What 'multi time world champ' was this prototype made for, but he never rode?

travis-grant
Edited Date/Time 10/13/2014 7:42am


tough one.


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Skuzzy29
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Skuzzy29 10/11/2014 3:11pm
10/11/2014 3:11pm
Hopefully the stand won't give it away!
travis-grant 10/11/2014 3:18pm
10/11/2014 3:18pm
OK, ok, trust you (out of the whole community) to read MY post.

YES

Joel smets. BUT WHAT YEAR???

The Shop

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#991
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#991 10/11/2014 3:19pm
10/11/2014 3:19pm Edited Date/Time 4/3/2015 3:13am
...
Deluxe
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Deluxe 10/11/2014 3:22pm
10/11/2014 3:22pm
travis-grant wrote:
OK, ok, trust you (out of the whole community) to read MY post.

YES

Joel smets. BUT WHAT YEAR???
Wouldn't have guessed Smets but it's a 2004 prototype
travis-grant 10/11/2014 3:35pm
10/11/2014 3:35pm Edited Date/Time 10/11/2014 3:36pm
travis-grant wrote:
OK, ok, trust you (out of the whole community) to read MY post.

YES

Joel smets. BUT WHAT YEAR???
Deluxe wrote:
Wouldn't have guessed Smets but it's a 2004 prototype
yes, suzuki was pushing for smets to change the rmz40 into a race winning machine circa 03 (july)

Joel Smets might be the single, best rider to help a factory develop a new 450cc, four-stroke motocross machine. The five-time World Motocross champion has been through this before . . . successfully. He knows what he needs from a four-stroke MX bike to get around the track quickly, and win.
heres the write up,

Suzuki will have the services of Smets during its development of the RM-Z450 machine next year. Suzuki is no stranger to four-stroke power, both for the road and for the dirt. The new RM-Z250, jointly developed with Kawasaki, for instance, is competitive in its first production year.

The RM-Z450 is purely a Suzuki (no Kawasaki involvement). With an aluminum beam frame, it is a new direction for Suzuki in the motocross world, and will require careful development. Smets is the right rider for Suzuki in this task.

Can the Suzuki win in its first year? We wouldn’t be surprised if Smets wins races in 2004 aboard the RM-Z450 prototype, but he isn’t our favorite for the championship on the untested machine.
Bearuno
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Bearuno 10/11/2014 5:19pm
10/11/2014 5:19pm Edited Date/Time 10/11/2014 5:20pm
I assume you mean he didn't ride this particular bike?

I think he absolutely destroyed his knee at a pre season race in Italy in 2004, and then re injured it on the Suzuki, in 2005, then subsequently retiring, at least from full time GPs.

The pictures of him lying in the corner, with his leg twisted / bent into a horrendous angle, still haunts me - like I'd say a lot of blokes here, I've had a few of those moments .

Often when Journo's / Commentators are referring to nasty events, they invoke Smets bellows / screams of pain echoing over the race circuit, when he basically, ended his career.

He came to OZ and raced - 2 times at least in our 4 Day Enduro - winning his class on the 'Berg at Taralgon, and I forget how he did on the BMW. He was a real gentleman, funny, articulate, and quite the accomplished 'goon rider'. His standing on the seat wheelies, were always a chuckle - and when he flipped the BM doing one, he stood on the circuit, taking a bow..

Smets is still a major mover and shaker in MX - the man's truly one of the greats, a fantastic ambassador for the sport and, one of the few to stand up to that prick Luongo, and his 'pet' FIM cronies. Luongo's been around far longer than his latest venture, Youthstream. He - Luongo - is a f**king cancer / virus on the sport.
jhansen510
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jhansen510 10/11/2014 5:49pm
10/11/2014 5:49pm
Cool story bro. For real though, what's up with the dude in your avatar?
Ninurta
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Ninurta 10/12/2014 12:46am
10/12/2014 12:46am
Good to see Smets is still loved abroad Cool
A real likeable guy and always trying to help the sport move forward. Thanks Travis for putting this up!
travis-grant 10/12/2014 4:25am
10/12/2014 4:25am Edited Date/Time 10/12/2014 4:26am
jhansen510 wrote:
Cool story bro. For real though, what's up with the dude in your avatar?
heavy night i believe




bro..
travis-grant 10/12/2014 4:26am
10/12/2014 4:26am
Ninurta wrote:
Good to see Smets is still loved abroad B) A real likeable guy and always trying to help the sport move forward. Thanks Travis for putting...
Good to see Smets is still loved abroad Cool
A real likeable guy and always trying to help the sport move forward. Thanks Travis for putting this up!
no problem, i wish i could find stuff on everts 500
Ninurta
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Ninurta 10/12/2014 8:59am
10/12/2014 8:59am
I found a link to an article (in dutch) that says Everts was the last one to win a GP on a cr500 in 98 at Namur. The links says he rode a cr500 engine in an aluminum 250 frame

http://www.demotorsite.be/content/de-10-belangrijkste-roadmachines-van-de-afgelopen-40-jaar-5-honda-cr-500


I don't know that much about that era of racing. If they're wrong please tell us so Pinch

overthebars39 10/13/2014 3:24am
10/13/2014 3:24am
Ninurta wrote:
I found a link to an article (in dutch) that says Everts was the last one to win a GP on a cr500 in 98 at...
I found a link to an article (in dutch) that says Everts was the last one to win a GP on a cr500 in 98 at Namur. The links says he rode a cr500 engine in an aluminum 250 frame

http://www.demotorsite.be/content/de-10-belangrijkste-roadmachines-van-de-afgelopen-40-jaar-5-honda-cr-500


I don't know that much about that era of racing. If they're wrong please tell us so Pinch

With a wildcard, and he took a 1 minute lead over Joel Smets.
Robgvx
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Robgvx 10/13/2014 3:29am
10/13/2014 3:29am
travis-grant wrote:
cool, whats with the 0 lol

Stefan guested in the 500 class that day. Stefan was #1 in the 250 class at the time but Joel was #1 in 500s. So they gave Stefan #01.
mpy
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mpy 10/13/2014 5:14am
10/13/2014 5:14am
overthebars39 wrote:
In Namur he ran the number 111
Yep, here's the video:

Pit Row

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Robgvx
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Robgvx 10/13/2014 5:19am
10/13/2014 5:19am
travis-grant wrote:
cool, whats with the 0 lol

Robgvx wrote:
Stefan guested in the 500 class that day. Stefan was #1 in the 250 class at the time but Joel was #1 in 500s. So they...
Stefan guested in the 500 class that day. Stefan was #1 in the 250 class at the time but Joel was #1 in 500s. So they gave Stefan #01.
Ah, 250s in that race... (D'oh!). So maybe it was a Belgian championship?
Jefro98
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Jefro98 10/13/2014 5:54am
10/13/2014 5:54am
travis-grant wrote:
cool, whats with the 0 lol

Robgvx wrote:
Stefan guested in the 500 class that day. Stefan was #1 in the 250 class at the time but Joel was #1 in 500s. So they...
Stefan guested in the 500 class that day. Stefan was #1 in the 250 class at the time but Joel was #1 in 500s. So they gave Stefan #01.
Robgvx wrote:
Ah, 250s in that race... (D'oh!). So maybe it was a Belgian championship?
Yes probably a Belgium champs race or some other international where they ran two classes in the same race.

The guy on the right with the Pamo Honda is Pit Beirer.
Not sure who the second #59 Husaberg rider is tho.

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