FABRICE MIGUET
KNOWN AFFECTIONATLEY AS MIG

A real character from Argentan in Normandy, 33 year old Fabrice began competitive motorcycling in 1992 when taking part in the Kawasaki Cup, a series for two stroke 250cc KR1 S models. After a few seasons of consolidation, the Frenchman, known as MIG to his friends, progressed to the 1996 Promosport Championship, a production based competition in which he finished 17th aboard a Kawasaki 600ZXR. Like several overseas riders competing in the TT, Fabrice takes part in hill climbs with the highlight being a 5th ranking in the 1998 600cc Mountain Championship. Sadly, he was deprived of a higher rating as he had to miss one of the rounds, but he did manage second position at the daunting Plumeliau climb.
In 1999 Fabrice took part in the Le Mans 24 Hour Race with a standard Kawasaki 900 X9r and budget of 40,000 French Francs. After his first session, he was lying 16th, ahead of many top endurance riders, but, alas, there was to be no glory as a faulty gearbox put an end to the team's efforts. 
Like many continentals, a progression was developing - short circuits, hill climbs, endurance racing - where next? 1999 also saw Fabrice's debut in an event he refers to as "the mythical TT", fifteen days of happiness, as he says, "the event was the king, the race was the faith, the bike was the queen". With him came four pals to render mechanical and other practical assistance, then a further fifteen joined them to give moral support, quite a colony was developing. Riding consistently and certainly performing with credit, Fabrice came home as first newcomer in the Production TT in 37th position on a ZXR 900 at an average speed of 106.67mph. He fell in love with road racing, quite unusual for a Frenchman. Next up was a trip to Macau later in the same year; he felt "alone in another world", being the only French competitor in the event. Franck Perret, a Moto Journal correspondent, living in Asia, helped him tackle the guardrail line circuit. Despite performing well, he failed to receive an invitation for the following year's event, but is quite determined to return in future to race in an event he came to love.
No TT in 2000 for Fabrice and 2001 was a blank year for many lovers of the roads, so on to 2002 when our likeable Frenchman was made very welcome by the Organizers of the North West 200; he didn't let his new found friends down, securing a fine 19th position. For his second TT he managed to start in no less than five races, finishing 34th in the F1, the third 750cc machine to complete the distance, 33rd in the 1000cc Production, 38th in the Junior and 41st in the 600cc Production where he won many hearts over when he pushed his bike home after running out of petrol. He wasn't actually the last to finish and so claimed for himself the "Golden Jerry Can Award". His lap speeds in practice entitled him for a position on the starting grid for the Senior TT - however, luck was not with him on this occasion, mechanical problems forcing him out at the Pits. His fastest average race speed was 110.20mph aboard his 750cc Suzuki GSXR in the larger production capacity class, no mean feat for a competitor in his second TT. Despite a "big moment" at Kirk Michael Frabrice has not been put off, in fact he returned to Northern Ireland a couple of months later to gain a commendable 15th in the Ulster Grand Prix. 
Never to be missed in the paddock with his mighty voice, flip-flop shoes and well-worn hat, Fabrice has a busy schedule for this year ….. Mettet, NW 200, TT and the Pardu and Saaremaa events of Estonia. After the TT he is planning a "ride around" Europe with his friend, "Tof" - Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the former Baltic States, Poland, Romania, Austria and Germany. The planned trip will last about three and a half months. Fabrice, single, is a "temporary worker" who this year will be living in a caravan whilst at home in France and in his van during racing periods. In future he hopes to have a home with a "real roof" and have a real job, but at present he is full of passion for his racing, loves travelling and meeting people and as he says "happiness is enjoying a race, fighting against himself and the others in order to surpass himself". The TT needs characters like Fabrice Miguet. Thanks to our French Representative, Jean-Michel Prudon for supplying us with the information for this article.

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