Joël Smets

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Joël Smets (born April 6, 1969 in Mol, Antwerp) is a former motocross rider from Belgium, who was named Belgian Sportsman of the Year in 2000.

Nicknamed The Flemish Lion during his career, Smets was named after his parents’ favorite rider Joël Robert. 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 championship.

A year later Smets, riding the Vertemati machine, won two GP's 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 legend 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 to 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 (Husaberg) and 2000 (on a KTM). In 2003 (again on KTM) he came up against the Frenchman Mickael Pichon and fellow Belgian Stefan Everts in the MotocrossGP championship, he the finished second behind Everts in an exciting season of racing. Smets also contested the 650cc class in 2003, winning that title and picking up his 57th GP victory as he moved to the Suzuki factory and suffered a major injury at the 2004 season opening 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 around 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 GP victories and is only lead by Stefan Everts who has 99 GP wins.

In mid 2005 Smets announced his retirement from GP racing after injury forced him out off the 2005 season and being sacked by the Suzuki factory team.

At the begening of the 2006 season Smets teamed up with MTM Suzuki (not the Works team) to race in international races (not GPs) and the Belgium national championship races. After this season, Smets will retire from international and national racing all together.