Didier de Radiguès

Didier Marie Jean François Colette Ghislain de Radiguès de Chennevière (born on 27 March 1958) is a Belgian former professional motorcycle racer, auto racing driver and current artist. He also serves as a television sports color commentator for Belgium television, a Moto GP riders manager and as the owner of a motorcycle riding school. He competed in the FIM motorcycle Grand Prix world championships from 1980 to 1991.

Motorsport career

Born in Leuven, de Radiguès, made his motorcycle Grand Prix debut in 1979, racing in the 500cc class. His best year was in 1982 when he won two races and finished second to Anton Mang in the 350cc world championship. He rode in 500cc for the Yamaha factory racing team in 1988 as a team-mate to Eddie Lawson and ended his career with the Suzuki team in 1991 as Kevin Schwantz' team-mate. He won four Grands Prix during his career, as well as the 1991 Macau Grand Prix, a non-championship event.

De Radiguès is the Belgium's most successful motorcycle road racer with four Grand Prix victories. In 1992, at the request of the riders, de Radiguès organized the International Motorcycle Riders Association which was then managed by Franco Uncini at IRTA.

After his motorcycle racing career, de Radiguès took up sports car endurance racing, winning the 1997 Belgian Procar Championship as well as the Spa 24 Hours race and the championship in the American Le Mans Series in 2001. In 1998, de Radiguès entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans with fellow ex-motorcycle rider Wayne Gardner.

In 2003, de Radiguès began a motorcycle riding school in France.

Television career

De Radiguès is also a Motorsport TV consultant, first on Club RTL and then on RTBF (since 2013), the two largest French-speaking Belgian TV channels. He gives commentary on Moto3, Moto2 and Moto GP races.

Artistic career

De Radiguès started his artistic career in New York and Singapore, Brussels, Hong Kong and Paris. His first series called « From My Gazebo » is inspired by his many trips to the Bahamas. From his gazebo, planted in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean on a small island of the Exumas, de Radiguès captures the landscape around him. His latest series is called People Portrait.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results Points system from 1969 to 1987: Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Points 15 12 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 Points system from 1988 to 1992: Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Points 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Class Team Machine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Points Rank Wins 1980 250cc Yamaha TZ250 NAT- ESP- FRA- YUG- NED8 BEL- FIN- GBR- CZE- GER6 8 18th 01981 250cc Johnson-Yamaha TZ250 ARG9 GER- NAT- FRA- ESP- NED10 BEL5 RSM10 GBR6 FIN- SWE8 CZE4 26 9th 0 350cc Johnson-Yamaha TZ350 ARG- AUT- GER- NAT- YUG- NED- GBR4 CZE- 8 17th 01982 250cc Chevallier-Yamaha TZ250 FRA- ESP- NAT- NED- BEL3 YUG1 GBR10 SWE- FIN2 CZE- RSM- GER- 38 6th 1 350cc Chevallier-Yamaha TZ350 ARG3 AUT- FRA2 NAT1 NED- GBR2 FIN- CZE1 GER- 64 2nd 21983 250cc Chevallier-Yamaha TZ250 RSA2 FRA4 NAT9 GER3 ESPNC AUT2 YUGNC NED7 BEL1 GBR9 SWE8 68 3rd 1 500cc Honda NS500 RSA- FRANC NAT- GER- ESP13 AUT- YUG- NED- BELNC GBRNC SWE20 RSMNC 0 - 0 1984 500cc Elf-Chevallier Honda NS500 RSA4 NAT12 ESPNC AUTNC GERNC FRA6 YUG6 NEDNC BELNC GBRNC SWENC RSM5 24 9th 0 1985 500cc Elf-Honda NS500 RSA7 ESP6 GER5 NAT10 AUT6 YUG7 NED6 BEL7 FRANC GBR4 SWE6 RSMNC 47 8th 0 1986 500cc Rollstar-Honda NS500 ESP- NAT5 GER5 AUT- YUG- NED9 BEL7 FRA8 GBR2 SWE6 RSM7 42 7th 0 1987 500cc Cagiva GP500 JPNNC ESPNC GER12 NATNC AUT12 YUG- NED6 FRANC GBR6 SWE8 CZE12 RSMNC PORNC BRA4 ARGNC 21 12th 0 1988 500cc Marlboro-Yamaha YZR500 JPN9 USA8 ESP8 EXP6 NATNC GER7 AUT2 NED12 BEL4 YUG6 FRA7 GBR7 SWE7 CZENC BRA9 120 7th 0 1989 250cc Aprilia RS250 JPN14 AUS9 USA14 ESPNC NATNC GERNC AUT5 YUGNC NED6 BELNC FRA9 GBRNC SWE7 CZE13 BRANC 51 12th 0 1990 250cc Aprilia RS250 JPNNC USA- ESP9 NATNC GERNC AUT9 YUGNC NED7 BEL2 FRA7 GBR11 SWE17 CZENC HUN13 AUS7 66 12th 0 1991 500cc Lucky Strike-Suzuki RGV500 JPN14 AUS10 USA10 ESP8 ITANC GER6 AUT8 EUR10 NED5 FRA7 GBR8 RSM8 CZE7 VDM8 MAL8 105 8th 0 Source:

24 Hours of Le Mans results