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4/1/2008
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GB
Edited Date/Time
2/4/2021 1:53pm
At the 1990 French 500 GP I was the only rider to launch an enormous double jump that had the rest of the GP paddock shaking their heads in disbelief. Jeff Leisk (who you can see standing on the hill in the blue shorts) later said, “If that’s what it takes, then I’m out!”
The Brou double has its own chapter in my book, ‘The Inside Line: Racing the 500cc World Motocross Championship’, and I thought you guys may like to read a short excerpt from that chapter:
“I rode down the hill and into the 180-degree left-hand corner before the jump. I carved nicely through and out of the new, freshly formed berm in second gear, trying to get as much drive as possible, just as I would do any other lap. It had been a neat turn and a good exit.
Then, in that very instant, I just thought to myself, “Fuck it!”
I short-shifted into third and held the throttle wide-open. My CR500 was starting to hit the meat of the powerband as it drove towards the hill, my front wheel a few inches off the ground under the hard acceleration.
I didn’t back off.
As I reached the bottom of the climb the slightly airborne front wheel met the upslope. First the forks, and then the rest of the bike compressed deeply into the abrupt change of gradient. Simultaneously, I dropped from my slightly standing position and collapsed my weight as hard as I could into the centre of the seat to force the suspension down even further into its travel.
With my left forefinger I instinctively slipped the clutch ever so slightly to subtly allow the CR500 to raise its revs to where the absolute maximum power and torque would be delivered. I knew that I needed everything I had.
The engine strained and the exhaust note deepened as the nearly-bottomed-out motorcycle powered hard against the G-forces up the short, steep climb.
I held it on right to the very lip, beyond which all I could see was sky.
The bike took off into orbit…”
Rated five-stars and 'Excellent' on Trustpilot, ‘The Inside Line: Racing the 500cc World Motocross Championship’ is available at theinsidelinebook.com
The Brou double has its own chapter in my book, ‘The Inside Line: Racing the 500cc World Motocross Championship’, and I thought you guys may like to read a short excerpt from that chapter:
“I rode down the hill and into the 180-degree left-hand corner before the jump. I carved nicely through and out of the new, freshly formed berm in second gear, trying to get as much drive as possible, just as I would do any other lap. It had been a neat turn and a good exit.
Then, in that very instant, I just thought to myself, “Fuck it!”
I short-shifted into third and held the throttle wide-open. My CR500 was starting to hit the meat of the powerband as it drove towards the hill, my front wheel a few inches off the ground under the hard acceleration.
I didn’t back off.
As I reached the bottom of the climb the slightly airborne front wheel met the upslope. First the forks, and then the rest of the bike compressed deeply into the abrupt change of gradient. Simultaneously, I dropped from my slightly standing position and collapsed my weight as hard as I could into the centre of the seat to force the suspension down even further into its travel.
With my left forefinger I instinctively slipped the clutch ever so slightly to subtly allow the CR500 to raise its revs to where the absolute maximum power and torque would be delivered. I knew that I needed everything I had.
The engine strained and the exhaust note deepened as the nearly-bottomed-out motorcycle powered hard against the G-forces up the short, steep climb.
I held it on right to the very lip, beyond which all I could see was sky.
The bike took off into orbit…”
Rated five-stars and 'Excellent' on Trustpilot, ‘The Inside Line: Racing the 500cc World Motocross Championship’ is available at theinsidelinebook.com
A long way out of shot to the right...
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Thanks for the snippet....
That leap is really huge, it is like a gigantic double or camel jump, even bigger than Larocco's leap as even in 97 for the french gp in 250 nobody was doing it and I am not sure it has ever been done since.
I don't know the exact size but if my memory is correct it must be about 35 meters (115 foot), where the landing is a few meters higher, with not much space to gain speed before, the left 180 turn is quite tight and there is like less than 20-25 meters to take off.
There are not many video shots of that part of the track, but you can see the jump in video for instance here from 7.07 to 7.13. (where Everts doesn't jump it).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_FDgBkcZsc&ab_channel=MX46
I raced here in 96 representing my region and broke my chain and left case on I think this jump, although i was absolutely not doing that leap.
That track is tricky, the few downhill sudden drops are really dangerous if you overshoot it too due to the braking bumps just before, and the big steep tabletop seen in the video or picture just under the yellow arrow doesn't make it justice as well.
I am 100% sure it was terrifying to see that leap, especially with the sound of the 500.
You realize Jeffro retired from racing at the end of the 1990 season.
I will ask him next time we catch up what he remembers about it.
I hope it wasn't this that send him into early retirement from racing.
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