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Although Thorpe didn’t clinch the 1989 world championship at Namur, his performance there made the difference that season. My memory is getting cloudier due to age, but I think he raced with a knee injury sustained while practicing, and still managed to catch and pass Eric Geboers in the woods.
No doubt, I have always been a big Dave Thrope fan.
That weekend broke Geboers - they had been fairly even till that point. Pretty sure I remember reading Dickie Dye say that Thorpes' injury was really bad but they kept it quiet.
There was a good story about Jem Whatley going to the bar on the top of the cliff the castle sits on, the night before a race. He walked into the bushes in the dark for a pee but couldn't hear it hit the ground. His eyes then got accustomed to the dark and he realised he was stood right on the edge of the cliff face 😳
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I can't remember the specific details, but it might have involved stitches in DT's knee which came undone throughout the second moto due to the strain.
Also, the riders who bravely made the downhill double in the woods. Ismo Vehkonen and Jared Smith?
Was there in 1992, I was 5 years old but remember much of it still. That race Marcus ”Bubben” Hansson won his first GP or if it was heat race and then later became world champ in 94.
Was pretty special to be at Namur and see a Swede win. I’ll se if I can find some pictures next time I visit my parents.
Yes, that downhill double was insane. Totally blind, no run up - just gas it hard, and the landing had to be inch perfect otherwise it was a hard case and trip over the bars or landing on flat from several stories up.
I was there in 1992 when a guy launched off the top in practice but spun up & slid sideways on take off meaning he shot to the side in mid air. He hit the trees off-track about halfway up and tumbled to the ground badly injured. No room for mistakes anywhere round that track.
https://www.vitalmx.com/videos/member/1988-Namur-Grand-Prix-500cc,14960/Sandwarrior752,44379
21m 8s in, watch Ismo Vehkonen jump past Rob on the downhill double. Gnarly as fuck!
Episode 2 coming tomorrow (Saturday) at 7pm UK time, 11am US time.
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Thanks Rob✌️
Epic thread. 👍
Great pictures, Jeff.
Would it be ok for me to use a couple of those, please?
Question: when Luongo covered the road section with dirt, how did the vehicles get up to the pits? Did they still use the road past the Chalet du Monument, or come up from the other direction at the back of the Stade des Jeux?
Part 2 added.
Yea go ahead Rob, grab what you like.
As for the vehicles going up. Team trucks didn’t use the road past the Monument. My guess is they drove around coming from the south going up the Citadelle. Smaller vehicles went up behind the Casino.
The tunnel under the grandstand had been closed the last few GP’s too, so that was a bit of a logistic disadvantage. Closed due savety reasons I guess.
Part 3 added.
Really enjoying watching the track walk videos, but isn't it a shame how quickly the track has disappeared.
And how narrow was that veranda section with the sheer drop on one side, just before going down to the cafe 😨
I was also surprised how narrow that bottom straight was; I don’t remember it being that narrow.
It’s been 17 years since it was last raced. I guess thats enough time for nature to claim it back.
Glad you’re enjoying the series.
Pit Row
Great stuff . It has to be the most unique track there ever was in motocross.
A good video thru the years, track walk, racing footage. Brush up on your French.
Episode 3 from last week, which hasn't been embedded here:
Episode 4:
Outstanding job on this Namur series Rob!
The perspective of someone who raced a 500cc GP on the track is wonderful.
Thank you.
…and the final episode is epic!
I look forward to it.
It boggles the mind that those guys racing pre 80's timeframe raced that track with drum brakes!
Awesome series !
Episode 5/5:
Make sure you watch to the end!
Rob, thank you! This is Great. I will contribute at some-point. I was there in 86, I have a stack of photos; I must upload. mumbles, we were there at the same time! ...I have a great story to tell. Hopefully this thread is still here.
Geez Rob, I reckon the "Happy Little Tree" ( I've been watching repeats of Bob Ross' painting shows, as it comes straight after PBS News Hour here in OZ in the arvo, so everything is a Happy Little Thing ) might have saved your life.
As, I think there was only a few feet past said tree you hit, before going into the Moat / Rampart / Killing Zone.
I got to the GPs there in 2006, and, the last one in 2007. The IOM of MX, basically, with the difference it was to other MX Tracks.
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