After a seven-year absence the famous Trial country of Belgium is back in the calendar, as the event this coming Sunday at Comblain au Pont marks round five of the 2014 FIM Trial World Championship. The last time that the series visited the small European nation was in back 2006 when the Belgium Trial Grand Prix was hosted at the Spa Francorchamps circuit. Ever since being part of the inaugural FIM Trial World Championship back in 1975, Belgium has more than played its part in the history of Trial including being home to the triple FIM Trial World Champion Eddy Lejeune.
It was Britain’s Malcolm Rathmell who initially dominated the Belgium GP’s held at the famous Bilstain venue, with the factory Montesa rider winning the first three editions, the last of his hat trick of wins coming in 1977. His Bultaco mounted compatriot Martin Lampkin then continued the British invasion by taking the victory the following year before Yrjo Vesterinen recorded his first and last GP win on Belgium soil in 1979.
The start of the eighties was to see the beginning of a new and important era as Belgium’s very own Eddy Lejeune began an incredible seven-year domination of his home GP. From 1980 through to 1986 Lejeune was simply unstoppable in the slippery conditions that lurked under the trees at the demanding Bilstain venue. Only once during a twenty-three year period from 1975 through to and including 1997 was the Belgium round held anywhere other than Bilstain, that being held at Aywaille in 1981.
Lejeune was to achieve his three FIM Trial World Championship titles in successive seasons from 1982 to 1984 inclusive despite having to fend of the greats of the sport like Bernie Schreiber, Thierry Michaud, Giles Burgat, Antonio Gorgot and Philippe Bertlatier. Even to this day Lejeune holds the record for the most Belgium GP wins, seven in total, despite other future and eventual champions also having showed their liking for the Bilstain venue.
Gabino Renales – Gas Gas created history by becoming the first Spanish victor on Belgium soil as he won at Bilstain in 1987. Like Rathmell and Lampkin, Renales was then followed by his countryman 
Jordi Tarres, who was to record the first of his five Belgium GP wins a year later. Tarres’ period of dominance was to stretch from 1988 to 1996 but was twice interrupted by the now late Diego Bosis - who won on both an Aprilia and a Fantic - and once by 1992 FIM Trial World Champion Tommi Ahvala – Fantic from Finland.
In 1997 Britain’s Dougie Lampkin - Beta was to take control of the GP in Belgium as he was to win the next three editions on the bounce, the eventual seven times FIM Trial World Champion won twice at Bilstain then four times at Cuesmes that was to become the new home of this particular round of the series. Lampkin sits second on the list for Belgium GP wins, his six victories being one less than Lejeune’s total, but one better than Tarres’ tally. Cuesmes, although never a real replacement for its predecessor, hosted the series through to 2001, a year when Japan’s Takahisa Fujinami – Repsol Honda was victorious.
After a short absence from the championship, 2005 and 2006 saw the Belgium Trial GP run at the World-renowned Spa Francorchamps circuit. Adam Raga – Gas Gas prevented Lampkin increasing his number of Belgium GP wins in 2005, as the then young Spanish rider edged out the experienced British rider for top honours. This was a feat Raga would repeat twelve months later as on this occasion he beat Albert Cabestany – Sherco to the top spot on route to Adam taking his second and final FIM Trial World Championship title. Seven years later and Raga