-loads and unloads bike himself. Tightens his spokes himself, fills up gas at the pump like an average Joe. Plays around up the hills and drops the bike " like " anyone else ( lol ). Drives a simple Toyota Xcab from the day.
In other videos below he is seen eating regular food on the road. He also is known to swapping shocks himself among other parts. There is a discussion of him and Cliff White about repositioning the engine in the frame so that he could clear a jump with no gas without being affected by chain torque. Having rebuild 92 and 94 CR250R I found that the engine stays are different, they did play around moving the engine inside the frame. He really despised the 92 model.
Also interesting when asked by a French journalist about the older bikes, what would he ride today, were they better etc... he replies he would chose today's bikes without hesitation.
Interesting take, if racing is just a job then he would not do it. " if one is happy to finish 5th and clock his hours, then I am out, not for me". He wanted to win and have fun, move on. it comes across as arrogant but all his close friends say it. He knows what he wants and moves on. "4 laps on a track is enough".
His style of training, playriding, is very much following the model of Bailey and Johnson. Apparently Roger De Coster was not at ease knowing he was dropping the bike doing hillclimbs.
Bayle's take on the US is somewhat harsh. California and Florida are interesting, " the rest is a hole". Said during his time here, late 80s, early 90s.
It is sad that most French documentaries always overly dramatizes everything in a chauvinistic " cocorico" fashion. But I encourage you to watch the video and block the cheesy narration.
Interesting that he stayed loyal to Honda and Motul his entire career and even after. He claims that his bikes in the US used Motul oil while having Honda Oil stickers.
One of his close friends passed away in a tragic happening, and this was concealed from him when he was about to wrap the title. Once he wrapped the title he was aware of that. This might explain why he seemed a bit reserved and not that festive at the time.
Steve Matthes did great podcasts of him a while back, unfortunately because of a bad SD card or something, a big chunk of the interview was lost, if I recall correctly. The french documentary have more in depth origins stories. JMB seems less shy in them.
JMB was interested in motoGP / road racing from his early age but there was nothing available to start in that category as a kid. Motocross was back then the most accessible racing on 2 wheels.
A stuntman named Alain Prieur was the inspiration that got him started.
JMB once challenged a bobsleigh on an ice track with a CR500
He currently resides where he grew up, in Manosque France. He owns a little piece of land with Olive Trees and makes artisan Olive oil. He rides touring bikes like Jeff Stanton. Tests Honda cars and stays a friendly ambassador of Honda it seems.
There are more recent videos of him riding I am still discovering. In one of them he is riding with Paulin, both on CFRF450R. JMB jumping style is the same as back in the days, he does not whip or scrub but keeps it steady while keeping up with Paulin's more modern whipping/scrubbing style.
I recommend watching some of the Bol D'Or racing, ( supermoto ) where they take dirt bikes with slicks on asphalt and with some hybrid sections. I recall Magoo and either Geboers/ Jobe did race CR500s on asphalt too.
Just like Malcolm Smith, he plays around with trial bikes.
Great videos, unfortunately in French and often spoken fast and use of slang with provincial accent. Feel free to inquire specific moments I could translate if needed.
Roger D took the picture of me with with JMB’s Championship bike at the US factory Honda headquarters in ‘91. The picture was taken with a cheap camera I bought at a local 7-Eleven convenience store.
I was racing the factory Honda, CBR 600 and JMB wanted to race my bike, but the AMA would not allow him to get a pro roadracing license without going through the ranks so to speak. Roger D agreed that he should not be able to acquire his pro road racing license so easily. Luckily I kept my ride.
JMB and I reminisced about our paths crossing back then when I saw him at the Charlotte MXGP several years ago.
JMB rode a CR500 at the VMXdN a few years back. He hadn't raced for years so it was a big deal.
Very humble, didn't want any fuss, just quietly rode that thing round a GP track at warp speed. Massive throttle openings, high gears, it sounded like it was ticking over. Way to ride a big gun.
Best of all were his lines, he used parts of the track no-one else touched and seemingly missed every bump. Talent beyond description.
JMB rode a CR500 at the VMXdN a few years back. He hadn't raced for years so it was a big deal.
Very humble, didn't want...
JMB rode a CR500 at the VMXdN a few years back. He hadn't raced for years so it was a big deal.
Very humble, didn't want any fuss, just quietly rode that thing round a GP track at warp speed. Massive throttle openings, high gears, it sounded like it was ticking over. Way to ride a big gun.
Best of all were his lines, he used parts of the track no-one else touched and seemingly missed every bump. Talent beyond description.
Was it this race? Vimond was smart to stipulate he would only do it if he could test the bike ahead of time. Demaria is rarely happy, even during such an iconic event. Bayle's demeanor was different from most of his CR500 races where he would be picky about the bike and have special HRC parts from 91. I could be wrong, but he seemed to have adapted to the bike within its limitations and his own. He did push a little bit for fun, as he explains, " with a big grin under the helmet" knowing his buddies were filming/shooting.. & the excitement it enticed especially with the holeshot.
Very cool. Excited to check these out
Thanks for posting, mofomotojoe
Roger D took the picture of me with with JMB’s Championship bike at the US factory Honda headquarters in ‘91. The picture was taken with a cheap camera I bought at a local 7-Eleven convenience store.
I was racing the factory Honda, CBR 600 and JMB wanted to race my bike, but the AMA would not allow him to get a pro roadracing license without going through the ranks so to speak. Roger D agreed that he should not be able to acquire his pro road racing license so easily. Luckily I kept my ride.
JMB and I reminisced about our paths crossing back then when I saw him at the Charlotte MXGP several years ago.
RIDE ON!!!
JMB rode a CR500 at the VMXdN a few years back. He hadn't raced for years so it was a big deal.
Very humble, didn't want any fuss, just quietly rode that thing round a GP track at warp speed. Massive throttle openings, high gears, it sounded like it was ticking over. Way to ride a big gun.
Best of all were his lines, he used parts of the track no-one else touched and seemingly missed every bump. Talent beyond description.
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Was it this race? Vimond was smart to stipulate he would only do it if he could test the bike ahead of time. Demaria is rarely happy, even during such an iconic event. Bayle's demeanor was different from most of his CR500 races where he would be picky about the bike and have special HRC parts from 91. I could be wrong, but he seemed to have adapted to the bike within its limitations and his own. He did push a little bit for fun, as he explains, " with a big grin under the helmet" knowing his buddies were filming/shooting.. & the excitement it enticed especially with the holeshot.
The CR500 vs Bobsleigh challenge. I could not find a better quality video, but I remember seeing it on TV when it happened.
Good ol' times!!
Playing around
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