René Baeten

{{Short description|Belgian motorcycle racer (1927–1960)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox Motocross rider

| name = René Baeten

| image =

| caption =

| nationality = Belgian

| birth_date = {{birth date text|10 June 1927}}

| birth_place = Herentals, Belgium

| death_date = {{death-date and age|5 June 1960|10 June 1927}}

| death_place = Stekene, Belgium

| years = 1947 - 1960

| teams = FN

| races =

| championships = 500cc - 1958

| wins = 8

}}

René Gommarus Desire Baeten (10 June 1927, in Herentals – 5 June 1960, in Stekene){{Cite web |title=Motorsport Memorial - René Baeten |url=http://motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=4780 |access-date=31 March 2023 |website=Motorsport Memorial}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.bestsports.com.br/db/atlpag.php?atl=8385&lang=2 |title=René Baeten career profile |publisher=bestsports.com |accessdate=28 December 2015 }} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929fd805b6504 |title=1953 500cc European motocross championship results |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=28 December 2015 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929fd805b2c03 |title=1954 500cc European motocross championship results |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=28 December 2015 }} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929fd61075502 |title=1957 500cc motocross world championship results |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=28 December 2015 }} In 1958, Baeten would ride an FN motorcycle to claim the 500cc motocross world championship, defeating Nilsson and Sten Lundin.{{cite web |url=http://www.memotocross.fr/maison/equipe/index.php#0440929cbb05c1e01 |title=1958 500cc motocross world championship results |publisher=memotocross.fr |accessdate=28 December 2015 }} He was honored for his achievement with the 1958 Belgian National Sports Merit Award. Baeten was killed in a racing accident in 1960.{{cite web |url=http://motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=4780 |title=René Baeten profile at Motorsport Memorial |publisher=motorsportmemorial.org |accessdate=28 December 2015 }}