Joël Smets
Encyclopedia
Joël Smets is a former motocross
world champion from Belgium
, who was named Belgian Sportsman of the Year in 2000.
. 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
. 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 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 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.
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.
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 off the 2005 season and being sacked by the Suzuki
factory team.
to work on development of their new 450cc enduro machine, which saw Smets competing in some rounds of the World Enduro Championship
.
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
world champion from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, who was named Belgian Sportsman of the Year in 2000.
International career
Nicknamed The Flemish Lion during his career, Smets was named after his parents’ favorite rider Joël RobertJoël Robert
Joël Robert is a Belgian motocross racer who won the 250cc Motocross World Championship six times including five times in a row....
. 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
Husaberg
Husaberg is a manufacturer of off-road and supermoto four-stroke and two-stroke motorcycles. Husaberg motorcycles are known for their larger displacement engines and for their race-oriented construction...
factory he was set to clinch his first ever world title, winning the 500cc championship from American Trampas Parker
Trampas Parker
Trampas Parker is an American former two-time Grand Prix motocross world champion.He was the 1989 F.I.M. world champion in the 125cc class on a KTM. In 1991 he won the 250 world championship on a Honda. He was the first American to claim two motocross world championships...
. 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
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
A shock defeat by New Zealand's Shayne King
Shayne King
Shayne King is a former Grand Prix motocross world champion.King began competing in the F.I.M. world championships in 1993 and clinched the 500cc title in 1996 riding for the KTM team. He was New Zealand's first-ever motocross world champion. In 1997 he finished in third place behind Joël Smets...
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
Husaberg
Husaberg is a manufacturer of off-road and supermoto four-stroke and two-stroke motorcycles. Husaberg motorcycles are known for their larger displacement engines and for their race-oriented construction...
, and in 2000 on a KTM
KTM
KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer.The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metal working shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen...
. In 2003, he came up against the Frenchman Mickael Pichon
Mickaël Pichon
Mickaël Pichon is a French motorcross racer.Pichon took part in the Supercross circuit in the USA from 1995 until 1999. He became World Champion twice in this competition, while racing for Kawasaki. He then came back to Europe and signed a contract with Suzuki to compete in the 250cc motocross...
and fellow Belgian Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts is a motocross racer from Belgium, who retired in 2006 after securing his record 10th World Title. He also holds several other motocross records....
in the newly formed 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
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
factory team for 2004 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. His season ended at the Gaildorf circuit in Germany when he injured his knee.
Smets has also helped Belgium to win the Motocross des Nations
Motocross des Nations
The Motocross des Nations is an annual team motocross race, where riders representing their country meet at what is billed as the "Olympics of Motocross"...
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 off the 2005 season and being sacked by the Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
factory team.
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 BMWBMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
to work on development of their new 450cc enduro machine, which saw Smets competing in some rounds of the World Enduro Championship
World Enduro Championship
The FIM World Enduro Championship is the world championship series for enduro, a popular form of off-road motorcycle sport. The championship currently features three classes , along with separate categories for junior and female riders. The WEC was first organized in 1990, and currently consists...
.