The French manufacturer placed two motorcycles on the final podium of the pre-Moto3 French Championship Grand Prix objective organized by Thierry Capela under the aegis of the FFM, with Matthieu Gregorio and Joris Ingiulla as drivers.
Sherco was founded in 1998 by Marc Teissier et Andreu Codina, both former trials riders, who in 2002 bought the HRD brand and launched into the 50cc/3cc enduro and supermoto market. In 125, Matthew Phillips, a 23-year-old Australian, was crowned World Champion in the E2 enduro category aboard a Sherco 300 SEF-R, while the brand won the manufacturers' title ahead of Husqvarna, KTM and Yamaha.
The speed branch is less developed than that of off-road at Sherco, which did not prevent the Nîmes manufacturer from being the most represented in the pre-Moto3 French Championship in 2016. In an interview given to Cycle News, its founder Marc Teissier explains when asked what he thinks of the European Union's emission laws that “ their decisions are stupid for minorities like us. We sell 6 motorcycles, and companies like Easyjet or Ryanair pollute more with a single flight than all our motorcycles in a year.
“Initially we were afraid of EU approval and that's why we started to develop a fuel injection system for two-strokes. But we have also worked to find ways to keep the system we have and we are now able to pass Euro 4 with the approval of the carburetor. And for me it's better, because the carburetor corresponds more to the two-stroke mentality. It has simplicity and ease of use and maintenance for the customer at lower cost. Fuel injection can only add extra cost to the motorcycle.
“Sherco is a small but dynamic company. There are no external investors in our capital. Our financing comes from family sources and we proceed gradually in a calculated manner. We get our hands dirty when necessary. We are Enduro World Champion against KTM, Husqvarna, Yamaha, Honda and Beta, which in itself is already proof of competence.
“We are now coming to the end of our largest expansion phase with a full range of motorcycles. We launched our new 125 two-stroke at the EICMA show in Milan last November, and within a few months it will be ready for the market. This was a big investment to make, but we are now almost finished with the process and it will be a good job.
“I understand what people mean when they say, “ watch F1 or MotoGP ". But F1 or MotoGP is only a laboratory or a showcase for the top of the motor vehicle industry. There are only 20 motorcycles or cars on the track and all of them are prototypes. They’re not available to the public, you can’t buy an F1 car to do sports on the weekend.”
During the Motorcycle Show, the Sherco was presented on the FFM stand in the presence of Jacques Bolle, President of the FFM, Didier Valade, representative of Sherco, Philippe Thiebaut, National Technical Director, Patrick Coutant, President of the National Commission of Vitesse and Alain Bronec, Head of the French Speed Sector.
Photos © Photopress and FFM
Source: CycleNews
