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4/1/2008
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Milton, WA
US
Edited Date/Time
4/29/2015 1:27pm
I would like to have a civilized discussion about how & why the Majority of French Riders are typically technically craftier than their counterparts wherever. Is it because of JMB & his impact on the sport? Is it the tracks or the dirt? Let's see if someone has a plausible explanation or reasoning?
In France there is (was ?) a "national trainer" (technical director?) whose job goes way beyond just selecting the MxDN team.
The Shop
I think it's deeper than that. I think culture and thought patterns have an impact. I also noticed that Gautier rides a lot of BMX.
It's not because of SX. If that was the case US riders wouldn't be as Reed says "Pin It Straight, Brake Hard, Turn Sharp. Right Down The Middle."
Euro Riders in general have better line selection IMO. I also believe that was the key to Roczen winning the Nationals last year. But he's not French.
The weather allows them to ride all year long( Duinkerke at least) and pretty close to Spain...
They have lot'f of recent proof that hard work can actually pay off in a succesful career...
2. TF1, the #1 national channel who broadcasted at that time a few hours of SX/MX per year (thanks to JMB too)
3. Jean Louis Bernardelli, the announcer who made the show so interesting.
4. Jean Luc Fouchet (JLFO), former national rider, who started the SX series in France back in 87 if I am correct
5. Jacky Vimond 86 MX world champ and JMB, riders to cheer for and who were idols for kids
6. The prices to bring top AMA riders to Bercy back in the 80 or 90's, the line up was super stacked like the SX des Nations!
7. The generation that came from it, Pichon, DV, Tortelli, Roncada (Demaria, Vialle, Bethys, Porte, Guedard, Boniface, Sorby) and who placed France as the first country after the US in SX.
8. A variety of good MX tracks but also some SX tracks to train on. (many in the 90's, I used to train in SX on my 80!)
9. The French press is great ! Motoverte, MXMagazine, MotoCrampons and Lebigusa
10. Top companies to prepare the bike, such as Bud Racing, Goby, Reptil
11. Minivert (65/85 championships like LL's) and the federation who take care of the best hopes
But to answer the OP the most accurately, I think it is:
12. Weather / soil: it is really muddy in winters, and quite wet in spring and autumn. The soil is kind of what we saw in NJ East Rutherford, most of the time it is not sandy or super hard pack like Texas. A rider that trains for a national or world championship has to put thousands of laps on really muddy tracks with still lots of AMA style jumps (made from all the reasons above) that are very rutty due to the weather. I think if you want to keep it on 2 wheels and stay injury free in these conditions you must improve your balance and technique a lot, start to be really smooth and pick the best lines instead of over riding the track fully pinned like a normal hard pack track in the summer.
Then my theory is that its a combination of hard pack tracks and rainy weather. They need to learn to be gentle with the bike to stay on two wheels.
On the north of france the dirt is soft and sandy so no problem if it rains and here in the south its dry. But france is like riding in marbles.
Most of their tracks are incredibly hard and dry, with few ruts, huge height differences, and in general they're very technical. Needless to say, these kinds of conditions promote great throttle control, body positioning, bike control, etc... I believe that's also why French riders do best on the slower, more technical tracks (like Unadilla) instead of the more WFO ones.
ADAC Benelux scene is the place to be right now (Roczen & Herlings)
Pit Row
Marv is good but until he proves he can be the best guy in the 450 class and win multiple championships he will be far behind Bayle IMO.
Speaking of which, JS7 is planning on racing the SX of Lille
Awesome news !
This new stadium is really good for AMA riders to do some live testing before the season begins !
But wait, there's MORE! He is a great SX rider!
I'll wager he'll hang in the U.S.A. No Outdoor 450 title, make some bucks and head home after his career is complete.
JMB was the complete "French Connection".
France got Moose, Tixier, Febvre, Paulin, Ferrandis....
That's cheating.
The maternal side of my family is all from Corsica and Marseille and it seems that Marseille is much like SoCal in that ideal weather conditions and just the cultural attitude is conducive to MX. The only thing I don't get is the fucking theftand vandalism in that country. According to my cousin who is a cop in Marseille it's essentially impossible to own anything nice at all there as it will instantly be stolen or vandalized.
Anyways, Frenchmen are known to be smooth with the ladies and that smoothness seems to carry over to the MX track as well.
Vuillemin was better than Pichon.
Pichon was better than Pourcel.
Pourcel was better than Musquin.
Post a reply to: Let's Talk About The French!?!