"Rene Milhoux (above) was a very well known Belgian motorcycle champion and speed record holder during the 20s and 30s.  One of the newspapers that would recount his feats was “Le Vingtieme Siecle”, which had a supplement called “Le Petit Vingtieme” for which Tin Tin comic creator Georges Remi (Herge) worked. At the same time “Le Vingtieme Siecle” was also regularly publishing regular photos of a travel journalist called Robert Sexe, whose pictures were a direct inspiration for Herge’s first few stories of Tintin. Sexe and Milhoux had been introduced to each other by the owner of a local motorcycle company and as Sexe was traveling around the world on a motorcycle and needed a technical adviser. They soon became friends and Milhoux helped him preparing his motorcycle for his round the world trips. Both men were on a regular basis in the news and Herge used Milhoux as the direct inspiration for Milou as he was small, brave and.....quite clever."

                     Via: Motorcycle 74

The worlds greatest heroes: Tin Tin and Milou