Sport – The good Doctor Guyot at the bedside of the French Open –

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The good Doctor Guyot at the bedside of the French Open

Sport - The good Doctor Guyot at the bedside of the French Open -

In crisis for several years, the French speed championship should resume its development thanks to the care of the good Dr Guyot and his team of irresistible enthusiasts. First treatment this weekend on the occasion of the Open final in Albi.

Passion in hardened steel, bulletproof motivation and titanic capacity for work: here are the ingredients from which the famous Doctor Guyot, who is no longer presented (read), could well be inspired to apply a shock treatment to a French Open Speed ​​Championship … in decline, precisely !

Representative of the pilots with the FFM since 1994, French champion 1998 and world endurance champion in 2004 with the GMT 94, Christophe Guyot wishes to give the French championship a new breath, as he had explained at length to Moto-Net the day after his world title (read). A commitment that will materialize this weekend with the final of the Open on the Albi circuit, of which 1,500 tickets have already been resold.

Why Albi? "I know the Moto Club and the circuit well, having won several events there as a rider.", explains Christophe."It was unfortunate that the Moto Club of the Albi circuit has not organized any more French Championship events since 2001, although it enjoys a high reputation. The route and the region are popular with both the drivers and the public !"

The goal of this last event, the final of the French Open Championship, is simple: "propose a new promotion and organization, which will try to answer the questions asked by the pilots, the organizers and the public".

An observation … a concrete proposal

"The French speed championship represents the highest level of French speed but unfortunately it has some difficulties.", notes Christophe Guyot, who remains convinced that"its base is healthy and managed by remarkable skills, but it needs volunteers to ensure its development".

Albi 2005 therefore represents a "test" site for the indefatigable world champion, who has set up a new ad hoc structure, the GMT Open, to bring together the traditional partners of the world endurance champion team. If the experience is conclusive, it should lead to a better homogeneity of the championship and, ultimately, allow a sustainable development of high-level motorcycle sport in France..

The idea: to allow clubs to organize events without running the financial risks that are slowing them down today, and to allow pilots to race in good conditions. Without forgetting to re-motivate the public, tired of the reception conditions, to say the least, basic despite the quality of the show on the track.

Because the fastest teacher in the world, in addition to his incredible ability to move mountains with passion and tenacity, has another string to his bow (and not the least): he is a man of principle. . Faced with the privatization of all energies, which has become the unique way of thinking in all areas with the damage that we know, it is particularly important that "the local organizing club remains the guarantor of the sports specifications of the FFM"and that"remains the interlocutor with local authorities and the prefecture".

The aim is for the club to be "assured of a recipe that will allow it to develop its activities", because "a club in deficit cannot allow the development of sports practice", notes Christophe:"in the world of sport, the promoter in contract with the federation is generally paid by the club to provide a service. But no motorcycle club in France is able to afford a promoter! With this concept, it is the promoter who allows the club to develop and devote itself to its mission: the promotion of sport and safety education.".

Re-igniting the public interest

Because it is the snowball effect: tired of being at best welcomed like a dog, at worst plucked like a pigeon, the public no longer travels and ticket revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of the events. But according to Christophe Guyot, the problem essentially comes from promotion "because it depends on each club, which is not necessarily competent in this area".

To attract as many people as possible, the GMT Open has therefore decided to set up a village near the track so that dealers, props, local craftsmen, associations and service companies are present..

And that’s not all: for 40 euros, a helicopter will offer a different vision of the race, of Albi and its surroundings. Spectators will be able to access the stands on Saturday evening from 6.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. After each race, a signing session of the top trio will be organized to allow spectators to approach the kings of the track such as Matthieu Lagrive, Olivier Four or Julien Da Costa, not to mention the stars of GMT, David Checa and William Costes, or even the infamous Serge Nuques, this sinister character straight out of the Grolandais slums on the handlebars of his medieval R1! (read)

"It will not be easy for our drivers to beat Lagrive, Four or Da Costa who will be keen to save his season wasted by a nasty injury", analyzes Christophe Guyot for whom only one thing is certain:"the fight will be there !"Including in the other four categories, such as in 125 where the young wolves provide a very good level:"Matthieu Gines who broke many records this season, Lussiana, Dunikowski or Cluzel will do everything to show that the next generation of French people is born.", warns Christophe:"they will be encouraged by Grand Prix drivers Alexis Masbou and Mike Di Meglio (read, NDLR), guests of the event".

To complete this atmosphere of great friendly motorcycle festival, spectators will be invited to share a large paella with the pilots, teams and officials. So there is no question of taking the lead: motorcycles are a passion that everyone can share, without sectarianism, in joy and good humor. !

Request the program !

Friday July 1, 2005 – Free practice

  • 8:30 am – 9:30 am: Superproduction – Stocksport

  • 09:40 – 10:40: Supersport

  • 10:50 am – 11:50 am: 125cc

  • 12h00 – 12h30: Side-cars

  • 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m .: Superproduction – Stocksport

  • 3:10 p.m. – 4:10 p.m .: Supersport

  • 4:20 p.m. – 5:20 p.m .: 125 cm3

  • 5.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m .: Side-cars

Saturday July 2, 2005 – Qualifying practice

  • 8:30 am – 9:30 am: 125 cm3 (1st session)

  • 9:35 am – 10:35 am: Supersport (1st session)

  • 10:45 – 11:45 a.m .: Blockbuster – Stocksport (1st screening)

  • 11:50 a.m. – 12:15 p.m .: Side-car (1st session)

  • Meal break and village entertainment

  • 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m .: 125 cm3 (2nd session)

  • 3:05 p.m. – 4:05 p.m .: Supersport (2nd session)

  • 4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m .: Superproduction – Superstock (2nd screening)

  • 5:20 p.m. – 5:45 p.m .: Side-car (2nd session)

Sunday July 3, 2005 – Races

  • 09h00 – 09h20: Superproduction – Stocksport (warm up)

  • 09:25 – 09:35: Side-car (warm up)

  • 9:45 am – 10:05 am: 125 cm3 (warm up)

  • 10:10 am – 10:30 am: Supersport (warm up)

  • 10:55 am: 1st Superproduction race – Stocksport (21 laps)

  • 11:40 am: Side-car race 1st round (12 laps)

  • Demonstration of old motorcycles, lunch break and village activities

  • 2:00 p.m .: Race 125 cm3 (17 laps)

  • 2:55 p.m .: Supersport race (24 laps)

  • 3:55 p.m .: 2nd Superproduction race – Stocksport (21 laps)

  • 4:50 p.m .: Side-car race 2nd round (12 laps)

Prices

  • Presale (FNAC, Carrefour …): 16 €

  • On site: 18 €

  • All-inclusive prices except paella (+ 8 euros)

  • Free for children under 14 accompanied

Eric MICHEL and Matthieu BRETILLE

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