Around 2000 mourners, including former world champions Stefan Every, Harry Everts and Joel Smets, waited patiently in line to say a final farewell to five-times world champ Eric Geboers at the Lommel GP track in Belgium yesterday.

Local news media and TV channels were on hand to record the event as Geboers’ coffin was on display for around two hours, along with his famous Bell helmet. The actual funeral is a private affair and will be held today.

Geboers, who was born near the circuit where he also ran the Suzuki GP team for 25 years following his retirement from racing, was killed last week. The 55-year-old jumped into a lake to save a puppy. His body was found the next day after a massive police search.

The Order of Service for his funeral bears the words: “You lived like a champion – and left us like a true hero.” He is survives by his wife Fumi Atsumi and his children Jeff and Maxine, as well as close family including well-known racers Sylvain and Jan. Out thoughts and sympathies go out to all his family, friends and the many people whose lives he touched. Photos courtesy of Dick Demey.