Fear, bitterness, lack of respect from others, these are concepts that are rarely discussed during a discussion between two people, but almost never in the context of an interview with a World Championship driver!
However, this absolute frankness is one of the facets of Jules cluzel, and he demonstrates it again in this interview where he himself addresses certain very personal subjects.
Rarely have we had so much fun interviewing a pilot, and we hope that you will have as much fun reading his words, broadcast in two parts and that we will end with a little anecdote illustrating the character...
Thanks Jules!
Then, a new facet, we find you again in the Supersport paddock, but this time as coach for Team Yamaha Thailand: a great experience, interesting, difficult?
« In fact, it's an interesting experience because me, as a former driver, in Supersport as well, I have done lots of categories but in my last years most often it has been Supersport, that was also normal so that I can give and share my experience with other Supersport drivers. But not only ! There was the opportunity with Yamaha, I was put in contact with Yamaha Thailand because it's a team that I followed and I thought they might need some advice. And that's the case. Afterwards, we did a race, so Donington, which was a bit of a test race. The raw result cannot be seen like that on a race weekend, because it goes by too quickly. I got there a little bit to discover everyone, you can't arrive and say "you have to do it like this, like that"! In addition, there is another culture. And I liked it. I actually like it, I don't want to say foreign teams, but my best years were in foreign teams, and I like it. I speak 4 languages and I like it. My wife is Slovenian, so you see, I'm not 100% French and I like Thailand, it's a country that I adore, and I think they're putting the resources into it. They ride with Ten Kates, and they put a lot of effort into the race. For the moment, it is not bearing fruit in terms of results, because the drivers are not at the level, quite simply, they do not know the circuits either, and that is where the bulk of the work lies; maybe with them, it will be this winter to try to prepare them mentally and physically, to go to Thailand and do centers like there, the bLU cRU Camp, but in Thailand. »
So this is an experience that will continue next year?
« For now, we're starting something, we're talking. They asked me if I could be present at Most, but I was present here at bLU cRU, so not for Most. At Magny-Cours, normally I should also be with them, but also more to prepare for the winter because the bulk of the work is not done during the races, it is done, it is done before and after, so for this winter , I have already started: I have made a whole program to put in place. Since it's Yamaha Thailand, there are motorcycles too, to do a training camp, 2 times 2 weeks, to try to prepare them mentally and physically. There for me, the bulk of the work is also like at bLU cRU: the trajectories are one thing, but it is rather the state of mind, I think, that is important. The state of mind, for me, is the most important. Talents, there are perhaps one or two, but you also need work, and then you also have to want to eat up the other, because it remains a sport, a competition. And the goal is there, like this morning, they were doing the Luc Léger test to see their physical condition, and we didn't see one get on the ground trying to beat the other, the best time which was made, so it's a bit of a shame! But this is also where I would like to rediscover a little taste of competition with a young person or young people who listen and who share the same state of mind. »
We end here with the bLU cRU, where it's something else again since it's another age category with potentially disparate levels. Do you like sharing your expertise and experience?
« I like it ! I like it because it's Yamaha that is investing and for me they are the only ones in the competition to do that, and that's good, and that didn't exist in my time. The bLU cRU Camp, there are resources that are put in place. Finally, there is compensation requested from the parents, but it is less compared to what we give them as a structure, it is more symbolic than anything else. Because, not to mention me, there are luxury coaches in motocross, world champions, there is Fabio who was supposed to come. Well, in the end he doesn't come, but I mean, he's still a MotoGP world champion, that makes them dream! There is the president of Yamaha Europe who came, Éric de Seynes, well, there are some good people there. And it’s great for them, it’s great! They are lucky, and I find that in relation to Yamaha, also in relation to my end of career with Yamaha, and I find in relation to the group spirit because there we are 20 in the speed section, it 'is interesting ! You would have one or two drivers who don't invest too much, who don't give you much desire and 3 sessions in the weekend, that would be a little soft, but that's not the case, that's intense, there are 20! In the 20, you give advice and you tell yourself that there is at least one who listens to you, and that maybe it will be useful to him, so I like that. You see, it's the mass effect, a little also concentrated over 4 days, I find that good. »
So everything is going well for Jules Cluzel?
« Yeah, yeah, it's cool! Afterwards, I don't want to hide from you that I want more, eh? So for the moment, I'm opening the doors, I'm also pushing them, because in fact, what disappointed me a lot in my career break was that I expected to have perhaps a few phone calls to try things, and in the end nothing (laughs)! We still had to push and it's a bit of a shame. Now, because I also like cycling, I spoke with Dan Martin, a guy who was very successful in cycling and who quit this year, and he also told me that he had zero phone calls when he left his career, while he was as good as Formula 1 for cycling. So you say to yourself that it's the same everywhere, that rather reassured me. I learned this 4 days ago, so I'm learning, discovering and trying things.
»
A big thank you to Jules cluzel !
Little anecdote which clearly illustrates that Jules Cluzel will always remain a pilot…
As Gautier Paulin ou Milko Potisek, Max Renaux, who no longer presents himself in motocross, was present on the Clastres circuit to coach the off-road part. Except that having a Yamaha R7 and a speed track at your disposal is tempting, even if you seriously injured your foot two months before.
The person concerned therefore announced his intention to try an R7, which reached the ears of a Jules cluzel who was primarily there only to give advice, his own injury to his left ankle encouraging him to ride a motorcycle adapted to shift gears on the right.
« Oh well, are you driving? So I ride too! », and here our two friends set off to have fun by testing the limits of the track under a very gray sky.
Passion, when you hold us...
