The Daytona 200 no longer constitutes the legendary North American event which brought together the best drivers in the world in the 70s, but nonetheless remains an original race, to be competed for fun once in your life, as for example the Tourist Trophy or the Dakar.
Last year, Valentin Debise showed off magnificently by achieving pole position with a Suzuki GSX-R 600 in front of a slew of Yamaha R6 600s and Kawasaki ZX-6R 636s. He was ahead of 64 riders on the grid, but retired after the ninth lap.
Aged 28, Louis Bulle is embarking on the Florida adventure this year with the support of Marc Fontan and Sam Thomas through the Moto Tour Series Vitesse and will try to become the second Frenchman to win the Daytona 200 after Patrick Pons in 1980.
Born February 19, 1990 in Chambéry, Louis became French Supersport Champion in 2018 on Yamaha with 51 points, 9 better than Clément Stoll on Triumph and 23 than Cedric Tangre on Suzuki. After being seriously burned in 2012, he made a courageous comeback two years later: “ I resumed in 2014 and obtained the title of vice-champion of France. In 2016, I won the Endurance World Cup (Superstock) with the Yamaha 3ART team by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Germany. In 2017, I was vice-French Supersport Champion on a Yamaha R6, and in 2018 French Supersport Champion, winning five victories. ».
Alongside the French Supersport Championship, Bulle competed in the 2018 Bol d'Or as part of the Slovak team. Maco Racing with Anthony dos Santos and Lilian Mayer on Yamaha. 19th on the grid, they were ranked 18th in the provisional Championship standings after the race. On a professional level, Bulle works as a mechanical engineer at Stäubli in Faverges in Haute-Savoie. To achieve a good performance across the Atlantic, Louis is advised by his manager Marc Fontan, 4th then 2nd at Daytona in 1980 and 1981.
Why did you choose to participate in the 200 Miles?
“It’s a race that has always made me dream. It's far away, it's not very well known and it's legendary. It is a historic event. In fact, when I first joined the Dark Dog Academy in 2007, I remember Sam Thomas and Marc Fontan talking to me with eyes sparkling with pleasure about this race with great nostalgia.
“I told myself that it was a race that must really be fun to do. When I returned to competition after my accident, I told myself that I would have to manage to do two or three races like that which really make me want to. I really wanted to play them at least once. »
What made you choose a Yamaha R6 prepared with the help of the Best of Bike dealership?
“It's quite simple because I've been driving an R6 for several seasons now, so I know it well. It's a machine that has a very good engine. In part-cycle, it is also very easy. I won the French Championship last year so I didn't have too much hesitation in this area. It was an obvious choice for me. »
The particularity of Daytona is its raised ring. Does he impress you?
“At the moment, I'm not yet saying to myself that it's going to be very impressive, but I think that when I ride it for the first time, it's going to be quite special. I spoke about it with several pilots who had done it including Marc (Fontan), Valentin (Debise) and others. We don't realize, from the outside, that it's as sophisticated as it really is. I think it's going to be really nice. We'll see when I'm on it! »
60 drivers at the start for a 320 km race, it's another world compared to our European speed races. What will be the most difficult to understand?
“I think the hardest part is going to be staying really focused. In fact, it's like doing a consecutive double relay in endurance. Physical effort doesn't scare me. On the other hand, you will have to avoid making mistakes due to a lack of concentration.
“When we talk about banking for example, I won't be very used to this raised ring compared to the other drivers, so I will really have to stay focused. That will be the most complicated thing, I think. »
There are two refueling stations carried out with speed machines and teams, not endurance. That doesn't worry you too much?
“No, that doesn't worry me, on the contrary, I think we'll be pretty good at it. Two compulsory refuelings are required, and we are not allowed to change the capacity of the tank.
“It’s quite nice to be able to have ten to fifteen seconds to settle down, to breathe and chat a little with the team. »
What are your hopes for results?
“We are going there to achieve the best possible result. Aiming for victory would be a bit ambitious. The top 5 is doable. Afterwards, when you look at the last few years, they all end in nothing. There are years where you can finish sixth or seventh and still finish less than a second behind first.
“We're going there to get a good result, but for my first year I have to take everything I can for experience and pleasure. The result will then come by itself.
“I rode against Valentin a lot, we fought together many times. He often beat me, I often beat him. Last year he was on pole and he was in the lead when he crashed. So there is a way to do something good. »
Video: With Louis Bulle, FSBK 2017 – Le Mans – Race 1
Schedules : Start of the 200 Miles on Saturday March 16 at 13 p.m. local time, 20 p.m. French time.
In all likelihood (but this remains to be confirmed) the race should be broadcast live streaming on fanschoice.tv.
