Joel Robert - 1968 World Motocross Champion - 250 CZ

1968 World Champion on a 250 CZ
Joel Robert was 6 times World Champion
CZ - 1964, 68, 69
Suzuki - 1970, 71, 72
His record of 50 Motocross Grand Prix victories was only broken in 2004 by fellow Belgium Stefan Everts
amotorascheiasdechao.blogspot....

[@kjellnope8642]

R.i.p joel ❤ 6world title's . 5times belgium championship .50wins in gp ! Lots of respect

[@vtownjester]

Our very first Belgian MX superstar. Rest easy rider.

[@johnhubbard2177]

Godspeed, Mr. Robert.

[@daved4215]

These were the days. How I grew up on motor-cross. Raced till 1985.

[@ronpage101]

What a great film. Exceptional done! Thank you for sharing.

[@buddywilson104]

Joel was eventually a six time world champ. He rode for Suzuki after CZ. Great rider.

[@paullevine1813]

I remember watching some of these back when i was 12 . There are no comparisons between today's stadium & man made courses compared to what these legends rode. This is real motocross & much more exciting than anything we have these days.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Hey, I want to thank the Europeans for inventing this sport after WW2. This race in 1968 was about the time MX was hitting USA shores, and I would be 5 years old in the winter if 68. I was too late and missed the awesome Muscle Car Era in the USA, but I caught most of the early MX era in the USA. The sport formed my life, and I love it. Europe bringing MX to the USA was like a second "Statue of Liberty" given as a gift to the USA. Thank you all of you great hero's of Europe, who made the first MX bikes that dreams came true on. :)

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I am one of maybe 10 to 20 people in the world who make a living porting 2-stroke engines today, and I love my little business. So you can understand the roots of my appreciation for the invention of this sport, and it's migration to the USA. Actually, I am a bit surprised MX was not started in the USA, as a race is much like the "individualism" the USA was originally based on, (but that philosophy also came from factions of Europe also, so thank you there also.). :)

[@whalesong999]

Watching any of the championship quality European riders in 1967 at Pepperell, MA was quite an experience. They were breathtaking to watch. Over time and after a few more meets to watch, I came away thinking Robert was almost a savant at what he did, pure good instincts on a machine and perhaps as important, his physique was so well matched to the task at hand. Joel's shorter stature lent him to easy sitting to standing posture when needed in competition, not so much strain in the legs and gut. Thanks for posting.. .

[@kevinmccarthy9045]

great stuff. Was there in Pepperell Ma that day. Have all slides of the riders. They uncrated the bikes, then raced them

[@michaelmartinez1345]

A great story of one of the great riders... The original 'On any Sunday' movie, did so much to present this great rider and several others... The authentic stock footage really shows how things used to be back then, on & off the track.... An awesome view of how things used to be 50 + years ago....

[@mellingmichael777]

Thanks for posting this! Back in '72 or '73 I bought a CZ 400 (which was actually a 381cc) and it was the biggest piece of garbage in the world. I wish I would have used the $1400 for something else, that's for sure! Joe Robert was something of my idol back then and it's cool to be able to see him in these few vids from back in the day. Amazing he could beat that guy that was on a far better bike, a Husky, but then I reckon neither bike didn't have too many stock parts on 'em, so Robert's his CZ wasn't the junk mine was.:-)

[@didikajja1849]

The legend of motocross...

[@idontcareaboutyou7757]

thanx for this gem

[@Phooie]

All I know that back late 60s my brother said that he witnessed a large CZ poppin a weely from sunrise to sunset in sixth gear with his hand on his hip. No problem....

[@gungadingo]

That’s all the more amazing since the CZs all had 4 and 5 speed gearboxes. Good story though, bro!

[@garylivingston9052]

Love it! Those were real men and brutus machines...The MX bikes now are so similar in appearance and sound (4 strokes) with cry-baby riders!! Lol..Bring back the 2-strokes!

[@melichrapaj]

I hope you got the best motorcycle to the last Trophy... RIP from Strakonice

[@aartje50]

great stuff!!

[@andreasernst6812]

paul friedrich war auch weltmeister auf einer cz in den 60zigern

[@davidcisco4036]

I wish it was 1968.

[@donpeterson7032]

There sure were a lot of CZ’s back then

[@user-zh4uu8wt8g]

мотокросс суперспорт развивать надо во всем мире больше

[@kellienicolebrooksschettin6598]

I love those Euro tracks,they must pay some guy to go out and find most gruelling piece of land, and say let's make dirt bike track,God those track layouts look like they'd so fun to ride up the hill down the hill that's motocross...

[@motorhead6763]

true all cool bikes . I loved them all except Hodaka road toad. lol

[@79islander]

just to finish you had to be a bad ass in the 60s

[@whalesong999]

Yes, there were some of those but the difference in the riding ability seemed to be that the Europeans raced the track to the best of their ability. Americans seemed to have an approach of racing each other as top priority. I was a sportsman rider, not a pro, and the requirements emerging in the late '60s and early '70s was making it very difficult to stay competitive with the incredible pace of the factory riders.

[@joseluissmithcastaneda5577]

Motocroos 1968

[@motorhead6763]

Husky had up pipe and 6spd like Yamaha . I had Montessa 250vr fast

[@scottogrady467]

Is that Anthony Hopkins narrating this.....?

[@vetten76]

Bikes were so bad back then. I raced a Penton. It had about 4 inches of travel. Broke my back at Carlsbad. Horrible. Fast forward to my modern 450. Lol. I haven’t really crashed in years! Like anything, progression is good.

[@47485ksc]

Anyone know why, in the November 1978 issue of Modern Cycle he was called and refered to as: "callous, snotty attitude; slothlike laziness...manners of a barfing drunk; could care less attitude; sleazy, lazy, greedy punk; a piece of history; pudgy face"? I'm glad Modern Cycle didn't say anything they would have regretted. Anyway, he was going to appear at the 1978 Superbowl of Motocross and didn't. A lot of tickets were sold just because he was (advertised as) going to race the "battle of the decade". It looks like its not that his face is pudgy, it's just his head is too big.

[@47485ksc]

Buelligan88 I am not holding a grudge. I'm just reporting the news according to Modern Cycle Magazine. See, a shitload of people bought tickets only to see World Champion Joel Robert ride. Imagine their disappointment when, after blowing good money, time and gas, only to find out he stayed home because he was tired. (sleep on the damn plane!) I mean, imagine you paid good money and time to ride your Harley clear across the country to attend Harley-Davidson's 100th Anniversary Party in 2003 because they promised a "Special Guest Musician!" only to get there, wait until all the other bands were done and see Elton Fucking John prance onstage!? "I don't know any motorcycle songs, but I'll do my best!" he lisped. Most of the crowd left. Don't kill the messenger.

[@47485ksc]

Buelligan88 Of course! Who wouldn't be? I mean, taking a week off (paid) from work, loading up the bike, meeting dozens of other bikers at G&S Harley-Davidson in Phoenix and riding almost clear across the country, partying all the way, then partying at the worlds biggest party there ever was and ever will be only to see "Rocket Man"? Nah, I just kept on partying somewhere else. Too bad you missed it, kid. Oh, you were what? Eight years old at the time? Sorry.

[@47485ksc]

Buelligan88 It's all in your imagination. Mellow out.

[@bretmuldner]

+Yamaha SR650 Modern Cycle, was probable looking in the mirror when they wrought that! Joel was a very good harted respectful dude! He would help anyone and did many times! They probable said that because he wouldn't kiss there butt....Most of the mags only care about one thing, MONEY, oh and furthering there own career! Its so unfortunate that so many people liston to there propaganda.

[@47485ksc]

+Bret Muldner I forget the exact details but from what I remember, there was this Superbowl of MX and it was advertised that Joel would be there racing. He made plans to attend but backed out at the last minute. Drunken hangover I think. The paying crowd was NOT impressed! Modern Cycle just told it like it was. Rick Sieman, the founder of Dirt Bike Magazine (6/71) is a friend of mine and he was associated with Mod-Cycle for years and he was nothing about "MONEY". Hell, he had to use his own vehicle and gas to drive test bikes around for testing! He's still around an races an occasional Vintage Class. If you're interested in early back issues of Dirt Bike and Modern Cycle, go to superhunky.com or offroad.com, click on "dirt bike" and "Don't Ask!" At "don't ask!" you can personally ask Rick about the Joel incident. Just give him about a month to reply at "Don't Ask". If anybody kissed anybody's ass, it was the magazine editors kissing his. You still ride?

[@naked.singularity]

Wow, they look like they are going so slow compared to today's riders. Obviously, the bikes are nowhere near today's suspension and engine technology, but still! It doesn't even sound like they are getting and staying on the pipe. Today's riders are pinned everywhere, barely shutting off even for the corners.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

You can look at a top 125 racer from the late 70's, 80's and 90's, and say the same thing about the 4-stroke racers today, (not on the gas as much). Nobody had it pinned more than those 125 guys. I personally think it is the grass roots of any sport, that is the best. All brand new to everybody, the racers and the manufactures. Man, I loved the bike advancements of the late 70's through the upper 80's. It was just as much of a race in the factory as it was on the track, and that inspired me to get into manufacturing the most. I now have a one man business, porting and stroking 30cc (approx) 2-stroke engines for a living for the last 12 or so years. It is mine and I love what i built. I could not have done it without the early days of MX when a little kid like me could buy a new bike every 2 years making $1.00/hr at my Dad's little highway store starting in 74-80. Man, I would not trade my childhood, during the golden years of MX in the USA, for anything. Today, I simply would not be able to afford a bike as a kid, and that is why all the trails and tracks we build are now grown in. By the way, the racers of today, are not as fast as the USA racers of 15 plus years ago.