We could have played this series of videos from the first episode, but we thought that many of you would have tuned out before what undoubtedly interests the greatest number of people.
But taking as an entry point the extraordinary circumstances which surrounded the birth of the famous Yamaha R1, we hope that, like us, you will delight in the words ofEric de Seynes and will want to know more about its completely atypical story by watching the previous episodes.
The current Director of Yamaha Europe is part of this handful of characters who truly brought motorcycling to France in the 80s. These three hours of videos are made up of a story combining historical precision with dozens of anecdotes all the more each one crisp as the other illustrated by a multitude of new images.
We won't tell you any more and, if you have time on your hands, as is undoubtedly the case today, get ready to spend an excellent and long time in front of the screen with the exciting and passionate Eric from Seynes who tells us about his incredible journey influenced by Jean-Claude Olivier, Jarno Saarinen, Olivier Chevallier, Alain Chevallier, Patrick Pons, Barry Sheene, Jack Findlay, Christian Le Liard and an infinity of others, all not only in Grands Prix but also in Formula 1, at Paris-Dakar, at Seita, at Mobil and of course Yamaha!
In short, from his small on-board image production company to the management of Yamaha Europe, a trajectory which ultimately owes nothing to chance, highlighted by the remarkable work of Francis Boutet (Bike70) on images by Jean-Claude Jacq, with an exceptional narrator.
Eric de Seynes: Part 1: his childhood and the discovery of the world of 2 wheels.
Today we are going to start the interview with a passionate and exciting man, Eric de Seynes. Indeed, the Director of Yamaha Motor Europe, despite a busy schedule, opened the doors of his Normandy property to us to share with us, for more than three hours, his biker memories. Without tongue in cheek, he tells us about his childhood, his family, his growing passion for motorcycles, his beginnings in competition, his participation in the Paris Dakar, his meeting with Jean Claude Olivier, Yamaha etc... If like us, you like people who have motorcycles in their blood, don't miss this interview... because Eric is truly the worthy heir of another Great Mr. of motorcycles... Mr. JCO.
Interview and editing: Francis Boutet. Cameraman: Jean Claude Jacq.
Eric de Seynes: Part 2: The beginning of the passion for competition.
In this episode, Eric de Seynes tells us about his passion for motorcycle racing which started with Jarno Saarinen. After the death of the “flying Finn”, Eric transferred his admiration to Olivier Chevallier and then to Patrick Pons. He joins the Patrick Pons Fans Club and spies on his idol when he has his coffee on Avenue de la Grande Armée with Olivier Chevallier. He also admires other pilots, like Barry Sheene, Jack Findlay. Of course, the desire to drive pushed Eric towards the circuits. It starts with the “Shell Handlebar” and continues with the “Honda Challenge”. At the same time Eric does “odd jobs” to pay for his first 2 wheels, a Peugeot 103, then it will be a 100 Kawasaki with which he will make long trips across France.
Interview and editing: Francis Boutet. Cameraman: Jean Claude Jacq.
With: Jarno Saarinen, Olivier Chevallier, Patrick Pons, Jack Findlay, Philippe Monneret
Videos: Cheval de Fer, Duke Videos, Honda France Photos: François Beau, François Pacou
Eric de Seynes (3rd part): African rallies, the ACO school, the Bol d’or…
After his experience in speed, Éric decided to participate in the Rally of Tunisia, after a first good experience, he lined up at the start of the Paris Dakar, first on a motorcycle and then in a car to assist one of the his friends. It will then be the army and early demobilization due to paternity... Also a look back at the Bol d'Or from 1971 to 1978 and all these missing pilots...
With Jacques Verlay, Christine Martin, Dominique Rochette, Jean Claude Olivier, Bruno Bonhuil, Pat Evans, Jean Paul Boinet, Patrick Pons, Olivier Chevallier, André Luc Appietto, Christian Léon, Michel Rougerie, François Charliat, Hervé Poncharal.
Eric de Seynes (part 4): A job in motorcycles or nothing!
Eric must enter the world of work, he will do everything to always be in the environment he loves, motorcycles. After launching various projects in his business school, he joined the company “Chrono Organization”, a press relations agency which notably deals with the Yamaha Gauloises Cup and Team Sonauto. But unluckily there is no place for Eric, but he takes care of press relations for “Skoal Bandit” which sponsors a team in the world endurance championship and in formula 1. Then he sets up his first company , “Sport Action” whose aim is to mount on-board cameras on racing cars and motorcycles. It was at this time that he met Alain Chevallier, with whom he would collaborate. He discovers the world of media where money is omnipresent, leaving Eric's small business no chance. At the same time, he then set up his endurance team with 2 motorcycles, one entrusted to Le Liard, Espié and Guilleux, the other driven by Boinet, Basselin, Fernandez and Roy. The team obtained a good 4th place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a 6th place at the 8 Hours of Suzuka (1st private team).
Interview and editing: Francis Boutet. Cameraman: Jean Claude Jacq.
With Alain Chevallier, Olivier Chevallier, Didier de Radiguès, Dominique Méliand, Hervé Moineau, Thierry Espiè, Randy Mamola, Bernard Ansiau, Christian Sarron, Carlos Lavado, Christian Le Liard, Jean Paul Boinet, Jean Basselin, Gilbert Roy, Hervé Guilleux, Jacques Horned
http://www.bike70.com/deseynes.html
Eric de Seynes (part 5): the road to Yamaha…
After “Sport Action” filed for bankruptcy, Eric found a job with the oil company Mobil. His passion will naturally lead him to develop a motorcycle range and convince his boss to enter into an agreement with Yamaha. Eric goes to meet Jean Claude Olivier who accepts this collaboration with the American oil company. In 1989, Eric left Mobil and received an offer from BMW, but before signing with the Bavarian brand, Eric contacted Jean Claude Olivier again who helped him return to SEITA to replace Michel Gastaldi. This position allows him to go to all the motorcycle and Formula 1 Grands Prix, but not smoking, Eric has difficulty recognizing himself in the values defended by the French tobacco company. During a trip to Suzuka, on the plane, he spoke with Jean Claude Olivier who was very saddened by the death of his Marketing Director, Didier Poitevin. Back in France, Jean Claude Olivier summons Eric... he will join Yamaha in June 1990.
Interview and editing: Francis Boutet. Cameraman: Jean Claude Jacq.
With: Jean Claude Olivier
http://www.bike70.com/deseynes.html
Eric de Seynes (6th part): Yamaha… first
Eric de Seynes joined Yamaha Sonauto in June 1990. He got to know Jean Claude Olivier and their relationship was built on mutual respect and great complementarity. In 1991, Stéphane Peterhansel's Dakar victory was a great surprise. That same year, Yamaha became the market number 1 in Europe thanks to registrations in 1990. This year 1991 will be busy, because it is also necessary to prepare the integration of Yamaha Motor France for 1992 and in competition to prepare for the post-"tobacco" era...
In addition to marketing, Jean Claude Olivier entrusts Eric with “Product planning”, who is responsible with Japan and the other Yamaha Europe entities for preparing the new models. This responsibility allows Eric to go to Japan once a year to test the new models on the Fukuroi circuit.
In 1994, in addition to his “marketing” functions, Eric took over sales and became “Director of Sales and Marketing”. He then works with the dealer network.
In 1996, Eric worked with Jean Claude Olivier on the 125 equivalence, which would allow a car license processor to be able to drive a 125cc motorcycle. This reform will allow Yamaha to explode its sales.
Eric is also working on the project of a new machine which will become legendary… the R1. He tells us some juicy anecdotes...
Interview and connection: Francis Boutet. Cameraman Jean Claude Jacq.
BIKE 70 – FFM
With Stéphane Peterhansel, Thierry Magnaldi, Alain Chevallier, Jasmine Chevallier, Jean Claude Olivier
Eric de Seynes (7th part): Yamaha 1st and end… Press option, Moto Tour…
Eric tells us with many anecdotes the arrival of flagship models of the time (Virago 125, the TW 125, etc.). It was also during the test of the TW 125 on the Fukuroi circuit that he fell heavily. Eric urges Jean Claude Olivier to offer him a new position, but the latter is not ready to give up his chair that he has been promising to Eric for many months. After a first torn resignation letter, Eric decided to leave Yamaha with a heavy heart. Refusing to work for a competitor, despite numerous offers, he bought a company, Option Presse and launched the Moto Tour and the Paris Tunning Show.. however he remained on very good terms with Jean Claude Olivier and the two men continued to see each other …
With Jean Claude Olivier, Marc Fontan
Interview and editing Francis Boutet. Cameraman Jean Claude Jacq. BIKE 70 – FFM
Eric de Seynes (8th part): Yamaha for ever
Eric returned to Yamaha in 2009. It was with emotion and humility that he took Jean Claude Olivier's place at the head of Yamaha Motor France. He will work to implement new products, to continue to help motorcycle sport in all its forms (speed, all-terrain, Paris Dakar, endurance, etc.). With the help of the FFM he launched the Yamaha 125 Cup and helped a promising youngster, Johan Zarco. He must then tackle the restructuring of the group and the network. Given his good results, the Yamaha group entrusted him with new missions which led him to now be President of Yamaha Motor Europe.
This film is coming to an end, yet we have prepared an additional episode for you, a bonus which will allow you to discover exclusively some of Eric's “memory motorcycles”.
With Jean Claude Olivier, Jacques Bolle, Johan Zarco, Laurent Fellon, Christophe Guyot, François Ribeiro
Interview and editing Francis Boutet. Cameraman Jean Claude Jacq. BIKE 70 – FFM
Eric de Seynes (9th and last part)
We have come to the end of our series, with an exclusive visit to the magical place where some of Eric's “souvenir motorcycles” are stored. You will discover unique motorcycles like this 50cc from 1969 which never raced because of the change in regulations. A 125 world champion with Kent Anderson. Jarno Saarinen's motorcycles (250 and 350). A motorcycle by Christian Bourgeois. Christian Sarron's famous 250. Carlos Lavado's motorcycles. The 250 Chevallier with which Jean François Baldé won the South African GP. Two motorcycles from the GMT 94 and finally motorcycles from the Paris Dakar.
We hope you enjoyed watching this interview. For my part, I had a wonderful time sharing with Eric de Seynes, because beyond the interview, we exchanged a lot and Eric regularly provided me with photos and videos so that this series of videos was as realistic as possible. possible. It is also a wonderful human adventure, because behind the boss and the businessman I discovered a passionate biker and an endearing man with rare values these days.
Thanks also to my accomplice Jean Claude Jacq who was behind the camera and to my wife who put up with my long working hours...
If you like these kinds of videos, let us know through your shares, your reactions and your comments, because we have a lot of projects in mind and your encouragement helps us morally to do more and materially to find financial resources to continue our “ duty of memory”… I would like to take this opportunity to thank the FFM (Jacques Bolle and Pierre Bonneville) for their financial assistance and their unwavering support for the “duty of memory”.
Francis BIKE70 – FFM
