The motocross country of Belgium might just be smiling a little wider again this morning. With today’s news of the Coenen brothers, Sacha and Lucas joining the factory teams of KTM and Husqvarna, it brings a little history for that proud country.

It has been seven years since four Belgian riders have been factory riders in the same season. Of course, other Belgians riders racing for factory teams in 2023 are Jago Geerts with Yamaha and Liam Everts with KTM.

Obviously, a long way from the glory days of De Coster, Geboers, Roberts, Jobe, Everts and Smets, but it is something to build on, and something I think we are all excited for.

As mentioned, it has been several years since Belgium have had four factory riders and in fact it was back in 2015 when Ken De Dycker rode for the factory KTM team, Jeremy Van Horebeek rode for the factory Yamaha team, Clement Desalle and Kevin Strijbos both rode for the Suzuki factory team. All in the MXGP class of course.

In that season Belgian riders finished with Van Horebeek fifth in the MXGP championship, Desalle 10^th, Strijbos 12^th and De Dycker 17^th, so it wasn’t anything special from the Belgians that season and from that season it just got worse.

It should be pointed out, Belgium have never had two 15-year-old factory riders in their long history, as the Coenen brothers turn 16 in a couple of weeks, similar to Ken Roczen and Jeffrey Herlings when they joined the MX2 class as 15-year-olds, back more than a decade ago. That is how KTM and Husqvarna look at these young Belgian kids.

No doubt, the country of Belgium is excited for 2023 and with these four young men battling for MX2 honours, maybe this proud country can add their 53^rd World motocross championship to their long list of number one plate owners. Already the country with the most World championships in our sport, that long wait for number 53 could easily come next year.

It was 16 years ago that Steve Ramon won their 52^nd, when he finished with the MX1 title, adding to his 2003 MX2 championship. Of course, with the retirement of Stefan Everts in 2006, and Joel Smets a couple of years earlier, that domination that Belgium had enjoyed in the late 1990’s and early 2000s dried up quickly.

With the son of Marniq Bervoets also working his way through the ranks and his former rivals Everts, Ramon and Smets working closely with the other young Belgian riders, there is a feeling of confidence that all will work itself out once again for this little country. These four young men have something to live up to, and looking at the list below, it is a hard act to follow.

Stefan Everts – 10 World Titles

Stefan Everts record of success will be very difficult to beat. Not only does he have 10 world titles, but he also has 101 grand prix victories, the second most GP wins is 80 by current MXGP hero, Antonio Cairoli. Everts also won three GPs in a single day, and he won world title on all four brands of the Japanese motorcycles (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki). Not only did Everts have an amazing racing career, his son Liam is now a full factory ride for the MX2 championship and his father was of course Harry Everts, a legend in his own right.

Joel Robert – 6 World Titles

Joel Robert was for many years the most successful grand prix rider in the history of the sport, but that was until Stefan Everts came along and broke all his records. Robert has not only six FIM world titles, but also 50 GP victories. Known as a character, Robert once raced three races in a weekend, won them all and partied after each race. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, motocross racers were known to smoke and drink during the season and Robert was a legend at more than just racing. Riding for the Suzuki factory team in the 1960’s and 70’s gave him an added advantage over his rivals as the Suzuki factory was clearly a level above the others.

Roger De Coster – 5 World Titles 

Simply known as ‘The Man’ back in the day he had a lot to do with many people coming into the sport of motocross. Slick, good looking and always confident De Coster won five FIM World 500cc Championships and 36 GPs in the 1970s. 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. De Coster is also famous for being manager of the Team USA effort for the Red Bull FIM Motocross of Nations and he has been the team manager since the early 1980s.

Georges Jobe – 5 World Titles

In one of the toughest eras in the sport’s history, Jobe put together five FIM World titles and 28 Grand Prix wins. Similar to his countrymen (Eric Geboers and Andre Malherbe) Jobe came up against riders like Hakan Carlqvist, Dave Thorpe, Brad Lackey and Kees Van Der Ven and was still able of putting together one of the most incredible careers in the sports history. Jobe won two FIM World 250cc and three FIM 500cc world titles.

Eric Geboers – 5 World Titles

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. Five FIM World Motocross Championships, 39 grand prix wins and the first man to win World titles in all three classes (125cc, 250cc and 500cc). Geboers was known for his professional approach to the sport and his desire to win at any cost.

Joel Smets – 5 World Titles

Unlike his biggest rival Stefan Everts, this tall blonde Belgian didn’t have the most talent in the World, but what he lacked in talent he made up for with sheer determination. Smets won five FIM World titles and 57 GP victories. 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.

Harry Everts – 4 World Titles

Father of Stefan won four FIM world titles, one in the 250cc class and three in the 125cc class. The senior Everts rode for the Suzuki factory team during his domination of the 125cc class. Everts won in the 125cc class in 1979, 1980 and 1981 and the 250cc class in 1975.

Andre Malherbe – 3 World Titles

Ask Stefan Everts who he thinks is the most accomplished GP rider of all time and he might just mention the name Andre Malherbe. Malherbe won three FIM World 500cc Championships, but could have added more titles as in the period he was having success in the 125cc class it was not yet a FIM World Championship classified event, only a European Championship. Malherbe also won 28 Grand Prix’s.

Gaston Rahier – 3 World Titles

The late great Gaston Rahier. His three FIM World 125cc Championships came in the golden era of the Suzuki factory team. 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. Rahier was the first ever FIM World 125cc Champion and like Eric Geboers used his small statue as an advantage.

Steve Ramon – 2 World Titles

Ramon has made the most of his career. Both world titles came in unusual circumstances. His first was the FIM World 125cc Championship in 2003 when he just beat Stefan Everts in the points after Everts hadn’t competed in the early rounds. Ramon’s second title came in the 2007 FIM World MX1 Championship. He had trailed Josh Coppins by around 100 points before Coppins crashed out of the Grand Prix of Czech Republic ending his championship assault. Ramon was there on both occasions to pick up the pieces courtesy of his solid results throughout the whole season. As mentioned above, the last Belgian to win a World motocross championship.