PDA

View Full Version : Vale Gaston Rahier


Muzzard
03-04-2005, 11:15 PM
A few weeks ago Gaston Rahier passed away after long illness. For those young ones amonst us, or those not familiar with his achievements in motorcycling they were numerous.
When 125cc bikes became a homogulated class for F.I.M motocross in 1975, Gaston Rahier won the World Championship, the next year beginning a run on World 250 Championships with Suzuki.
1976 saw Gaston Rahier in Australia for the Mr. Motocoss series and riding a round at Wallan in Victoria on a works RH250.
I was at that time a junior rider with Suzuki Australia backing.
I had the opportunity to share pit space and ride several times with him over that year. One of the sports true Gentleman.
Over the next 20 years he raced the Paris-Dakar rally numerous times with a win during the 80's. He was of very slight build but was extremely strong both mentally and physically.
The last 12 months has seen some sad times within the World Rally Raiding community and in particular the motorcycling division...

Trivia titbit: :) Gaston Rahier and Roger DeCoster were team mates during the late 70's and early 80's in Motocross as riders and Roger is the Suzuki Team manager for the U.S based Works team...

Wobbly
03-04-2005, 11:30 PM
That's a shame to hear, though I can't admit to being familiar with his achievements being the road squid that I am. It was a fairly difficult year last year esp in the offroad world, so here's hoping that this will be better. Vale Gaston...

dicky
09-04-2005, 12:46 PM
I knew I'd miss out on important news while I was in NZ.

Gaston is part of my inspiration.
I figure that if he could ride a fully PD spec BMW then I should be able to ride the LC4.

RIP

dicky.

Muzzard
09-04-2005, 05:28 PM
He would be about the same height/weight to you Dicky so I can understand that sentiment...
Sort of almost like looking at him when I look at your picture hooting across Lake Hindmarsh recently...
He truely was a powerful rider abeit for the size of the man physically...