Jean-Michel Bayle 1991 story

[Blue is Best]

I was seriously into dirt bikes when I was younger and when I quit racing still rode as often as I could. I followed the AMA Supercross series, still do, closely. I lived in Phoenix in 1991. When the Supercross series made a stop there that year I had to go. Saturday night we watched Bayle go head-to-head with Jeff Stanton. Bayle won the race. For you younger guys, Bayle was world 125 and 250 champion. But he knew that he had to come to the USA and beat us to really be world champion. Gotta give him credit for that. He did win the AMA 125, 250 and 500 championship!!!!!

Sunday morning me and the buddy go out North of Phoenix. Can't remember the trail name but it was very technical and was used by the better riders/racers to work out on. We had just got back from the loop and were resting up when 100 feet away a dualie, 4 door pulls up pulling a trailer. Out pop these guys and they begin gearing up. Roger DeCoster(six time world champion) is there with a red Honda jacket(at the time he was Honda race team mgr) and three other guys. My buddy tells me I'm crazy. Then one  of the guys gets on his #8 Honda and begins outrageous stunts right in front of us. This on a slick, hard packed, granite surface.

We find out a week later Bayle always wanted to ride the SW desert and DeCoster went to keep him out of trouble!!!!!!!! A local Honda shop owner and one of the local hot shoes went along also. To this day I kick myself for not walking over!!

[Sport-Touring]

[Orson]

I enjoyed watching his switch to road racing and was rooting for him to win a road racing world championship along with his motocross championships.

He was a throwback to the days of Dick Mann and David Aldana who rode all types of bikes  

If I saw Roger DeCoster in person I suspect throw myself on the ground in abject hero worship  

[Blue is Best]

I enjoyed watching his switch to road racing and was rooting for him to win a road racing world championship along with his motocross championships.

He was a throwback to the days of Dick Mann and David Aldana who rode all types of bikes  

If I saw Roger DeCoster in person I suspect throw myself on the ground in abject hero worship  

JMB had incredible natural talent. And for him to switch from motocross where he was the best at the time to a completely different type racing is, to me, just incredible.

That day I was so hung up on Roger D that I didn't really notice JMB! I'm with you on Roger D. One of the very best.