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page 32 Exclusive - 2014 Thierry Michaud interview |
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Did you also break your leg ?
Yes and after the beginning of the 90 Indoor I break my ankle, and this was the start of the end of my career. I had big problems for many months and many years, I still have some problems but I'm not riding at all so it is not a problem today. With all the rest, this arrive at the wrong moment because I was 26 years old and I was not very old, I was 2nd in the World Championship, I was really motivated to ride a very good 90 season, and to have this type of accident was not an incredible type of accident, but it gave me some trouble because you know in trials sport you need to be very physical and in great condition.
Yes and after the beginning of the 90 Indoor I break my ankle, and this was the start of the end of my career. I had big problems for many months and many years, I still have some problems but I'm not riding at all so it is not a problem today. With all the rest, this arrive at the wrong moment because I was 26 years old and I was not very old, I was 2nd in the World Championship, I was really motivated to ride a very good 90 season, and to have this type of accident was not an incredible type of accident, but it gave me some trouble because you know in trials sport you need to be very physical and in great condition.
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From 90, I had an operation in 91, and then after 27 I was tired and I decide to stop 2 years later. But I don't regret anything.
What sport do you do know for fun ?
I still love trial, I ride very few in the year, and I like to play tennis.
What was your favourite trial that you look back on and you remember with the best memory ?
For me there is 2 things. The Scottish 6 days, this is for me, and I'm not the only one to think this, for me the Scottish 6 day, not the greatest event, but for me it's really the main spirit of the sport. If it's an event and you can only do it in Scotland for me the spirit of the sport is it here / is in Scotland.
What sport do you do know for fun ?
I still love trial, I ride very few in the year, and I like to play tennis.
What was your favourite trial that you look back on and you remember with the best memory ?
For me there is 2 things. The Scottish 6 days, this is for me, and I'm not the only one to think this, for me the Scottish 6 day, not the greatest event, but for me it's really the main spirit of the sport. If it's an event and you can only do it in Scotland for me the spirit of the sport is it here / is in Scotland.
And one of the most incredible events I ever ride is the Euban Trial in Monmapa in Paris. I was riding 2 or 3 times in the end of the 80’s and at the beginning of the 90’s, the Paris Motor Club organise a trial, with thousands and thousands of people were going there to look and it was the fact that the trials can be inside a city, in Paris, just in the most incredible place in the world, in Monmatra just before a big monument, and this for me was one of the spirit and one of the most important incredible conditions that I have ever ride in trial and I think it is something important and I would like to do up again this type of conditions. More than each trial, I ride in many good trials, incredible stadiums, but for me it's a Trial Monmatra, inside Paris, it's incredible.
These photos were taken at Thierry's last indoor Trial where he put on a display for the crowds.
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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Who were your greatest friends within trials ?
Friend is Phillipe Berlattier because he is living near my house, we are the same ages, we have been big fighter but we are still very good friends. I was a fan of Bernie Schrieber, but I see him one time every 5 years. I appreciate him and I think he appreciate me. I am a very big fan of Bernie Schrieber. Charles Coutard was one of my main favourire riders. And I have a good relationship with Jordi Tarres. One of my main adverseries that I have a lot of respect for is Jordi Tarres. My friend is Phillipe Berlattier.
Friend is Phillipe Berlattier because he is living near my house, we are the same ages, we have been big fighter but we are still very good friends. I was a fan of Bernie Schrieber, but I see him one time every 5 years. I appreciate him and I think he appreciate me. I am a very big fan of Bernie Schrieber. Charles Coutard was one of my main favourire riders. And I have a good relationship with Jordi Tarres. One of my main adverseries that I have a lot of respect for is Jordi Tarres. My friend is Phillipe Berlattier.
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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What was your favourite bike of your career ?
The prototype 301. The 301 Fantic is one of the best bikes.
The prototype 301. The 301 Fantic is one of the best bikes.
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com
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
2014 Thierry Michaud interview www.retrotrials.com
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Who do you owe most thanks to when you look back ?
There is many, but to be honest it has to be my wife. Why my wife ? Well because she has always been really involved in my results. My team was my wife, my brother was my minder, it was very important because I have the perfect minder. In that time it was not the same organisation that we have today. Mechanics and managers were not so important as we have today. Then when I say my wife, it seems to be stupid, but at that time it was the different organisation than today. When my brother was my minder it was a very different type of minding as today. Probably the person today cannot really understand what I say. One of the most important people for me, more close to the sport, has been Bernie Schrieber. I explain to you why. When I was young and I read a book about Bernie. I was a fan of Bernie Schrieber. After this time I meet Bernie Schrieber in SWM, the first time in arrive in SWM as a kind of factory rider I met Bernie Schrieber and he has been so incredible, so sympathetic, so generous, so good with me that he really give me many things. It was about 3 or 5 years before that I read the book, and 3 or 5 years later that I am with him, and I look at him and I was riding with him and he helping me and he was very very good with me. He has been fantastic. One other fantastic rider still riding is Giles Burgat also, the French rider, Giles Burgat.
There is many, but to be honest it has to be my wife. Why my wife ? Well because she has always been really involved in my results. My team was my wife, my brother was my minder, it was very important because I have the perfect minder. In that time it was not the same organisation that we have today. Mechanics and managers were not so important as we have today. Then when I say my wife, it seems to be stupid, but at that time it was the different organisation than today. When my brother was my minder it was a very different type of minding as today. Probably the person today cannot really understand what I say. One of the most important people for me, more close to the sport, has been Bernie Schrieber. I explain to you why. When I was young and I read a book about Bernie. I was a fan of Bernie Schrieber. After this time I meet Bernie Schrieber in SWM, the first time in arrive in SWM as a kind of factory rider I met Bernie Schrieber and he has been so incredible, so sympathetic, so generous, so good with me that he really give me many things. It was about 3 or 5 years before that I read the book, and 3 or 5 years later that I am with him, and I look at him and I was riding with him and he helping me and he was very very good with me. He has been fantastic. One other fantastic rider still riding is Giles Burgat also, the French rider, Giles Burgat.