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page 18 Exclusive - 2014 Thierry Michaud interview |
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Three great photos fromThe USA's Matt Liberatore taken at the 1984 Watkin's Glen Trial.
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John Lampkin talking to Thierry Michaud.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com
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Montesa factory rider Andreu Codina grouped with 1981 World Champion Gilles Burgat and Thierry Michaud.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com
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Thierry Michaud fired the Fantic 300 up the Watkin's Glen Waterfall.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com
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You developed the first mono shock Fantic, did you help a lot in developing that bike or not really ?
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com Photo Trials Journal
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2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com Photo Trials Journal
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Yes is me.The two shocks is old and we see the mono shock from the Yamaha TY, the mono shock was really much better, with the suspension and we the team work very hard with Fantic and I was doing all the test on the bike, Fantic was making and building the bike but I was doing the test with the Italian factory and I can remember we had big problems cos there was the big snow every where in Italy and snow in the South of France and so we have big problems. Every time we were in a hurry of course and we have to travel a lot all over the place and we work hard and we have a very good bike I think.
Some people say that the exhaust smoke smelt different on that bike, were you using different fuel or not ?
Some people say that the exhaust smoke smelt different on that bike, were you using different fuel or not ?
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com
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2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com
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2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com
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2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com
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Phuff, I don’t remember , oh let me think.... I don’t remember nothing special. It was a prototype but I don’t remember something special for the oil.
Did you ever ride Eddys Honda 360 to see how it compared to your Fantic ?
Did you ever ride Eddys Honda 360 to see how it compared to your Fantic ?
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com Photo Trials Journal
No no never. Normally we did not want to lend our bike, overall for Honda it didn’t want other people to try the bike. It was better no.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com Photo Trials Journal
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2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com Photo Trials Journal
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Can you remember one thing that went well on that Fantic prototype or anything that broke or any story you can remember about that Fantic because it was quite a special bike from the time ?
There is many things, for sure that bike was really incredible, the Fantic did have a very good engine, in all my life the Fantic always have a very good engine. But the suspension was not good and that bike the prototype everything was good, when you are a good rider you always have the best bike for sure in 84 it was all good and I have the best bike. We have some trouble the day before the World Championship at a French Championship, we finished the bike for the French Championship, the first event of the year, and it was very important for the Fantic and for me and it was another Italian rider also on the Fantic. We had been riding for 2 days in Italy and on the Saturday he broke a piece of the suspension it was an aluminium fitting and it was not good and I remember the factory call me on the Saturday night before the event and told me don’t worry, Thierry we are returning a new bit for your bike we are driving on the night and tomorrow morning you will have your bit for the bike and don’t worry the bike will go well, we will make sure of this.
There is many things, for sure that bike was really incredible, the Fantic did have a very good engine, in all my life the Fantic always have a very good engine. But the suspension was not good and that bike the prototype everything was good, when you are a good rider you always have the best bike for sure in 84 it was all good and I have the best bike. We have some trouble the day before the World Championship at a French Championship, we finished the bike for the French Championship, the first event of the year, and it was very important for the Fantic and for me and it was another Italian rider also on the Fantic. We had been riding for 2 days in Italy and on the Saturday he broke a piece of the suspension it was an aluminium fitting and it was not good and I remember the factory call me on the Saturday night before the event and told me don’t worry, Thierry we are returning a new bit for your bike we are driving on the night and tomorrow morning you will have your bit for the bike and don’t worry the bike will go well, we will make sure of this.