A week ago, it was while supervising a training course for young riders on the Circuit Carole that the team manager of the GMT94 Yamaha team fell heavily to avoid a young trainee who had fallen right in front of him. He was rushed to the hospital where several fractures were detected, including broken ribs and an ankle, as well as a broken collarbone and a punctured lung.
On this Thursday, the day when Jules Cluzel broke the record of the Carole Circuit, Christophe was clearly better. “ The lung problem is resolved, he explained. Everyone is reassured because the lung is glued back together and is no longer punctured. The respiratory assistance I had had for nine days was taken away. »
“I had leg surgery for the malleolus and tibia. There is still the top, that is to say the ribs and the collarbone. I don't know if we're going to operate on them, I'm waiting for the doctor. »
The GMT94 team previously broadcast the following message: “The entire GMT94 team would like to thank you for the many messages of support we received following Christophe's fall yesterday at Circuit Carole. We were able to read him a few, even if he remains a little weak at the moment. Beyond the injuries, there is great satisfaction at having been able to avoid the collision. »
The success of the record with Jules Cluzel
“The project of the two records (Checa, R1, 2013 and Cluzel, R6, 2020) was completely different. In 2013, the Circuit Carole had just been taken over by the French Motorcycling Federation, with a social vocation. It was a strong act with the Mutuelle des Motards, the FFM and the FFMC so that Carole remains the property of motorcycles and motorcycle sport. »
“Many pilot careers began on the Carole circuit. Apart from mine I am thinking of those of Alex Vieira, Thierry Crine, Christophe Bouheben, and others like Randy de Puniet who started on this Ile-de-France track. »
There were national events which welcomed big stars like Christian Sarron, and also Jacques Bolle who at the time had broken the lap record. There was therefore a direct relationship between the Grands Prix and the Circuit Carole. »
“Then it disappeared over time with certain French drivers who found that it was a small circuit, without big curves. Meanwhile, Johann Zarco was training on a kart circuit, like Fabio Quartararo (with whom I spoke about it very recently) because they are not lucky enough to have a circuit like Carole in the South. Quartararo, Loris Baz and Jules Cluzel helped me when I organized courses for young people with Yamaha. That was the aim of the 2013 record. We showed that contrary to what some people said, it was not a circuit for Mobylette and we broke the record with a 1000 derived from endurance, but very prepared, with special parts »
“For this 2020 record, we are in a different configuration. With drivers like Garry McCoy, Gregorio Lavilla, Mike di Meglio, David Checa and Jules Cluzel, Carole has proven to be a great training circuit. »
“We came to show it with the World Supersport Championship bike. There are new features in terms of clutch, electronics and brakes, which will help us for the next race”
“The number 1 objective is not at all the record, but to put the bike at the top for the opening of the Championship in Jerez. If we wanted to, we would remove 4 kilos and gain 0.1, but we didn't do that. After this Thursday's record attempt, we put the racing tires back on to run in 59.000, which was quite an evolution on the bike. We used Carole to be good at the world championships. »
“And we thus give enthusiasm to all French drivers, with a circuit which is open every day, for a very reasonable price of 850 euros per year. »
“So all Yamaha riders participating in a national or international championship have free access to this circuit on July 1 and 2, with the help of the Mutuelle des Motards. I will be there with the GMT94 mechanics. »
Photos © Mateusz Jagielski and GMT94
