Eddy Lejeune (born 4 April 1961), is a Belgian former International motorcycle trials rider and 1982, 1983 and 1984 FIM Trial World Championship title holder. Lejeune was also a seven-time Belgian Trials National Champion.
Biography Born in Verviers, Belgium, Lejeune followed in the footsteps of his elder brother Jean Marie Lejeune who was Belgian Trials Champion in 1974, 1977 and 1978. He began as a schoolboy riding a Honda and after impressing at youth level was signed by the Honda Factory in 1979 at the age of 16.
In 1980, Lejeune won his first Belgian title and placed 4th in the FIM Trial World Championship, winning his first world championship trial on home ground at the Belgian round. 1981 was another Belgian title and another 4th in the World Championship for the young Belgian. Lejeune ran away with the World Championship in 1982 taking 9 wins and 2 podiums throughout the season, also retaining his Belgian title. He defended the title for Honda at both World and National level during the 1983 and 1984 seasons. 1985 was a battle for the title between Eddy and Fantic factory rider Thierry Michaud. Lejeune won the Belgian and Austrian rounds and podiumed at 8 of the other 10 rounds, but was beaten by Michaud and wound up the season in 2nd place.
1987 saw another season long battle with not only Michaud but with his own Honda teammate Steve Saunders. After sharing almost all of the wins and podiums between them it all came down to the final round in Finland. Lejeune had a rough day finishing 13th with rivals Michaud and Saunders taking 1st and 3rd at the trial, and 1st and 2nd in the championship. 1987 didn't produce Lejeune's usual results and at the end of the season Honda decided not to renew his contract.
Ignacio Bulto, son of Bultaco founder Paco Bulto was at this time pushing his new Merlin trials bike line and was quick to sign Lejeune for the 1988 season. Lejeune finished a creditable 6th in the championship with podiums in Luxemburg and Belgium, but unfortunately Merlin folded at the end of the season. Lejeune was contracted by Montesa for the 1989 and 1990 seasons then retired at the end of 1990.
In 1998, Lejeune had a bad road accident which left him with head injuries which he still suffers with today. All three of the Lejeune brothers, Eddy, Jean Marie and Eric had a one off ride in the 2011 Scottish Six Days Trial.
International Trials Championship Career
Year Class Machine Rd1 Rd2 Rd3 Rd4 Rd5 Rd6 Rd7 Rd8 Rd9 Rd10 Rd11 Rd12 Points Pos Notes 1979 FIM World Championship Honda IRL- GBR- BEL- NED- SPA- FRA- CAN10 USA9 ITA- SWE6 FIN- CZE7 12 15th 1980 FIM World Championship Honda IRL- GBR10 BEL1 SPA8 AUT1 FRA4 SWI1 GER6 ITA7 FIN7 SWE3 CZE5 86 4th 1981 FIM World Championship Honda SPA2 BEL1 IRL1 GBR6 FRA6 ITA4 AUT- USA6 FIN7 SWE6 CZE6 GER5 85 4th 1982 FIM World Championship Honda SPA1 BEL1 GBR2 ITA1 FRA2 GER1 AUT1 CAN3 USA1 FIN1 SWE1 POL4 162 1st World Champion 1983 FIM World Championship Honda SPA4 BEL1 GBR1 IRL1 USA3 FRA5 AUT1 ITA1 SWI1 FIN1 SWE2 GER1 156 1st World Champion 1984 FIM World Championship Honda SPA2 BEL1 GBR4 IRL1 FRA1 GER3 USA2 CAN1 AUT3 ITA1 FIN1 SWE2 214 1st World Champion 1985 FIM World Championship Honda SPA3 BEL1 GBR2 IRL2 FRA6 USA3 AUT1 POL2 FIN2 SWE2 SWI2 GER4 195 2nd 1986 FIM World Championship Honda BEL1 GBR6 IRL2 SPA1 FRA4 USA3 CAN1 GER3 AUT2 ITA1 SWE4 FIN13 183 3rd 1987 FIM World Championship Honda SPA- BEL6 SWE4 IRL3 GER- FRA- USA- AUT8 ITA12 CZE8 SWI6 SWE4 81 9th 1988 FIM World Championship Merlin SPA10 GBR6 IRL9 LUX3 GBR7 AUT- FRA5 BEL2 ITA7 SWE12 FIN6 POL6 108 6th 1989 FIM World Championship Montesa GBR10 IRL12 ITA7 USA11 CAN10 FRA9 SWI- SPA- AUT15 CZE10 GER14 LUX5 57 10th 1990 FIM World Championship Montesa IRL- GBR- USA- CAN- BEL12 GER- SWE- FIN- SPA- ITA- POL- SWI- 4 25th
Honors Belgian Trials Champion 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 FIM Trials World Champion 1982, 1983, 1984
Related Reading FIM Trial World Championship
References