Why are French riders so good?

[Zanzibar]

Hiya all,

I was wondering why French riders are so good. I searched in the archives and discovered that not only today but since the 80's, French riders have been doing really well.
Why is that? Does anybody have an explanation?

Thank you.

 

[Kawi250Kid]

Good Question...

I was at Elsinore today (2-1-02) and there was a french guy there with some people filming him... He was the fastest rider out there, lapped everyone at least 5 times.

 

[OKKX'er]

I saw something on TV (motowold?) about a high school they have set up for racers. The best kids can go there and they have classes in the morning and
ride and train with supervision the rest of the day. A prominent ex-racer
(sorry I can't remember which one- there have been a lot of fast frenchmen) set it up. This undoubtably helps, but the I still give credit to anyone's talent and effort that can race at that level.

 

[Duneman]

My wife says it's because they are great lovers and they race as if they were with a woman being very smooth and caculated. I said really honey?
HOW THE HELL WOULD YOU KNOw!!!!
:think

 

[jfletcher]

I went to paris once and was amazed at how many people where zipping around on scooters and motorcycles. In and out of traffic, jumping onto the curbs and down steps. Looked pretty reckless, but I never saw an accident. Even had a few motorcycle dealers on the main strip of the champs elysees.

 

[dirt bike dave]

Very funny, duneman!

Two of the French riders who won world championships in the '80s were Jackie Vimond and Michele Rinaldi. I think it was Vimond who set up the school, and Rinaldi owns one of the most successful GP teams, Rinaldi Yamaha. Of course, Jean Michele Bayle was the best rider in the world at his peak in '91 and one of the best of all time.

I've had the pleasure of vacationing in France a few times and they LOVE dirt bikes. Basically, motorcycles are far more popular than they will ever be in the USA, so more of their top athletes will get involved.

 

[grass-digger]

French is my first language and i'm hell no better than any english riders but i guess that might be cause i have noone to ride with around here:mad:

 

[IDkTm]

France also has its own Supercross series which helps the French riders out alot. Not alot of other countries have a SX series besides the US.

 

[nephron]

Cigarettes for breakfast, & wine for every meal.
A shot of port before the race.:silly:

Really, I think the better question would be whether or not we or they had supercross first? Anyone know? I'm sure that's an ignorant question, but oh well,...

And Duneman, LOL. Very good.:)

 

[Okiewan]

Didn't the French just win their first MxDN?
(PS... SX was created in the States, Anahiem, 1972 if I'm not mistaken)

 

[Les Schulz]

The first Supercross was at the LA Coliseum in 1972. The race was won by Marty Tripes and he beat a few Euros to boot.

 

[dirt bike dave]

The early LA events were called the Superbowl of Motocross; I think it took a few years before it was called Supercross. Stadium Motocross was first run in Europe (but not in Fance). Check out the photos and history in this link:

http://www.cincynet.cnyric.org/webpages/carmicheal/moto_history.htm

 

[mxracer724]

I saw something on TV (motowold?) about a high school they have set up for racers. The best kids can go there and they have classes in the morning and
ride and train with supervision the rest of the day. A prominent ex-racer
(sorry I can't remember which one- there have been a lot of fast frenchmen) set it up. This undoubtably helps, but the I still give credit to anyone's talent and effort that can race at that level.

Damn I wish they had schools like that over here!! :mad:

 

[funktree]

You lika tha supacross, the supacross is good no?

 

[BunduBasher]

Frogs legs, snails, french roast coffee, croisants, and dual sports for breakfast :confused: what more could a future MX champ want :)