All-terrain – Wilfried Delestre, great leader of Flat Track in France – Occasions INDIAN

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Wilfried Delestre, great conductor of Flat Track in France

All-terrain - Wilfried Delestre, great leader of Flat Track in France - Occasions INDIAN

Supported for two years by the American motorcycle brand Indian, the French rider Wilfried Delestre has just won his sixth national title in Flat Track. As fast on the track as on the keyboard, Wilfried presents the discipline he seeks to develop in France, in particular thanks to his 552 Moto School.. MNC Interview.

Site: Congratulations on your sixth straight Flat Track title! First explain to us the differences between Flat Track, Dirt Track, Short Track, Long Track … Track racing is rather vague for French bikers. !
Wilfried Delestre: I also took a little time to understand everything … The FFM or FIM Track Racing Commission brings together all the disciplines that compete on rings. The Speedway (ashy tracks of 420 meters maximum) is the flagship discipline with international events that fill entire stadiums. Then comes the Long Track (or Grass Track, the Speedway Motocross, grass or ash tracks over 420 meters) and the Flat Track (dirt or ash tracks from 250 to 1600 m). The Dirt Track and the Short Track are names that can be given to the Flat Track, following a few variations: generally the tires, 17 inch Supermoto or all-terrain tires for events that take place on grass tracks..

  • MNC special file :
  • MNC special file :
  • MNC of September 15, 2017 :

MNC: The Flat Track benefited from a Marquez effect in Europe with the Barcelona Superprestigio. A test was even planned in Paris at the end of 2018. The interest in the discipline is still there ?
W. D .: I had the chance to participate in the last edition of the Superprestigio in Barcelona in 2017. Coming from Motocross, it was like finding myself in Bercy! Riding "indoor" with the stars of MotoGP and two of the best American riders, it was crazy! I had been warned only three weeks before the event, I arrived there without taxiing for two and a half months, but I took advantage of every moment. This event was a springboard for Flat Track in Europe, people understood better what I was doing as a discipline. The neo-retro wave has also helped this evolution … and we are only at the beginning !

  • Superprestigio 2018 :
  • Superprestigio 2017 :
  • Superprestigio 2016 :

MNC: What is your sporting background ?
W. D .: I started riding very young, around 4 years old. My dad competed in Ufolep events and I was often on the circuits. I participated in the Pays-de-la-Loire Motocross League championships until 2011, with several final podiums. I also participated in the French Minivert, Cadet, National and Elite MX1 championships until 2007. I did my first Flat season in 2012 and I had my first title in 2015.

All-terrain - Wilfried Delestre, great leader of Flat Track in France - Occasions INDIAN

MNC: The n ° 55 and 552, it comes from where ?
W. D .: The n ° 552 had been assigned to me by the FFM for the French championships. I kept it until 2007 when I had a huge crash during the Supercross de la Bosse de Bretagne. I had stopped driving until 2010, but I did some street art style paintings and I signed my paintings "552". When I returned to competition in the Ligue Pays-de-la-Loire, the MX1 category could only take odd numbers. So I chose the 55.

MNC: The n ° 155, that of, that tells you something too ?
W. D .: Yes of course ! I met Étienne at a two-wheeler show in Lyon. We met again on Flat Track tracks from Vintage Racing Spirit in Mâcon and we hit it off.

MNC: What do you like so much about Flat Track? ?
W. D .: Coming from Motocross, the transition was quite quick because I had kept the same bike but with the necessary modifications to ride Flat. The big difference was that feeling of speed and constant glide that you can’t have in MX.

MNC: The French championship has three main categories: Tracker, Dirtbike and Powerbike in which you compete. Can you describe them to us ?
W. D .: The Tracker category is that of prototypes under 750 cc. You can also find 600 DR, 600 CCM and 500 Caballero. We could also find motorcycles in the Twin Production or SuperTwin categories of the American Flat Track. This category is currently the most open, we will have to wait for the seasons to come to refine all this. The Dirtbike category includes all off-road motorcycles (MX or Enduro), modified for Flat. Finally, the Powerbike category highlights the large displacement: minimum 650 cc, twin cylinder, engine and original frame. Certainly with a minimum weight for the seasons to come, as in the American Super Hooligan championship. The goal of this category is really to keep that spirit of big bikes, that you wouldn’t think of putting on a ring..

All-terrain - Wilfried Delestre, great leader of Flat Track in France - Occasions INDIAN

MNC: Children also have their secondary category ?
W. D .: Yes, the Kids category has existed for a long time because it is a category for discovering track racing. The pilots can ride either with a motorcycle type MX, or with a motorcycle type Speedway. We have also set up with the commission a category Espoir (85 cc) and Junior (125 cc / 250 cc 4T).

MNC: This year, the French championship had only two events instead of four. It’s both simpler and more complicated ?
W. D .: As a pilot, it’s quite complicated, because you know you have no room for error. Only one final missed and the championship is lost! For the clubs, it was not easy, no. The decisions to cancel or postpone were complicated to make. But it also made it possible to review a method of organization. Take advantage of a full weekend to organize several events instead of just one per weekend. We will have to take stock with the clubs, but it may be good for some organizers.

MNC: What are your results at the international level ?
W. D .: I took part in several seasons of the World Cup on the single category riding a 450 RMZ with several Top 10 finals, a test podium and a few wins in qualifying heats. I would have liked to do a little more DTRA tests, English championship, but incompatibilities of personal, sporting or professional planning did not allow me.

MNC: This is your first national title as an Indian driver. What does this status change compared to your previous seasons ?
W. D .: Last year, I had the opportunity to ride the El Rollo of Wheels and Waves, on the Indian Scout prepared by Krazy Horse, thanks to Dimitri Coste. He had warned me that there was the possibility of having a motorcycle, I contacted Indian Europe and I had their approval. I didn’t hesitate for a single second. I discovered the bike the morning of the event and I took my marks until the final where I took a start of anthology! I was a little tense on the first laps but I didn’t feel any attack from my opponents, which allowed me to free myself and win. It was crazy !

Then Indian offered to keep the bike for a few months and I won the Steel Trophy in Switzerland. I finished the season at the Vintage Racing Spirit challenge in Morizès (33) with a big challenge: three categories on the same day! Sunday Cup with the Sunday Motors 190 cc, Modern Class with my 450 and Hooligan Class with the Krazy Horse. Challenge met, pilot flushed !

Despite this complicated year 2020, the deal with Indian France allowed me to spend less personal money and, above all, to officially integrate this prestigious brand into the discipline in France..

All-terrain - Wilfried Delestre, great leader of Flat Track in France - Occasions INDIAN

MNC: How has the Indian concession of Angers changed your FTR ?
W. D .: David and Patrick worked like crazy so I could ride. We received the bike at the end of 2019, then I lost my father at the beginning of the year, then there was confinement … It was complicated to put everything in place, but in mid-June j I was able to ride with it. My FTR has custom triple clamps, a modified right footrest and gear selector, and specific suspension settings. We also reviewed the management of all the electronic system, useless for the competition. The big work this winter will be to lighten it as much as possible, because the 200 kg of the bike is blocking me a little to push my limits.

MNC: Did you ask Indian France to import a ?
W. D .: We have discussed this, but they are made in a dribble fashion for American pilots, so at the moment this is not possible….

MNC: And if not, the Climb impossible with an extended version of the FTR1200 (or FTR750 like your colleague in the USA, John "Flyin" Koester), you are tempted ?
W. D .: I’m not at all a specialist in the discipline, but this off-road look is a dream. As long as there is a handlebar, a motor and two wheels, no problem: if the opportunity arises, I try !

MNC: What is the 552 Moto School ?
W. D .: This is my flight school. Between my past as a crossman and now as a Flat pilot, I had more and more requests. I organize motorcycle initiation courses to advanced training. I mainly work on the Chateau Gontier motocross circuit (my club for years) and I started helping the Brissac Moto Club. The BMC will be the first permanent Flat piste in the Great West of France, at the start of 2021. I also travel according to demand in the Pays-de-la-Loire region for MX and on all Flat pistes in France.

All-terrain - Wilfried Delestre, great leader of Flat Track in France - Occasions INDIAN

MNC: What diplomas have you taken to supervise this activity ?
W. D .: I had been working for almost ten years as a waterproofing manager in a public works company, I spent a lot of time at work and I had reached a stage where it was difficult to evolve in the company. So I told myself that now was the time to put all this energy into a personal project. I started by validating a BPJEPS Sports Educator, Physical Activities for All in 2018, then I followed up with the DEJEPS Motorcycle Sports Improvement at Creps de Toulouse.

MNC: This is what allows you to earn your living ?
W. D .: I am far from running on gold compared to my previous job, but I can say that I live off my passion.

MNC: You will also be the star of the FTR days in Saint-Barthelemy-d’Anjou on September 18 and 19! You expect the world ?
W. D .: Hard to say with the current panic … Will people move, I don’t know. But I invite everyone to come, not necessarily only to see me but also to test the entire FTR range present at Indian Angers (Carbon, Rally, Race Replica …)

MNC: When you go up in Paris, when we ride together ?!
W. D .: I would not suggest that you set a date to come to Brissac, once the track has been approved. This will be the opportunity to test the Flat Track !

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE

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