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page 17 Exclusive - 2014 Thierry Michaud interview |
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You worked with Fantic for the best and most legendary years that they ever had. These are iconic times. What do you remember about the factory ?.
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There were some bikes. Thousands perhaps but I was the race competition service was in another place. I was living not far away but I was not living in the middle of the factory. I think the best things for me and the things I remember is me speaking with the Italian at the time as I learn Italian with SWM. I have a good relationship with most persons in the factory. I mean, that when I have a special piece or request I can speak in Italian and go to this person and say please please can you do this for me. He would look at me as if I was a real human ......it was like a family. This was important. It was not a really big big factory here you are a number. It was also a not very small factory where you can't have what you want. It was a good compromise.
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The competition department at a different location.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com photo Trial journal
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2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com photo fanticmotorlegend.it
When I go to look and speak with the engineer, I would look and speak with this man and he would answer to me. I was winning and I was leading the World Championship. I won the World Championship. Everything..... I think they appreciate me. I think we have a very good relationship. When I need to speak with the boss I telephone him and he'd say “ok yes yes Thierry you can come. What do you have? What is your problem? Come in my office and well have discussion with person to person”. It was like family. It was not to much and ....it was this compromise I say. I have no other words to make you understand this.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com photo fanticmotorlegend.it
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2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com photo fanticmotorlegend.it
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When you used to go to the factory did you have a flat in Italy ? How did you travel down there ?
At this time I would travel by car because I was doing the World Championship and my bikes were almost always in the vans of the factory. It was more than 500 kilometres to go the factory. It was not so complicated. It was quite easy for me to go there. No language problem. No it was nice. Really nice. Not only because I was winning because every thing is nice when you win. But it was nice and easy. They were selling bikes. It was quite good money. We were leading the World Championship, really it was a perfect situation. I don't know whether it was better then that before but at this moment it was a very good situation.
At this time I would travel by car because I was doing the World Championship and my bikes were almost always in the vans of the factory. It was more than 500 kilometres to go the factory. It was not so complicated. It was quite easy for me to go there. No language problem. No it was nice. Really nice. Not only because I was winning because every thing is nice when you win. But it was nice and easy. They were selling bikes. It was quite good money. We were leading the World Championship, really it was a perfect situation. I don't know whether it was better then that before but at this moment it was a very good situation.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com photo fanticmotorlegend.it
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2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com photo fanticmotorlegend.it
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At this time had you bought a house, or were you still living at home with you parents ?
No no I bought a house in 85, when I was 22 or 23. 22 I think. At this time I was living with my wife. It was not my wife at this time but I was developing quite fast, quite young.
No no I bought a house in 85, when I was 22 or 23. 22 I think. At this time I was living with my wife. It was not my wife at this time but I was developing quite fast, quite young.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com photo Trials Journal
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2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com photo Trials Journal
In 1984 when you finished 2nd why did Eddy beat you on that day that year, was it a specific problem you had or was it just Eddys riding was better ?
No problem, I change bike, coming from SWM to Fantic, but it was not the problem, I must explain to you it was not the problem of the new bike, Eddy Lejeune was better I think, he was riding very good, and the Fantic was not a modern bike, it was old in many ways. I don’t want to re write the story and I don't want to let people imagine that I could be World Champion, for sure. When I lose the World Championship, I think it was about 2 points if I remember, I lose by 2 points, the big difference was Eddy Lejeune in the Belgium Grand Prix, was at home and was quite sure to win, it was not the case for me in France, I don’t want to re write the story, Eddy beat me because he was better.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com photo Trials Journal
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In 84 it was for me the new bike as I said before and for me I think my first victory was in Scotland, in that day the Scottish 6 Day was a kind of World Championship, it was not as important as a World Championship, but it is important to remember in 84 I think 7 or 8 years it was only the story of the Scottish, when absolutely all the riders who were riding the World Championship were riding in Scotland. It was a little World Championship. For Fantic and me it was the greatest victory, at that time it was very important for me as I want to win the World Championship and to win the Scottish as a the first non British rider. This was an incredible achievement for me and for Fantic it was finally good to demonstrate a great bike.