André Malherbe

{{Infobox Motocross rider

| name = André Malherbe

| image = 250px

| caption = Malherbe in 1974 aboard a 125cc Zündapp

| nationality = Belgian

| birth_date = {{birth date|1956|03|21|df=y}}

| birth_place = Huy, Belgium

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|11|24|1956|03|21|df=y}}

| death_place =

| years = 1975–1986

| teams = Zündapp, KTM, Honda

| races =

| championships = 500cc - 1980, 1981, 1984

| wins = 39

}}

André Malherbe (21 March 1956 – 24 November 2022) was a Belgian professional Grand Prix motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1975 to 1986, most prominently as a member of the Honda factory racing team where he won three FIM 500cc Motocross World Championships. In 1984, Malherbe was named the recipient of the Belgian National Sports Merit Award.

Motorcycle racing career

Born in Huy, the son of a motorcycle dealer, Malherbe began racing at an early age and earned his racing licence in 1973. He rode a Zündapp to win the 1973 FIM 125cc European motocross championship, and repeated as champion in 1974.{{cite web |url=https://motocrossactionmag.com/classic-motocross-iron-1972-zundapp-mc125/ |title=Classic Motocross Iron: Zundapp MC125 |publisher=motocrossactionmag.com |access-date=11 December 2019 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211142106/https://motocrossactionmag.com/classic-motocross-iron-1972-zundapp-mc125/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/chambres/index.php#0440929eb50fc2102 |title=1973 125cc European motocross championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=3 February 2016 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/chambres/index.php#0440929e9d105fb02 |title=1974 125cc European motocross championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=3 February 2016 }}

Malherbe finished the 1977 season third in the 250cc motocross world championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/visite/index.php#0440929ca80bf1d1b |title=1977 250cc motocross world championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=13 February 2016 }} Malherbe moved up to the 500cc world championship in 1978 and finished the season as the highest scoring KTM rider in sixth place.{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929e520b1f501 |title=1978 500cc motocross world championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=13 February 2016 }} He joined the Honda factory racing team in 1979 and improved to a third-place finish behind Honda teammate Graham Noyce and Suzuki's Gerrit Wolsink in the 500cc world championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929e430bc8d01 |title=1979 500cc motocross world championship final standings |publisher=memotocross.fr |access-date=13 February 2016 }}

In 1980, he captured his first 500cc world championship as a member of the Honda factory racing team. Malherbe successfully defended his title in 1981 and in 1984 he won his third 500cc world championship for Honda.[http://www.bestsports.com.br/db/atlpag.php?atl=8327&lang=2 André Malherbe career profile]

Malherbe won 72 individual heat races and 39 Grand Prix victories during his world championship racing career.{{cite web | url=https://www.memotocross.fr/downloads/fpm-gp-malherbe-a.pdf | title=André Malherbe career statistics | publisher=memotocross.fr | accessdate=2025-04-22}} He won three 500cc motocross world titles (1980, 1981, 1984) and four Belgian motocross national championships (1972, 1977, 1983, 1985). He was a member of two victorious Belgian Trophée des Nations teams (1977, 1980), and three victorious Belgian Motocross des Nations teams (1977, 1979, 1980). At the time of his retirement, Malherbe's 39 Grand Prix race victories placed him fourth on the all-time winners list.[http://www.motorsport-aktuell.com/offroad/statistik--ergebnisse/alle-gp-sieger--651.html www.motorsport-aktuell.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113041802/http://www.motorsport-aktuell.com/offroad/statistik--ergebnisse/alle-gp-sieger--651.html |date=13 January 2010 }}

After his motocross career ended, he competed in the 1987 Spa 24 Hour round of the World Touring Car Championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/Andr%C3%A9-Malherbe-B.html |title=André Malherbe results |publisher=racingsportscars.com |access-date=13 February 2016 }} He then began to compete in rally raids. While competing in the 1988 Paris to Dakar Rally he crashed and suffered serious injuries that left him paralyzed.

Personal life and death

Malherbe died on 24 November 2022, at the age of 66.{{cite news |title=Le Hutois André Malherbe, triple champion du monde de motocross, est mort |url=https://www.lavenir.net/regions/huy-waremme/sports/2022/11/24/le-hutois-andre-malherbe-nous-a-quittes-IF4SUYL3K5E7JKPEJJ2TZORFOU/ |access-date=24 November 2022 |publisher=Lavenir |date=24 November 2022}}

References

Category:1956 births

Category:2022 deaths

Category:Sportspeople from Huy

Category:Belgian motocross riders

Category:People with paraplegia

Category:Belgian racing drivers

Category:24 Hours of Spa drivers

Category:20th-century Belgian sportsmen