The news of the condemnation of the Albi circuit has dissipated in the flow of news but it deserves to be brought back to the forefront because it could constitute a case law capable of quickly endangering all motorcycling sport activities in France.
This is in summary what alerts us Alexis Masbou.
We therefore interviewed the double Grand Prix winner from Albi in order to provide as complete a picture as possible of this worrying situation.
Alexis, can you summarize the situation at the Albi circuit, for those who have not followed this affair?
Alexis Masbou : " The Albi circuit, built in 1962 and managed until now by the town hall, has been taken over since 2015 by the private company DS Events in order to revitalize sporting activities there which have been almost non-existent in recent times. Until then, Jean-Jacques Lapeyre and the town hall had done what they could but the arrival of the new team allowed a resumption of activities, whether they concerned cars, motorcycles or other sports.
Unfortunately, although I know the problem of relations with anti-circuit residents very well since I have used it since my childhood in the 2000s. But 2017 marked a turning point with the adoption of a new health code law which prohibits a certain level of noise. As a result, a much more intense legal fight was set up against the circuit by the association of residents of the Albi circuit – Le Sequestre. And so we arrived at the conviction of January 19 where, for the first time, a circuit was condemned for noise pollution.
Since the new approval, a noise barrier has been built to limit nuisance, but the condemnation is very real and this situation could set a precedent for French circuits.
Obviously, I find this very worrying because we, in Albi, have always had these few refractory people who have sought to cause harm to the circuit but, until now, the law has not ruled in their favor. With the law being amended regarding noise levels, sound level meters have been installed in different locations around the circuit to quantify the noise level both from the circuit and the aerodrome. It should still be remembered that basically, it is an aerodrome, built in the middle of agricultural land, and on which a circuit has been added. The expansion of urbanization to the edges of the circuit was therefore carried out retrospectively and with full knowledge of the facts. But some residents are taking advantage of the new law and the installation of sound level meters, in particular one which is placed very close to the longest straight line, to justify an excessively high noise level. This is why a noise barrier was built. We have no feedback yet on the effectiveness of this wall but in any case, the circuit has been condemned. It would have had to adapt all its infrastructures and its activities in less than three years, and, beyond the specific case of Albi, this is what could make the future of all circuits in France difficult because it It would be necessary for all sound emergences from the circuits to be stopped in an instant T, which is obviously not possible »
Today, are there still activities on the circuit despite the conviction?
« Yes. They are limited to cars, trucks and bicycles. The circuit will continue its activities despite the conviction about which they will appeal. The evolution of activities will undoubtedly move towards less noisy motor sports, based on electricity, hydrogen or solar power, but for the moment people's pleasure and mobility still remain very linked to thermal engines, such as on the road. »
We understand the problem well and we suspect that in the long term activities based on thermal motor sports will be reduced, but the case of Albi is quite revolting because it is local residents who arrived after the construction of the circuit who endanger. Is there any way to help defend the circuit?
« We work on it every week but each Internet user can help us by signing the petition circulating on the Internet There are already around 30 signatures but the more, the better.
We must understand that the danger does not only concern the Albi circuit, since Lédenon, Montlhéry... are also affected in the long term, so I hope that all enthusiasts will mobilize to defend our sport. I also hope that they will do it in the most intelligent way possible, because we sometimes see excessive comments, even if I understand people's frustration, since I experience it. We must therefore remain audible to people who are not passionate about motor sports, but we must also shout loud and clear that France has been one of the great countries of motor sports for more than a century and that these countries bring together millions of passionate and bring a whole section of the economy to life. »
Is there a way to find a compromise with the residents of the Albi circuit?
« Unfortunately, I think that there can be no dialogue between anti-circuit extremists and motorsport enthusiasts. We see it in Albi: whatever solution we propose, they try to dismantle it. The typical example is the noise wall that they tried to remove. They even managed to cancel a bike race... noise is an argument used to harm the circuit but their objective is clear: they simply want to close the circuit and the aerodrome! Under these conditions, it is impossible to be able to discuss with this handful of people who are totally opposed to us and to any motor sports activity or not for that matter. On the other hand, I think that the vast majority of people understand that motor sports exist and that they represent a significant economic sector in France. Killing the circuits would amount to outsourcing these activities but also outsourcing the economy generated among our European neighbors, because if it doesn't work in France, it will necessarily work elsewhere. We simply want to continue to live our passion in France, even if we have to be aware that in the future very noisy motorcycles will very quickly be reduced. »
You also mentioned other circuits…
« Yes, because we must not believe that what is happening in Albi is an isolated case and that it will only happen here. This threatens most circuits in France. In Albi, there were five local residents involved at the start, but as they managed to get some money, there will perhaps be 100 or 1000 soon, just to get some money! And as the lawyer who takes care of the anti-circuit residents of Albi also takes care of the residents of Lédenon and took care of the residents of the Bresse circuit, they therefore give themselves the keys to success to recover money. money and perhaps close the circuits in the future. »
What role can the French Motorcycling Federation play in this fight?
« I have been in contact with the FFM, with Sébastien Poirier, with Patrick Coutant, very regularly for a year to try to find legal solutions to all these problems. Frankly, we use a lot of the legal services of the FFM which, since Jacques Bolle, have been very efficient. I think it's the only thing keeping us a little afloat, but the danger is immediate and it's important that everyone who goes to the circuits is aware of it. Motorcycle sport is under attack from all sides. We also see it with Le Touquet, in the name of ecology and land deterioration, and now we add noise. As far as Albi is concerned, the federation is really in action, and I think that it is obligatory to hope to survive.
I am fighting so that we can still ride motorbikes in 10 or 15 years in France and not have to go to Spain.
»
A word on your Masbou-Experience school, to stay positive?
« I am devoting myself more and more to my school because I want to share the good values of our sport, especially now.
For adult courses, following all the hazards with the Albi circuit, we had to export to Nogaro, Pau, Lédenon and Issoire for the 2021 season. For the children the school is growing well and I also have more in addition to children who regularly come to do activities in Albi. We are getting closer to the mark of 500 children who come over the year! I am very happy because the idea is really to open the school to as many people as possible in order to allow everyone to discover our sport. Thanks to the town hall of Albi and the various local players, I am able to introduce motorbikes to a very large number of children, and among them some are starting to get into the game of speed. I hope that we can bring out the talents of tomorrow, and for that, I wanted to reach as many people as possible, without forgetting those who would never have imagined it possible to ride a motorcycle, a bit like when I started, so I would also like to give the chance to others. And today it works very well! I enjoy seeing them evolve, after a moment of anxiety at the beginning, they all finish proud and really happy to have managed to master a two-wheeler. This is the greatest reward for my team and me!
»
Thank you Alexis, and good luck in your fight, hoping that enthusiasts will become aware of the danger and mobilize!
>>> Access the petition here <<
The circuit in 1962…
The circuit today…
