The motocross world is in mourning today with news that Five-time former motocross world champion Eric ‘The Kid’ Geboers has passed away.

He jumped out of a pleasure boat at recreational lake Miramar in Mol, Belgium, on Sunday evening, in an attempt to save his dog, but he did not resurface.

The 55-year-old Geboers was believed to have been together with some friends on a pleasure boat, when the small dog jumped into the freezing water. Geboers immediately jumped in after the animal.

One of the other people on board also jumped into the water to save Geboers, but soon found himself in trouble because of the extremely cold water. After a lengthy search, Geboers body was found and taken from the water the following day.

Geboers won the 1982 World 125cc championship, his first of five world motocross crowns, and became the sport’s first “Mr 875” – a winner in all three world championship classifications of that era, the 500cc, 250cc and 125cc categories.

Geboers won the 125cc title again in 1983, then moved to the 250cc class, winning that world title in that class in 1987.

He then won the 500cc crown in 1988, becoming the first rider to be labelled “Mr 875” and this feat has only been matched by fellow Belgian Stefan Everts since then.

Geboers won his second 500cc world title in 1990, before retiring as champion in August that year.

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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