4/7/2023 0 Comments Mxgp 2020 bugs![]() ![]() “Having two top riders on board is something that I’m very proud of. He is particularly excited about his team which, this year, boasts a line-up consisting of Clement Desalle and Romain Febvre. In spite of all he has achieved and the disruption which Covid-19 has caused this year, François' optimism for the sport burns as brightly as ever. ![]() “I was able to spend five weeks in a row in France with my wife and daughter, which I’ve never been able to do before so there have been some positives,” he tells. The global pandemic, however, did present him some unlikely benefits. It was not only important for all the teams’ financial health, but also for the riders and the industry as a whole,” he says. It was great to get the season started on August 9 th. “This has had a huge impact on the world, and that unfortunately includes our sport as well. This year, though, he has had to confront an altogether different challenge: Covid-19. “We work with KRT superbike support to help the riders get the maximum physical prep done during training and we have a team of physios to help the riders with recovery after competition and to accelerate the healing of small injuries,” he says. To ensure optimum performance, François leaves no stone unturned to guarantee that his riders are in the best possible shape. All the good work that the rider, the staff and the partners who have invested in the team, can be destroyed in a second due to a crash, which can put the whole project in difficulty,” he tells. “This is the most challenging aspect of managing a team. For François, injuries to riders cut especially deep. Motocross has just become more and more professional.”Īlthough he has experienced many highs as a team manager – as evidenced by the numerous podium finishes and victories his riders have celebrated – disappointments are also part and parcel of the job. To finish 3 rd as Clement Desalle did in 2009 on what was pretty much a stock bike is just not possible anymore. “Today, manufacturers are heavily involved in MXGP, which has led to ever-increasing levels of competition. ![]() This has proven a successful collaboration, resulting in GP victories by France’s Gautier Paulin, America’s Ryan Villopoto and, since he joined the team in 2016, Belgium’s Clement Desalle.Īccording to François, the sport is barely recognisable to the one that existed a decade ago when he began his involvement. With a proud and successful history in the motocross world championship for more than a quarter of a century, KRT teamed up with the US drinks manufacturer Monster Energy in 2014. And the recipe for his success? “Trust in yourself, work hard and make it happen!” I’m now into my 11 th year as team manager of KRT,” he proudly tells. It was not an easy decision, but I decided to take the plunge and the rest as they say is history. “Thierry had taken over the Kawasaki Racing Team and offered me a new and, frankly, unexpected challenge to become the team’s manager. It got me noticed in the paddock,” he says.īarely a year into his new job, his former boss Thierry Chizat-Suzzoni came calling with an offer he simply couldn’t refuse. This was my first real test and it gave me a good experience. “I worked as a mechanic for Clement Desalle who enjoyed a successful year, finishing 3 rd in the world championship. In 2009, François switched teams, joining the Belgium-based Honda LS. In my first year, which was the last Dakar raced in Africa, I worked as a motorbike mechanic and when the Dakar moved to South America for the first time, I became a co-driver of a fast assistance truck,” he informs. “While working with CLS I spent the winters with the MD Rallye Sport Team. “I worked for CLS Kawasaki for three years and enjoyed many great experiences there.” His entrance into the world of professional motorsport led to many additional opportunities. With his target career clearly defined, François secured a traineeship with the CLS Kawasaki team before he had even finished school. This, certainly, is where my passion for racing and motocross was first sparked,” he tells. Close to where they lived was a place where you could rent motorcycles, so I would spend the afternoon riding 50cc bikes. I would visit my grandparents regularly on Sundays. Some, however, like François Lemariey discover their true calling at a very early age. Many people spend a lifetime, often without success, searching for their vocation. ![]()
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