René Baeten

René Gommarus Desire Baeten (10 June 1927 – 5 June 1960) was a Belgian professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1947 to 1960. Baeten is notable for winning the 1958 500cc Motocross World Championship. In 1957, the F.I.M. upgraded the competition to world championship status, and again Baeten would finish in second place, this time to Bill Nilsson on an AJS motorcycle. In 1958, Baeten would ride an FN motorcycle to claim the 500cc motocross world championship, defeating Nilsson and Sten Lundin. He was honored for his achievement with the 1958 Belgian National Sports Merit Award.

When the FN factory decided to withdraw from motocross competition in 1959, Baeten was forced to compete as a privateer riding a less-competitive AJS motorcycle and dropped to ninth place in the 1959 championship. He died from injuries sustained in a motocross race in Stekene, Belgium on 5 June 1960.