René Baeten
NationalityBelgian
Born10 June 1927 (1927-06-10)
Herentals, Belgium
Died5 June 1960 (1960-06-06) (aged 32)
Stekene, Belgium
Motocross career
Years active1947 - 1960
TeamsFN
Championships500cc - 1958
Wins8

René Gommarus Desire Baeten (10 June 1927, in Herentals – 5 June 1960, in Stekene)[1] was a Belgian professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1947 to 1960. Baeten is notable for winning the 1958 500cc Motocross World Championship.[2] In 1958, Baeten was named the recipient of the Belgian National Sports Merit Award.

In 1953 and 1954, Baeten finished second in the 500cc European motocross championships to Auguste Mingels.[3][4] In 1957, the F.I.M. upgraded the competition to world championship status, and again Baeten would finish in second place, this time to Bill Nilsson on an AJS motorcycle.[5] In 1958, Baeten would ride an FN motorcycle to claim the 500cc motocross world championship, defeating Nilsson and Sten Lundin.[6] He was honored for his achievement with the 1958 Belgian National Sports Merit Award. Baeten was killed in a racing accident in 1960.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Motorsport Memorial - René Baeten". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "René Baeten career profile". bestsports.com. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "1953 500cc European motocross championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "1954 500cc European motocross championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "1957 500cc motocross world championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "1958 500cc motocross world championship results". memotocross.fr. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "René Baeten profile at Motorsport Memorial". motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 28 December 2015.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.