Georges Jobe, I haven't heard much about his recovery.

newmann
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Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 4:10pm
Met him back in 02 at the Vintage Iron World Championships when he was riding in the YROC/Yamaha Race of Champions. Great guy, spent a good bit of time hanging out with us. I haven't heard much about his recovery in the last couple years and it sounds like it has gone extremely well. Congrats!!


Georges Jobe to be Honored at Nor Cal Classic
Courtesy of Georges Jobe Friday, February 18, 2011 Print Share RSS Font: Email a Friend*Email Addresses (up to 5):
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Brad Lackey is very happy to announce that he will be honoring 5 time World Champion Georges Jobe at his 6th Annual Brad Lackey Nor Cal Classic Legends of Motocross National in conjunction with West Coast Moto Jam May 13-15, 2011 at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California.

Georges was the youngest World Champion at the time when he won his first title in the 250 class in 1980. He was 19 years old! He went on the win in 1983 and then moved to the 500 class where he won 3 more titles in 1987, 1991 and 1992. He was also Belgian Champion 9 times and was a winner at the Trophy and MX Des Nations in 1980. At the time when he started racing in Belgium at the age of 10 no one knew that he would take over for Joel Robert and Roger Decoster.



After suffering a terrible accident in 2007, Georges Jobe has made a miraculous recovery.In 1992 Georges decided to end his career in GP competition and went on to devote himself to forming the race team, The Jobe Racing Team, in 1994. He also became a promoter organizing the MX GP at Spa Franchorchamps, Belgium in 2000 and 2001. In 2002 Georges went to Qatar and helped to form the Qatar Federation brokering a 5 year contract between Qatar and Dorna for MotoGP racing.

On December 7, 2007 Georges was in Dubai and suffered a terrible motorcycle accident breaking his C3, C4 C5 and D4 plus a compression fracture of his spinal cord. Half an hour after his accident he was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he stayed for 5 days before being transferred to Liege, Belgium where he had to wait for 10 days before his surgery. His prognosis was not favorable, the doctors said he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. But they didn’t know Georges or his determination. Georges drove himself to recover and with his strong will has made a miraculous recovery. He now is able to walk, ride his bicycle and on January 6, 2011 on his 50th birthday he was back in Dubai riding his motorcycle once again.

Georges experience has given him a new outlook and wants his experience to serve others! His goal is to run the New York Marathon and ride one leg of the Tours Des France. A true Champion indeed.

Georges will be on hand over the race weekend at Infineon Raceway to sign autographs, take photos, and share his stories of his 5 World Titles and tell his remarkable story of his recovery. Please when you see him introduce yourself and say Hello. Georges is one of the most approachable and friendly World Champs that you will ever have the pleasure of meeting.
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slowvet
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2/22/2011 6:51am
Didn't he and "gentleman Jim Holley" have a run in at that YROC? Thank you for the info Newmann.
mccread
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2/22/2011 6:53am
There was a brilliant article with him in one of the British magazines maybe a year ago, maybe MXgeoff even wrote it...he is one tough and determined guy. Surprised the American media havn't been giving his story too much coverage..

He worked with Philippearts alot in his KTM days and tried setting up a GP team last season with Strijbos and Boissiere but broken sponsorship promises meant it fell through.
Highsider
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2/22/2011 6:56am Edited Date/Time 2/22/2011 6:56am
Amazing recovery.
Thanks for posting this, newmann.

The Shop

Tbteam
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2/22/2011 6:59am
Here's what bugs the hell out of me about that story.

First of all, I love Jobe. He was a hero of mine and I was really crushed when he got hurt. I'm ecstatic about his recovery, but here's my beef:

Quote: His prognosis was not favorable, the doctors said he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. But they didn’t know Georges or his determination. Georges drove himself to recover and with his strong will has made a miraculous recovery.

Bull Fucking Shit. Period. When you suffer an injury like that, you are either injured with a chance of recovery, or no chance of recovery. To say that anyone injured to that level that recovers did it because of determination is a complete insult to those that never made it back on their feet. I've seen it, believe me, and there are injured riders that have met their injury head on with the most maniacal determination to walk again, or to even gain some control of their body and simply failed.

I read these quotes from journalists all the time regarding people that got back to walking, and I've never really said anything about it (frankly, who gives a shit what I say anyway), but I just had to comment when I read this.

Again, I'm so happy to hear this news about Georges, but a little perspective please.
jamma10
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2/22/2011 7:08am
2.20...
mccread
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2/22/2011 7:19am
I think there is a grey area... maybe someone can post the article up it was a fantastic read... but the work he did and his determinaton was phenomenal and critical to his recovery, and doctors could not believe it...but I take your point that determination alone cannot cure all spinal injuries...

I think the quote still stands.. it was his determination that helped him recover and work ethic that helped him recover- without that he probably wouldn't be back on his feet... maybe that's why the doctors where amazed...I don't think it is saying that people who can't recover means they don't have the same determination... just the injury was different and it was impossible for them to utilise that determination to make themselves better.

But you are almost saying that doing what George did did not require determination, it did..that is what helped him recover and he should be respected for that. But not everyone has that opportunity like you say...then again I am not sure everyone in Georges' postion would have made the progress he has... and that is partly due to determination/circumstances etc.
DL
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2/22/2011 7:28am
Good post, thanks!
PaleBlue
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2/22/2011 7:28am
I agree with everything that TBteam has said. Great that Georges has recovered. But the wording effectively labels everyone who doesn't recover as "not wanting it enough" - shameful really...
dcg141
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2/22/2011 7:56am
Didn't Jobe stop and down a beer at a GP in Namur and still win the race?
Tbteam
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2/22/2011 7:57am
mccread wrote:
I think there is a grey area... maybe someone can post the article up it was a fantastic read... but the work he did and his...
I think there is a grey area... maybe someone can post the article up it was a fantastic read... but the work he did and his determinaton was phenomenal and critical to his recovery, and doctors could not believe it...but I take your point that determination alone cannot cure all spinal injuries...

I think the quote still stands.. it was his determination that helped him recover and work ethic that helped him recover- without that he probably wouldn't be back on his feet... maybe that's why the doctors where amazed...I don't think it is saying that people who can't recover means they don't have the same determination... just the injury was different and it was impossible for them to utilise that determination to make themselves better.

But you are almost saying that doing what George did did not require determination, it did..that is what helped him recover and he should be respected for that. But not everyone has that opportunity like you say...then again I am not sure everyone in Georges' postion would have made the progress he has... and that is partly due to determination/circumstances etc.
No, honestly I am sure that Georges met every obstacle that he faced with an enormous amount of determination. When it comes time to do the rehab work, it's a real gut check moment.

What I'm saying is that journalists framing a recovery as "The Dr's said it couldn't be done, but (insert name) proved to be tougher than the spinal cord injury" is sadly misguided, and flat out wrong. I've read quotes like this countless times.

Sometimes the injure is too severe. I'm not one to discount the efforts of the Magoo's, Bailey's, Tony D's, Ricky James... the list, unfortunately, is long.
jamma10
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2/22/2011 8:04am
dcg141 wrote:
Didn't Jobe stop and down a beer at a GP in Namur and still win the race?
Nah that was Hakan Carlqvist.
mccread
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2/22/2011 8:20am
mccread wrote:
I think there is a grey area... maybe someone can post the article up it was a fantastic read... but the work he did and his...
I think there is a grey area... maybe someone can post the article up it was a fantastic read... but the work he did and his determinaton was phenomenal and critical to his recovery, and doctors could not believe it...but I take your point that determination alone cannot cure all spinal injuries...

I think the quote still stands.. it was his determination that helped him recover and work ethic that helped him recover- without that he probably wouldn't be back on his feet... maybe that's why the doctors where amazed...I don't think it is saying that people who can't recover means they don't have the same determination... just the injury was different and it was impossible for them to utilise that determination to make themselves better.

But you are almost saying that doing what George did did not require determination, it did..that is what helped him recover and he should be respected for that. But not everyone has that opportunity like you say...then again I am not sure everyone in Georges' postion would have made the progress he has... and that is partly due to determination/circumstances etc.
Tbteam wrote:
No, honestly I am sure that Georges met every obstacle that he faced with an enormous amount of determination. When it comes time to do the...
No, honestly I am sure that Georges met every obstacle that he faced with an enormous amount of determination. When it comes time to do the rehab work, it's a real gut check moment.

What I'm saying is that journalists framing a recovery as "The Dr's said it couldn't be done, but (insert name) proved to be tougher than the spinal cord injury" is sadly misguided, and flat out wrong. I've read quotes like this countless times.

Sometimes the injure is too severe. I'm not one to discount the efforts of the Magoo's, Bailey's, Tony D's, Ricky James... the list, unfortunately, is long.
Yea I agree, those guys are determined too.. but I don't think the post meant to insult guys in their position.. I think they are looking to point out how great Jobes' recovery was and how much determination it took, in the same way that DB and Ricky James etc have should alot of determination maximising there circumstances.

Sometime though those doctors are inspired and amazed by someone with the determination and pain threshold George had.. I think it is ok to say he proved the doctors wrong if he did.. but I agree it should be worded in a way that it doesn't offend other people who are not able to improve their situation even thought they had a lot of determination.
newmann
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2/22/2011 8:34am
As a motocrosser(not a very good one I might add) myself, we've all been to "that" doctor. The one who is quick to throw a full cast on a hairline fracture all the while belittling your entire existance.The following day you get an appointment with a real doctor, the orthopedic guy down at the sports medicine clinic who laughs, cuts the cast off and puts you in a removable walking boot with the recommendation to use crutches and keep weight off it it for a few weeks and he'll have you back on the bike in short order.
APLMAN99
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Fantasy
2/22/2011 10:39am
Tbteam wrote:
Here's what bugs the hell out of me about that story. First of all, I love Jobe. He was a hero of mine and I was...
Here's what bugs the hell out of me about that story.

First of all, I love Jobe. He was a hero of mine and I was really crushed when he got hurt. I'm ecstatic about his recovery, but here's my beef:

Quote: His prognosis was not favorable, the doctors said he would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. But they didn’t know Georges or his determination. Georges drove himself to recover and with his strong will has made a miraculous recovery.

Bull Fucking Shit. Period. When you suffer an injury like that, you are either injured with a chance of recovery, or no chance of recovery. To say that anyone injured to that level that recovers did it because of determination is a complete insult to those that never made it back on their feet. I've seen it, believe me, and there are injured riders that have met their injury head on with the most maniacal determination to walk again, or to even gain some control of their body and simply failed.

I read these quotes from journalists all the time regarding people that got back to walking, and I've never really said anything about it (frankly, who gives a shit what I say anyway), but I just had to comment when I read this.

Again, I'm so happy to hear this news about Georges, but a little perspective please.
I had the same initial thoughts truthfully, but I am sure that the writer didn't intend to imply that those who don't have that level of recovery just didn't want it bad enough or didn't try hard enough. There are certainly those who will accept defeat in those situations but there are others who will maximize every bit of improvement their injury will allow.
2/22/2011 11:21am
Thanks for the post and thanks to Brad Lackey for continuing to support vintage racing and highlighting our Legends.
2/22/2011 11:24am Edited Date/Time 2/22/2011 11:25am


So smooth. Ballet on a bike.

sorry... guess I don't know how to post a picture?
newmann
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2/22/2011 11:28am
Anyone remember Jobe's air suspension he was working on that took 10-11 lb's off the bike back aroung '01? Air forks and shock, MXA didn't bash it either! The new thumpers sure could use that setup.
Bauer
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2/22/2011 12:37pm
mccread wrote:
I think there is a grey area... maybe someone can post the article up it was a fantastic read... but the work he did and his...
I think there is a grey area... maybe someone can post the article up it was a fantastic read... but the work he did and his determinaton was phenomenal and critical to his recovery, and doctors could not believe it...but I take your point that determination alone cannot cure all spinal injuries...

I think the quote still stands.. it was his determination that helped him recover and work ethic that helped him recover- without that he probably wouldn't be back on his feet... maybe that's why the doctors where amazed...I don't think it is saying that people who can't recover means they don't have the same determination... just the injury was different and it was impossible for them to utilise that determination to make themselves better.

But you are almost saying that doing what George did did not require determination, it did..that is what helped him recover and he should be respected for that. But not everyone has that opportunity like you say...then again I am not sure everyone in Georges' postion would have made the progress he has... and that is partly due to determination/circumstances etc.
Mark, I have to agree 100% with what McRead wrote here. Jobe's recovery and all of the admiration for it is deserved and it in no way demeans those who have not made similar progress. Each case of injury is unique and it's a matter of the extent of the injury and the amount of determination and work put in that determines the outcome. Jobe was nothing less than a hero, then and now.
Rudicross
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2/22/2011 12:50pm
Georges is working this season with the Belgian Lieber brothers (16 and 18 years old). They will ride the MX2 GP's on a KTM.
burn1986
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2/22/2011 1:35pm
Scary accident for sure. I'm sure there are a lot of injured riders who can't walk and are wondering what they have to do to walk again. It would be good to have an interview of him.
berniepiet
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2/22/2011 4:49pm
I can tell you first hand what a great guy Georges Jobe is.

I was a foreign exchange student in Belgium in 1989-1990. I had a friend whose dad knew George. I told my friend that I would love to meet Georges sometime. A week later, I got a call from Georges and he invited me over to his house for dinner with he and his wife.

He treated me like royalty, even took me to a few supercross races. One of my favorite memories of Georges was driving back from a Supercross in Holland in his van and Georges blasting the scorpions & singing every word to every song.
GREAT guy.

I will never forget sitting at his dinner table and eating from the Raqlette (a small grill). Georges asked me what I liked about Belgian girls and I told him that they had very nice "Moules".

His wife Maiete dropped her fork and her eyes got as big as silver dollars. After a brief discussion, Georges explained to me that I had confused the word for a woman's calf or leg "Mollet" with the "Moule". Slang for... well... "Pussy"

I have always wanted to meet him again and tell him how much I appreciated generosity.

Merci beaucoup Georges. Vous serez toujours un Champion!!
Wadded_Up
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2/22/2011 5:19pm
jamma10 wrote:
2.20... [embed] More Motocross Videos >>[/embed]
2.20...
Wow Jamma 10 thanks, that was unbelievable.....

Post a reply to: Georges Jobe, I haven't heard much about his recovery.

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