Jean-Michel Bayle
Encyclopedia
Jean-Michel Bayle is a semi-retired French
professional motorcycle
racer. He was one of the most successful riders of his era, achieving success at the highest levels in both motocross
and road racing
.
Bayle won the FIM
125cc motocross world championship in 1988, and the 250cc motocross world championship a year later. He competed in the United States
in 1991, becoming one of few Europeans to win the AMA
250cc and 500cc Outdoor National Championships. Having won all the major motocross championships, Bayle became one of the few riders to switch motorcycling disciplines, going from dirt track motocross events to pavement based road race
events.
He competed in the 250cc road racing world championship
for the Aprilia
factory racing team during the 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
, and in 1996
moved up to the 500cc class for the Kenny Roberts
-Yamaha
team. He scored points twice in 1999
. He managed one pole position in the 250cc class and 2 poles in the 500cc division but, never managed to finish on the podium. In 2002, he teamed with Sébastien Gimbert
and Nicolas Dussauge to win the Bol d'or
and the 24 Hours of Le Mans
endurance races. Bayle suffered serious injuries during the 2002
season and retired from road racing competition.
He still competes in motocross events and campaigned in the French National Observed Trials Championship. Bayle was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 2000.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
professional motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
racer. He was one of the most successful riders of his era, achieving success at the highest levels in both motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
and road racing
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
.
Bayle won the FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
125cc motocross world championship in 1988, and the 250cc motocross world championship a year later. He competed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1991, becoming one of few Europeans to win the AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
250cc and 500cc Outdoor National Championships. Having won all the major motocross championships, Bayle became one of the few riders to switch motorcycling disciplines, going from dirt track motocross events to pavement based road race
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
events.
He competed in the 250cc road racing world championship
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
for the Aprilia
Aprilia
Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle company, one of the seven marques owned by Piaggio, the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer.Aprilia started as a scooter manufacturer, but has more recently come to be known for its race-winning sportbikes...
factory racing team during the 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 46th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:1994 was the year in which Honda's Mick Doohan began to stamp his authority on the Grand Prix world. Honda's Longtime sponsor Rothmans left Honda to join Williams Renault in...
, and in 1996
1996 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1996 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 48th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Honda's Mick Doohan continued his domination of the 500 class with 8 victories. His Repsol Honda team-mate, Àlex Crivillé beat him to the line twice in Austria and the Czech Republic...
moved up to the 500cc class for the Kenny Roberts
Kenny Roberts
Kenneth Leroy Roberts is a former motorcycle racer and racing team owner. In 1978, he became the first American to win a Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship. He was also a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship...
-Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
team. He scored points twice in 1999
1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 51st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:The dominant reign of Honda's Mick Doohan came to an end with serious injuries suffered in practice for the Spanish Grand Prix. In his absence, his Honda team-mate Àlex Crivillé...
. He managed one pole position in the 250cc class and 2 poles in the 500cc division but, never managed to finish on the podium. In 2002, he teamed with Sébastien Gimbert
Sébastien Gimbert
Sébastien Gimbert is a professional motorcycle road racer. He currently competes in the Superbike World Championship...
and Nicolas Dussauge to win the Bol d'or
Bol d'or
The Bol d'or is a motorcycle endurance race, held annually in France. Originally, it was an automobile as well as motorcycle race. The automobiles were limited to 1100cc engine capacity until the 1950s when the limit was raised to 1500cc, and later to 2000cc...
and the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans (motorcycle race)
The 24 Hours of Le Mans Moto is a motorcycle endurance race held annually since 1978 on the Bugatti Circuit Le Mans, Sarthe, France...
endurance races. Bayle suffered serious injuries during the 2002
2002 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 2002 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 54th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The season consist of 16 races, which started with the Japanese Grand Prix on 7 April and ended with the Valencian Community Grand Prix on 3 November....
season and retired from road racing competition.
He still competes in motocross events and campaigned in the French National Observed Trials Championship. Bayle was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 2000.