Reigning World 125cc Motocross Champion Gaston Rahier from Belgium won three Australian Motocross Championships at the South Arm Road circuit in Sanford, Tasmania on 9 November 1975.

Earlier that year he participated in the first ever 125cc Motocross World Championship and clinched the title with eight wins. 

With the sales boom of the early seventies beginning to significantly affect motocross, Rahier and a host of international riders then toured Australia to promote the new Japanese lightweight motocross machines.

The international riders included fellow Belgian Gerard Camal and Japanese development rider Masanori Ozeki, all on works Suzukis. 

Also present were Vic Allen on a string of Bultacos, Gualtiero Brissoni on a SWM 125, Per Klitland (Denmark, Yamaha) and Ivan Miller (NX, Yamaha).

Rahier demonstrated why he was the world champion by winning all three titles he contested, and lapping the whole field in two of them.

The best showing by a local in the Rahier-dominated events was that of young Western Australians Allan McCarthy and Greg Thomas.

McCarthy was the second Australian home in both the Australian 125cc and 250cc Championships, finishing fourth overall in the 125 class and fifth in the 250s.  While Thomas finished second in an inspiring ride in the 125cc class to split up the works riders of Rahier and Camal – making it a clean sweep for Suzuki’s.

The first restricted Licence Holders (Junior) title was held in 1975 and South Australian Don Bowey narrowly defeated Tasmanian Scott Stephens. 

The visiting troupe brought with it an inescapable message – fitness was vital in European motocross.