The best Eddy Lejeune Interview ever Page 9
Why did you not continue with your own team?
In Belguim it is impossible to have money, hey and I drive for the money, not for…..
In Belguim it is impossible to have money, hey and I drive for the money, not for…..
Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
In 1988 when you ride the Merlin how did you do the deal? Can you remember?
They drive with Freixas and he is my minder and the year before they ride with Couturier. Merlin do well with Couturier but they want to make better. They ask me to be in the top 5 and I say it is difficult but I try and get 7th. The bike had good clutch and good power but quite heavy.
They drive with Freixas and he is my minder and the year before they ride with Couturier. Merlin do well with Couturier but they want to make better. They ask me to be in the top 5 and I say it is difficult but I try and get 7th. The bike had good clutch and good power but quite heavy.
The perks of the job. Eddy's daughter on her own Merlin. Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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1987. Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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What did you think of the strange look and the wheels?
I test the bike and I test the wheels and they are ok. The suspension was ok.
Was much changed on your merlin?
No it was about standard
I test the bike and I test the wheels and they are ok. The suspension was ok.
Was much changed on your merlin?
No it was about standard
Eddy is pictured here with Juan Freixas ,after just signing for Merlin Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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1988 Butser Uk World trial .Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM .Photo by Heath Brindley
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Did you go to the Merlin factory?
Yes I drive with Freixas one day, with Couturier to test the bike and to decide as to whether I would drive the bike or not. After we speak together and they ask me to be in the 5th and I say it may be possible. In the end they don’t pay all to me.
Yes I drive with Freixas one day, with Couturier to test the bike and to decide as to whether I would drive the bike or not. After we speak together and they ask me to be in the 5th and I say it may be possible. In the end they don’t pay all to me.
Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Did you ever think about moving to Spain to live?
Yes, I do and I must make the Spanish Championship . At one time I go to meet the Tarres and I arrive at Brussells to make the flight and the flight is full and I cannot make the flight. I say to them, you are crazy, this will cost you a lot. They say sorry you cannot go. I make a protest with them(court) and I win. They must pay. I lost the Spanish Championship because of this. I never think of living there, always here. I live many many days in the motorhome. In 1 year 200 days in the motorhome. I think with Merlin. My house was in the motorhome. It was good. My daughter arrived in 1985. I made one race ever without my wife as my daughter was being born. I think this was Ireland. After this, she is back with me in the truck and the baby. My wife is with me all of the time. She come everywhere. She just not come to Japan, when she have another baby and this other time I say.
You then go to Montesa ?
Yes, I ride my last trial in Vervier
What did you do then after you finish with Montesa?
I had no contract. If I want to continue I have to pay for the bike and I say no.
Yes, I do and I must make the Spanish Championship . At one time I go to meet the Tarres and I arrive at Brussells to make the flight and the flight is full and I cannot make the flight. I say to them, you are crazy, this will cost you a lot. They say sorry you cannot go. I make a protest with them(court) and I win. They must pay. I lost the Spanish Championship because of this. I never think of living there, always here. I live many many days in the motorhome. In 1 year 200 days in the motorhome. I think with Merlin. My house was in the motorhome. It was good. My daughter arrived in 1985. I made one race ever without my wife as my daughter was being born. I think this was Ireland. After this, she is back with me in the truck and the baby. My wife is with me all of the time. She come everywhere. She just not come to Japan, when she have another baby and this other time I say.
You then go to Montesa ?
Yes, I ride my last trial in Vervier
What did you do then after you finish with Montesa?
I had no contract. If I want to continue I have to pay for the bike and I say no.
Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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With Gabino Renales Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Did you enjoy riding at the middle and the end or was it just a job?
Just a job and I don’t want to make a job without the money. I could continue for another 1 or 2 years but I begin to sell the trampoline in 1989 or 1990. I go to USA the last year and I see trampoline and when I come home I decide to buy trampoline. I put one here and one in the expo in Brussells. I sell some and I buy one hundred and I begin to sell them. They are expensive at this time. Now everyone have trampoline. In Belguim it is incredible, thousands and thouands of trampoline everywhere. When I begin to sell in 89 and I finish to sell then the big companies sell like Makro.
Just a job and I don’t want to make a job without the money. I could continue for another 1 or 2 years but I begin to sell the trampoline in 1989 or 1990. I go to USA the last year and I see trampoline and when I come home I decide to buy trampoline. I put one here and one in the expo in Brussells. I sell some and I buy one hundred and I begin to sell them. They are expensive at this time. Now everyone have trampoline. In Belguim it is incredible, thousands and thouands of trampoline everywhere. When I begin to sell in 89 and I finish to sell then the big companies sell like Makro.
Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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In the last year of riding Merlin and Montesa were you enjoying riding or not?
Yes
This happens to everyone . When you are World Champion and you start to loose is it easy to cope with or not?
No, it was ok. I am not so bad. I continue not to be the best but I am still good. I make 2nd 3rd 4th. After when I finish with Honda of course you receive more shit bike, he, I stop to drive as I have the 2nd baby. This is the reason I stop I think. It’s impossible to go with the family I think and for the schools. It was a perfect time to finish.
Where was your favourite place to ride in the World?
Ireland. It’s a nice trial, very shit, very dirty but I like. I don’t like Scottish because easy section, many rock, tricky and 6 days hey and the rain. The rain and cold was not a problem. Before I drive with no glove and it is no problem and when it’s hot also no problem. I don’t like easy section and to make one mistake and you have lost the trial, I don’t like
Did you enjoy the Indoor Trials?
Yes, yes. I like when you start the sections and make all of them at the same time. I don’t like it when you make one section and then stop for another person to ride. All the time concentration and stop.
Did you have a manager?
No, only Honda, Mr Duley from Belguim Honda. Me to Mr Duley to Japan for contract
Did you organise your own sponsorship or did an agent do this?
Me, we did this. Miniflat make the veranda here to pay me. The year we ride for Rothmans, Honda make this deal.
Other than your wife, who has been the biggest support for you in your riding career?
The mechanic and my brother Jean Marie.
Was your 1986 Honda the same as Steve Saunders' motorcycle ?
No, we don’t drive with the same bikes. I drive with the bigger flywheel and he drive with the small. He changed a little the carbration and the cam shaft. On the engine, he make the camshaft more fast and me more boom boom boom like the 360. I drive with the clutch and he drive with the gas, but they are about the same bike.
Which was your favourite bike?
The RTL 360 1982 1983 mono shock this was a very good bike for me, not for everybody.
What type of going did you like?
I like the difficult sections
Did you often borrow a bike from the local importer or would your Honda always be flown out to the trial abroad. ?
It would be on the plane.
How old were you when you though you could earn good money from the trial?
When I was 18 years I begin to receive money. I get contract
Yes
This happens to everyone . When you are World Champion and you start to loose is it easy to cope with or not?
No, it was ok. I am not so bad. I continue not to be the best but I am still good. I make 2nd 3rd 4th. After when I finish with Honda of course you receive more shit bike, he, I stop to drive as I have the 2nd baby. This is the reason I stop I think. It’s impossible to go with the family I think and for the schools. It was a perfect time to finish.
Where was your favourite place to ride in the World?
Ireland. It’s a nice trial, very shit, very dirty but I like. I don’t like Scottish because easy section, many rock, tricky and 6 days hey and the rain. The rain and cold was not a problem. Before I drive with no glove and it is no problem and when it’s hot also no problem. I don’t like easy section and to make one mistake and you have lost the trial, I don’t like
Did you enjoy the Indoor Trials?
Yes, yes. I like when you start the sections and make all of them at the same time. I don’t like it when you make one section and then stop for another person to ride. All the time concentration and stop.
Did you have a manager?
No, only Honda, Mr Duley from Belguim Honda. Me to Mr Duley to Japan for contract
Did you organise your own sponsorship or did an agent do this?
Me, we did this. Miniflat make the veranda here to pay me. The year we ride for Rothmans, Honda make this deal.
Other than your wife, who has been the biggest support for you in your riding career?
The mechanic and my brother Jean Marie.
Was your 1986 Honda the same as Steve Saunders' motorcycle ?
No, we don’t drive with the same bikes. I drive with the bigger flywheel and he drive with the small. He changed a little the carbration and the cam shaft. On the engine, he make the camshaft more fast and me more boom boom boom like the 360. I drive with the clutch and he drive with the gas, but they are about the same bike.
Which was your favourite bike?
The RTL 360 1982 1983 mono shock this was a very good bike for me, not for everybody.
What type of going did you like?
I like the difficult sections
Did you often borrow a bike from the local importer or would your Honda always be flown out to the trial abroad. ?
It would be on the plane.
How old were you when you though you could earn good money from the trial?
When I was 18 years I begin to receive money. I get contract
Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
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Did you go to the Honda factory in Japan?
Yes, my wife not come. They say no. It is a special bike only you can go .They were very secret no photo and it was completely clean. This I remember. I see the competition department and the production lines. Not at the same place in different buildings
When you stay in Japan did you stay in Honda flat or hotel?
Hotel
Did they treat you very well?
Yes, we go to special places with the geisher girls to look after me. One time we go to festival late, 10 oclock and the 2 geisher is there and my wife also . They ask if I want to go with the geicher also. ha ha ha I say I have a young wife why I go with an old woman ha ha ha. We then say, it is best we go out.
Yes, my wife not come. They say no. It is a special bike only you can go .They were very secret no photo and it was completely clean. This I remember. I see the competition department and the production lines. Not at the same place in different buildings
When you stay in Japan did you stay in Honda flat or hotel?
Hotel
Did they treat you very well?
Yes, we go to special places with the geisher girls to look after me. One time we go to festival late, 10 oclock and the 2 geisher is there and my wife also . They ask if I want to go with the geicher also. ha ha ha I say I have a young wife why I go with an old woman ha ha ha. We then say, it is best we go out.
Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM
Eddy putting on a demonstration in Japan. Eddy Lejeune Interview 2013 WWW.RETROTRIALS.COM