Sylvain Geboers continues to be one of the most important figures in the FIM World Motocross Championship paddock. A former Grand Prix winner, and now team owner of the Suzuki factory team, Geboers has seen more Motocross than just about anyone else in the sport.

We caught up with Sylvain and asked him about his final GP victory, which came at the Valkenswaard circuit in Holland many years ago.



Q: When did you last win a Grand Prix?



Geboers: It was 1974 and my best times were past and I was trying to come back from injuries. At that time I was the best sand rider in the 250cc class. I prepared well for that last victory. I did one lap and crashed in time practice and the frame was all bent. We didn’t know that at that moment, but once I started the first heat I knew the frame was bent. So I managed to win the first heat. The second heat was difficult; riders like Falta were very fast. In that time they had the two heats calculating the times from the heats, and I managed to finished third or fourth in the second moto and win the overall. Of course because it was my final Grand Prix win I will never forget it. The Valkenswaard circuit was not in the same place, it was in the industry zone on the other side of Valkenswaard.



Q: Did you have a feeling it might be your last GP win?



Geboers: I didn’t know it would be my last GP win, it was maybe in July, and I didn’t know I would get another GP win. In 1974 I separated from Suzuki and that was for sure the end of the good results.



Q: What years did you feel your strongest?



Geboers: In 1969 and 70, they were my best years, but even in 1971 and 72 I was still doing well, but I got injuries, and recovering from my injury in 1973 I missed half of the season because I broke my leg. In 1974 I was ready to go for the Championship, but it wasn’t what it used to be and I was struggling to be competitive. Still in the sand I was okay.



Q: Seems like many riders when they get older struggle to return to their best form. Did you have that?



Geboers: You know, you always think you can come back to your best form, I was in good shape, but the riding wasn’t going so well, and that is hard to accept, and you finally realize it’s over, but by that time you are already three or four years struggling.



Q: Those final years, how difficult was that for you?



Geboers: Instead of winning money I was putting money in, and I realized at the end of 1978 that it was done. The 15th of August 1978 I stopped.



Q: What made you so good in the sand?



Geboers: I am born in Mol, and it had a very famous sand track and when we played, we played in the sand; we played in the sand and slept in the sand. I remember one of my rivals telling me I had sand in my bed. It was so easy for us; we grew up riding it all the time. It’s also about confidence, keep on the speed.



Q: When you see Jeffrey Herlings, could he be the best sand rider ever?



Geboers: You should never speak about best ever, but Jeffrey is the best sand rider of his period, as I was of my period, and as Jeffrey’s father was in his period. Peter Herlings didn’t compete is so many GP’s, almost no GP’s, but he was so good in sand. Jeffrey has grown up in the sand, you just have that confidence. Some riders have that in mud, but he has the confidence.

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