Il francese Mickael Maschio ritorna nei paddock del FIM MX World Championship 2017 con il Team Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2.
Dopo aver vinto un Campionato del Mondo 125 proprio in sella ad una Kawasaki nel 2002, dopo 15 anni Mickael ritorna nei paddock ma questa volta in un ruolo differente.
Allenerà i piloti Petar Petrov, Adam Sterry e Stephen Rubini e lavorerà anche allo sviluppo della moto durante la stagione.
Queste le sue parole:
“Quando ho smesso di correre ho lavorato come formatore con CLS; è stato molto interessante lavorare con i giovani piloti, ma si viaggiava troppo e questo era un problema. Volevo vedere le mie figlie crescere, così ho smesso con questa attività e ha fondato una società per ristrutturare case insieme a mio fratello. Ho avuto una normale attività, proprio come il 90% della popolazione, e potevo passare i miei fine settimana con la mia famiglia e i nostri amici “.
“All’inizio di quest’anno ho avuto l’opportunità di vedere Stefano Rubini in allenamento, e mi ha colpito molto. Sapevo che suo padre era stato il mio meccanico in allenamento e gli ho offerto qualche consiglio e aiuto; il rapporto era così buono che sono andato in Spagna per allenarlo. Si è esibito bene lì, anche se alla fine ha perso la vittoria a causa di un piccolo errore con una bandiera gialla! Poi sono andato al GP di Francia, al GP di Gran Bretagna e così via, volendogli trovare un buon contratto per il suo futuro, e, naturalmente, ho parlato con Kawasaki, dove conosco ancora molte persone del periodo in cui correvo”. “ Nel corso degli ultimi sei mesi mi sono divertito un sacco ad essere di nuovo nel paddock, e dopo aver parlato con mia moglie ho preso la decisione di tornare a tempo parziale con il team Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Racing. Quando Jean Jacques mi ha spiegato il suo nuovo progetto per me, ho pensato che fosse una specie di sogno per me, Fred e Stephen così come il nuovo negozio è a solo tre chilometri da casa nostra! Stefano, Fred e io ci conosciamo da molto tempo e loro vivono in questa zona, quindi abbiamo le condizioni ideali per lavorare! Mi prenderò cura del programma di formazione dei piloti, e lavorerò anche con Fred (Lavergne) per sviluppare le moto “.
” E ‘una grande opportunità, e sono davvero entusiasta di lavorare con la Kawasaki di nuovo, ho avuto le mie migliori stagioni di gara con questa azienda. Ho corso per diversi marchi nella mia carriera, ma ho ottenuto il mio titolo mondiale con la Kawasaki e abbiamo costruito un rapporto forte, non solo con Jan e Ellen De Groot, ma anche con persone provenienti da KHI e Kawasaki Europa. Per me questa società è diversa rispetto alle altre; i rapporti umani sono più forti qui che in qualsiasi altra”.
Di seguito il comunicato ufficiale del Team, dal sito http://www.kawasaki.eu/
Maschio back in the paddock
In 2002 Mickael Maschio and Kawasaki claimed the 125cc motocross world title after an epic battle; fifteen years later the Frenchman is back in the paddock with the Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Team.
Mickael, who started racing in 1988, never gave up during his career and finally reached his dream after fourteen years hard competition when he beat Belgians Steve Ramon and Patrick Caps in the 2002 world series. A member of the legendary Kawasaki Racing Team under the leadership of Jan de Groot, Mickael returned to the 125 class after a couple of seasons in the 250cc series where his best ranking was sixth in 1999. His slender light build was suited perfectly to the KX125 and together with Jan he decided to return to the smaller capacity class for the 2002 season in an era where there were no age regulations. After winning four Grand Prix and posting top five results in nine of the twelve events he capped a perfect season by delivering a second world title to Kawasaki in the class after Sébastien Tortelli’s success in 1996.
A broken leg early in 2006 ended his racing career when he had just turned thirty and, as many other leading riders, ‘Mickey’ stayed involved in the sport with Team CLS Kawasaki as rider coach for one season before retiring.
“When I stopped racing I worked as trainer with CLS; it was very interesting to work with young riders but I was travelling too much and that was a problem. I wanted to see my daughters growing up, so I stopped this activity and founded a company to refurbish houses together with my brother. At least I had a normal activity, just like 90% of the population, and could spend my weekends with my family and our friends,” explained the likeable Frenchman who made a comeback to the MX paddock this season.
“Earlier this year I had the opportunity to see Stephen Rubini practicing, and he impressed me a lot. I knew the family as his father was my training mechanic, and I offered him some advice and help; the relationship was so good that I came to Spain to coach him. He performed well there, even if he finally lost the win due to a small mistake with the yellow flag ! Then I went to the French GP, the British GP and so on as I wanted to find a good ride for his future, and of course I spoke with Kawasaki where I still know many people from my racing time” he continued.
One discussion led to another and Mickael was enjoying being back in the paddock so much that he finally found a deal with Jean Jacques Luisetti, the Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 team owner.
“During the past six months I enjoyed a lot being back in the paddock, and after talking with my wife I took the decision to come back part time with the Monster Energy Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team. When Jean Jacques explained his new project to me, I thought that it was a kind of dream for me, Fred and Stephen as the new workshop is based only three kilometres from our home! Stephen, Fred and I have known each other for a long time and are living in this area, so we have the perfect conditions to work! I will take care of the training programme of the riders, and also work with Fred (Lavergne) to develop the bikes,” revealed Mickael who is happy to be back in his second family.
” It’s a great opportunity, and I’m really excited to work with Kawasaki again as I had my best racing seasons with this company. I raced for several brands in my career, but I got my world title with Kawasaki and we built a strong relationship, not only with Jan and Ellen De Groot but also with people from KHI and Kawasaki Europe. For me this company is different than the others; the human relations are stronger here than in any other,” he ended. So don’t be surprised to see Mickael on the tracks next season alongside Petar Petrov, Adam Sterry and Stephen Rubini, each of whom will benefit from his great racing experience!
