L'interview dont parlait Gilles. Je n'ai réussi à me connecter qu'aujourd'hui. Alors pour ceux qui avait des difficultés comme moi.
La voilà.
InTERRAgation 9 with Rupert X: The amazing JEAN MICHEL BAYLE!
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4/15/2009
JMB, No. 111.
Q: JMB, what were you doing at 9:44 this morning?
A: This morning at 9h44, I was at my working shop, getting my trials bike and my Honda CRF ready to ride. The next few days, one part of the world French ski team is coming to ride bike with me, here in my house in south of France.
Q: Have you been following the AMA Supercross series this year and, if so, what are your thoughts on the Reed-Stewart battles?
A: Yes, I follow the results, of course. The championship is very cool this year, and Reed joined the Suzuki team this year, and the manager is Roger Decoster, so it's nice to see him in this team. For James I saw him ride in Bercy last winter, and I was very impressed by the way he was riding. He was smooth and aggressive, and this is very hard to do.
Q: Do you believe Ricky Carmichael retired too early, or was it time for him to move on?
A: You know, this is very personal. You have to quit when you feel it's time to leave. You do not want to have any regrets after this choice, so if he is happy now, and if he is enjoying life, he did a good choice, and he can be proud of what he achieved in his career.
Q: What occupies most of your time these days? Rally-car racing?
A: Yes, I am racing rally cars about three races a year. I would love to do more, but it's difficult to fine sponsorship and help here right now. I am also skiing a lot and riding bike. Life is good.
Q: Of all the bikes you raced over the years, which brings back the best memories and why?
A: I have two favorite bikes. The first one is my 1989 stock bike than Roger Decoster and Mitch Payton bought for me to race the first outdoor race in Gainesville. I was HRC Honda factory rider in Europe, and I was nobody here in the States, so they bought me this bike, we put some suspension parts that I used in Europe for my practice bike, and Mitch takes care of the standard engine. This bike was so fast, I think faster than my factory bike in Europe, and I won my first race in America. I left as championship leader after one race to go back to world championship in Europe. Thanks again to Roger and Mitch for the big help.
The second one is my factory Honda 250 bike from 1991, with tuning by my best mechanic ever Mr. Cliff White. Three championship and never a problem on the bike. Cliff is the best one.
Q: Although many motocross purists in America couldn’t get enough of watching your ride, you never were really well accepted in the USA during your racing days. Does that bother you and, if you had to do things over again in America, what would you change?
A: You know, I was the first one to come, and most of the people in the U.S. where making joke about me about racing in Supercross. Not so much people believe in me at the beginning, so this make you stronger but also more rude. Also, my main job was to win and ride as good as possible and get better and better, so I did not do too much for the fan and to get accepted. Also, I am French and happy to be it, and my goal was not to get American. I have a lot of respect for your country. You give me the chance to race with all your best racers, and this was a great attitude from all of you. Thanks to the AMA to help me to come race in your championship. You know, if I was not born in France, my dream will be to be born in the U.S.
Q: Do you ever feel like maybe you abandoned motocross too quickly, to join the road-racing and MotoGP?
A: No, I follow my feeling all my life, and this makes me what I am today, and I happy with what I achieved. One day, Kenny Roberts, my team manager in Yamaha factory MotoGP, tell me after a not-so-good race where I got the seventh position, "You have done three big careers in your life, racing motocross and get two-time world champion in Europe, racing in the U.S. and get Supercross champion and outdoor champion, and now you are racing MotoGP and racing to get podium every week. Some people are so happy and dreaming doing only one part of the three careers you have. So keep following your feeling. You are on your road."
Q: What were some of your greatest recollections from your brief, yet highly successful time racing in America?
A: All my time in your country was great. Of course, winning race was cool, but I met some great people and a great nation. I love it, and my only regret is to have no green card to be able to spend more time over there.
Q: When will be the next time we see you in America? How much would a promoter have to pay – in U.S. dollars – to have you on the line at an AMA National Motocross?
A: I do not know when I will come next. How much would a promoter have to pay for me to race? Zero dollars because I will never accept to race again for money, but if one promoter want me do to some laps with my ex-teammate Jeff Stanton, I will love it. I would love to meet him again.
Sujet: Re: jeanmichelbayle.fr NEWS 
Mer 17 Sep - 9:20
