go swimming, so before breakfast I do one hour exercise, and for six or seven hours I am working all the time. I am happy about that, because I feel better and strong, but it is very slow.

Q: You were always in good physical condition, and always seemed to be proud of that. How is it now knowing that you’re not how you once were?

Jobe: It's a big frustration, when I am sitting in the wheelchair with a neck brace on and the doctor says to me, Georges Jobe or not Georges Jobe, you won't move anymore, you are stuck in this wheelchair. I was shocked and then I recovered mentally and I fought hard, and now I can walk and it's not too bad, but I will never give up to get back to what I once was, or as close as possible. For anything I am doing I won't give up. I am slowly coming back, and it's not like it was before, but it's getting better and better.

Q: You are really fighting against something that is nearly impossible to beat. How do you deal with that?

Jobe: Of course, but it's a big challenge, this is something else than winning a World Championship, this is a challenge of my body, fighting against myself. The doctor does not believe what I am doing. I should be in a wheelchair, but it's a fight against my body and I am winning. It is also something where I am fighting against the doctors, against logical advice from the doctors. They are always telling me not to do some things, but when I had the spasm for the first time they said don't go cycling on my bike.

Q: You mentioned these spasms, what is that?

Jobe: I have these spasms often when I am in bed sleeping, and it's very painful. The spasm is like my whole body contracts, I can't feel the right side of my body, but this is a lot of pain.

Q: What advice do you get to help these spasms?

Jobe: The doctors tell me don't do this and don't do that. Then I ask other people and they give me advice to do something else. I didn't really listen to the doctor’s advice, because their advice is slow and doesn't make much progress. So I go back to the doctor he say’s wow, you are getting better aren't you, then I am telling him, yes, but I am doing what you told me to do, I am riding my cycle 50 kilometers a day.

Q: Does it help the spasms?

Jobe: I still have the same spasm, it isn't worse and it isn't better, but it improves my walking. The doctor then writes down in his book what I am telling him, hey, I am coming to see you for advice, not the other way around. It is funny, but of course it is also not funny.

Q: Did you find out who your friends are in this ordeal?

Jobe: You know, I know who I was, and I know who I am still, but people see me differently now. It's like when you are World Champion and everyone loves you, then you are not World Champion, this is something I have experienced, but now I know the friends and the real people. Unfortunately it is a bad way to learn this lesson, but I know now who my friends are, I know what my situation is and I know why I am here and what I am doing. I don't do stupid things anymore. My body will never be perfect, but I am so happy, I can't find a word to say how happy I am. If somebody told me 20 months ago after my crash that I would be talking to you, standing talking with you, I would have taken that for sure.

Q: I noticed you talking with a guy in a wheelchair a little while ago (in the GP paddock). Are you giving or getting advice from him?

Jobe: I know a lot now, that is why I talk to a lot of people, people who are in wheelchairs, and I try and help them, because it's is possible they have the same problems I have had, and I made a lot of progress. Three months after my accident I found out about things and I am helping people now. I still work with some riders, I still do some stuff with David Philippaerts, but my satisfaction to help somebody in a wheelchair it’s a great feeling for me, same as winning a Grand Prix, but 100 times better.

Q: Is it possible to ride still?

Jobe: I was on the bike a little bit, but it cost me too much energy on my body, and also I like to watch, but I don’t have it anymore. I don’t know if it will come back, but I am riding a little, but I am like a novice, like a beginner.