Gaston Rahier

Gaston Rahier (1 February 1947 – 8 February 2005) was a Belgian professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1967 to 1983, most prominently as a member of the Suzuki factory racing team where he won three consecutive FIM 125cc Motocross World Championships. After his motocross career, he competed in long distance Rally Raid racing and was a two-time winner of the prestigious Paris-Dakar rally. In 1977, Rahier was named the recipient of the Belgian National Sports Merit Award.

As the sport of motocross experienced a surge in popularity during the early 1970s, the FIM introduced the 125cc Motocross World Championship in 1975. The Suzuki team entered Rahier into the new class, and he proceeded to dominate the season by winning eight out of twelve Grand Prix events to win the inaugural 125cc Motocross World Championship.

Rahier successfully defended his 125cc title in 1976 and was a member of victorious Belgian teams at both the Motocross des Nations and Trophée des Nations events. Rahier's title defense in the 1977 season was made more difficult by the strong opposition presented by Yamaha factory rider Gérard Rond who won three Grand Prix events. Rahier was able to prevail by winning seven of twelve events to win his third consecutive 125cc motocross world championship, setting a record of 29 career 125cc Grand Prix victories.

Rahier left the Suzuki team and raced a Yamaha to a third place finish in the 1979 125cc Motocross World Championship behind Suzuki teammates Harry Everts and Akira Watanabe. He won three 125cc motocross world titles (1975-1977) and six Belgian motocross national championships. Rahier and his co-rider Eddy Hau won Class 30 for riders over 30 years of age, and finished eighth overall ahead of all the cars and trucks entered in the race.

Rahier died in Paris on 8 February 2005, after a long battle with cancer.

Paris-Dakar results