Marco Bezzecchi, Jorge Martín, Johann zarco, Fabio Quartararo, Marc Márquez and even Augusto Fernandez were all admirable during the 2023 MotoGP French Grand Prix, each for different reasons, but this Monday it is not only them that we would like to congratulate…
Of course we will start with Claude Michy, the promoter of this GP, who made it sufficiently attractive to bring together 278 805 entries into Sarthe this weekend, absolute record of all time!
But beyond this impressive quantitative number, as is that of 116 692 passionate spectators on Sunday, two things particularly struck us and constitute a notable change with the previous editions held on the Bugatti circuit.
First of all, the welcome of the thousands of volunteers took a leap forward in politeness to now border on perfection: We did not come across a single person without them having a smile and a kind word to our regard. Impressive ! Even the security services, usually a little more courteous, showed the greatest kindness while doing their job perfectly.
It may just be a detail, but it's worth noting and we're noting it!
But what is far from being a detail is the behavior of the spectators, that is to say you: No more hordes of shirtless drunks from Saturday afternoon which made the passage a little random at the funfair and the returns to the car parks on Saturday evening…
Gone too, or almost but that's a bit of the tradition side, the concerts of thunderous breakers which prevented the pilots from sleeping until the early hours! The change made is so considerable that some “rookies of the year” were even disappointed not to experience the spectacle, both picturesque and frightening, that the elders had predicted for them.
Is this the message of thoughtfulness from Claude Michy or the energetic measures taken which had their effect, the fact remains that the Mad Max-like campsites have now become good-natured in the vast majority and where a minority no longer comes to spoil the party for an ever-increasing public. more numerous and family-friendly.
This is how motorcycle sport will continue to become more and more popular and we will still be able to feel the hairs stand up at the sound of the stands encouraging its idols who fully played the game. Those who made the trip to Le Mans despite particularly pessimistic and totally unjustified weather, they are well aware of this and were ultimately well rewarded.
A huge THANK YOU to all volunteers, commissioners, doctors, firefighters, police, professionals of all kinds, organizers, teams, pilots, and of course to you enthusiasts!
This year, thanks to you, it was just MAGNIFICENT and you were MAGNIFICENT!
We leave the final words to Claude Michy, which we joined this morning, to tell us about this immense success.
“I find it hard to talk about success because you have to stay humble and keep your feet on the ground. And that success doesn't belong to me: we need others to make it work, right? Whether it's you, whether it's Canal, whether it's Dorna, whether it's the commissioners, whether it's whoever we want. Me, I'm a skills coordinator, so it's the skills of others that make it work and that all that creates emotions, passion for the public, so it allows them to experience what they want to live.
Unfortunately, there are always diehards who break things, et cetera, but together we fought to try to lower the intensity. The ACO has also worked a lot on this and it is important. It's complicated but we've invested significant resources. It has dropped significantly since we have really put resources into place with the yellow helmet mediators and the security patrols. We recovered tons of cones, go-karts, lawn mowers, etc. We worked a lot up front. It's also to help the 24 Heures Motos where it gets crazy. It is the world of motorcycling that we must defend and therefore these people must stay at home! I will make them understand that they are staying at home, but apart from that, the rest, the atmosphere is fantastic, like the public support for the French drivers.
Fabio came, he did the whole mechanical show with us, like last year. They live together, he threw his helmet into the audience. And then, he didn't arrive throwing his helmet, he harangued the crowd, you see. And then Johann, it’s fantastic, huh? I'm so happy for him!
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