FRENCH THREE WHEELERS

We always enjoy hearing from one of our French Reps, Jean-Michel Prudon - the man exudes enthusiasm about the TT ….. during an early new year conversation with Chris Preston he spoke of the involvement of his fellow countrymen in the forthcoming Races.

"As it stands at the moment six French crews will take part in TT 2002, four with Island experience along with two newcomers. Michel Jacques-Jean, at 50 the most experienced TT competitor, returns with a new passenger, Yvon Prigent, also fifty. Michel is itching to get back in the saddle; he didn't race in 2001 as his whole season was to be based around the TT. A truck driver, Michel is now in his 25th year of sidecar racing, starting first as a passenger before taking over the controls in hill climb events in 1975. He quickly moved on to the tarmac but had a 4 year break before returning in 1983, making his TT debut two years later. Sadly it was two DNFs; much the same in 1986 - one non-start, but he was in 19th position in Race B before departing the scene with a fuel related problem. It was ten years before we saw Michel on the Island again, but since then he has been an ever-present. In 2000 he was 58th fastest in practice with Gerard Barbe in the chair, eventually coming home 37th in the first race, but retiring in the second. Yvon, a boilermaker and like his driver living in Rennes, Brittany, is looking forward to his first TT challenge, which will be aboard an Ireson Kawasaki ZX6 R.

Three of the French teams making the journey this year actually made their debuts in 2000. Bernard Baumier, a 51 year old senior bank executive from Avigon in the Mediterranean south drove a Baker Honda with Francois Leblond in the chair to 46th position in Race A, improving to 44th two days later. Bernard certainly took his debut seriously, arriving 15 days before practice to learn the course - his biggest problem faced during such a long stay in the Island? Yes, of course the weather - such a big change from the south of France! For 2002 Alan Schofield's former passenger, Simon Furber will be the ballast aboard an ex-Jacques-Jean Baker Yamaha YZF - 35 kg lighter in weight than his 2000 mount. Bernard has seen success in the French championships finishing 20th in last year's Open Class and seventh in the F2.

Also making his debut in 2000 were Claude Montagnier and passenger, Gerald Midrouet finishing 45th and 47th in Races A and B respectively. Montagnier, a 46 year old electro-mechanical engineer from Roissy en Brie near Paris was French motorcycle rally champion in '86 and '88, before turning to three wheels, gaining the runner-up position in the Open Championship of 1994. Last season he finished 11th in the Open category and 2nd in the F2. Assisted by Midrouet, a 49 year old policeman, Montagnier will tackle the Mountain Circuit on a Windle Kawasaki ZX6 R.

The youngest of the French contingent will be Pascal Hachet [33], a sign writer and Delphine Alzina [28] a post office worker, both like Michel Jacques-Jean, hailing from Rennes. An ex-Geoff Bell Windle Yamaha will be their mount which will see them attempt to improve on their 48th and 46th positions of 2000; of fine pedigree, the R6-engined machine will be prepared by Christian Gines. Consistent placings in the 2001 French Championships for Pascal - 10th in both the Open and F2 and 8th in the National. Both driver and passenger are experienced hill-climbers, with Delphine having competed on 125 solo machinery in the Brittany Championships.

Married couple, Gerard and Francoise Mercier will be making their island debut aboard a Honda engined French Deglize, named after its creator, Gerard Deglize who sadly died from a heart attack during a race. The couple, from Moissac in the south-west of the country have been racing for over 5 years, finishing 23rd, 20th and 8th respectively in the French Open, National and F2 Championships of 2001. Gerard [43] is a carpenter and Francoise, a packer.

Finally …. Pierre and Maryse Duval from Paris only took to the sport in 1999 but nevertheless managed 6th in the F2 2001 French Championship, as well as 24th in the Open and 21st in the National categories. The married couple have both recently made career changes so that they could benefit from more regular hours and holidays - they are now caretakers. Previously, Pierre had been an armament engineer before working in TV and journalism; his wife, Maryse, was a hairdresser. Normally aboard a Seymaz 80 Yamaha 1000, the couple will have the bike that took Chris Founds to 9th position at TT 2000 at their disposal for their Island debut."

By the time you read this there might be even more French crews entered for this year's sidecar races - lets hope so, our overseas friends certainly add a bit more colour to an event for so long dominated by continentals in the '50s and '60s. We wish all the competitors a successful and safe TT and thank Jean-Michel Prudon for all his help - long may his enthusiasm continue.