The Pont de Vaux formula is 2 hours practices on Saturday morning and then 3 sessions among which one by night.
Between each session quads are locked into an impound area. Repairs can be made only during the race sessions.
Each year, 120 teams are competing in the meadow of Pont de Vaux. The whole paddocks are gathering mechanics, switchboarders, managers, physical therapists, accompanists for material support and of course two or three riders teams.
Over these 3 days there are more inhabitants in the meadow than in the town of Pont de Vaux itself (2000 persons). All have things in common the passion for quad and sports.
For the different teams, the preparation of the machines is a long term job, everything is finalized several months in advance, tests, changes, practices in order to be at the Top on the D-day as the technical level of the12 Hours is reknown all over the World. Worldwide fitters are making all their best in order to lead their machines to the result they hope.
The goal for the teams and the riders is to finish the race and why not be on the podium of the Mondial.
Saturday start of the 1st session
2.50pm : 120 quads on the start grid, “le Mans type” riders are thinking hard and warm up. Everybody is waiting for the flag being dropped and the start of the race.
2.55pm : The speaker announces that it remains only 5 minutes and asks the accompanists to leave the track.
2.59pm : The race director raises the 1 minute board, then the riders lean forward and stand on their legs, looking at the flag. No more noise on the meadow, pressure is at its peak.
15 seconds : Teams, the riders and the public are more and more under stress. Riders are stiring, impatient, and eat centimeters on the width of the track.
The flag drops, les 120 pilotes s’élancent le plus vite possible vers les machines. Quelques secondes... et se sont tous les quads qui jaillissent de la grille de départ en direction du premier virage.
3.01pm : The Mondial du Quad is launched, the outcome will be for tomorrow.
NEWS 2008
Vive le Banshee
Justin Reid and Eduard Ullastres are not beginners, their prize lists in Pont de Vaux are a proof. They are coming back this year with n°106 "Justwin racing vive le Banshee" It's also the comeback of the Banshee, a great opportunity to hear again the meowing of the mythical Banshee in the meadow of the Bresse. And why not the return of the 2 strokes on the podium ?
Quad Briel
Quad Briel - Gregor Brzozowski - Univerpal : Have a look on them.
The German team Quad Briel managed by Matthias Briel as usual is entering a top team n°97 with Maximilian Freund, German champion. The preparation of the machine is always exceptional and made in Germany.
The n°11 Team Gregor Brzozowski on the high performance Walsh frames with the ambition to succeed and the n°78 and 79 Univerpal from Poland too.
ATV Polska
The Polish team ATV Polska (n°56) who is present since several years, is fighting to win. With the Srem team (n°84) Rafal Sonik has recruited 2 American riders. His 450 Yamaha YZF has been prepared in José Piron's workshop in Belgium. With a little bit of luck, a Polish flag could fly over the meadow on Sunday evening.
Filtec Gytr Yamaha
The young and experienced Maessen and Beda (n°10) are not walk on riders. They know the music, they are young enough to be in the PDV top riders. The GYTR team enters 3 machines this year (10, 16, and 49) and rides to win.
Polaris powder smelling
We have pointed out that Vincent Broyer a local rider from the PSR will enter with Polaris. Two other French teams are going to support the American brand : on one side the star of the endurance, Jean Hugues Adam with the very fast riders Pascal de Palma and Franck Allart,on the other side the women team Adeline Martin, Betty Kraft and Audrey Martrenchas. But the guest team will be from the USA with the 7 times winner of the event Doug Eichner, with Dana Creech and Jason Dunkelberger two other American riders to help him in the fight for a new title. Riding a factory quad, it's smelling powder ! And at last the icing on the cake, Polaris is happy to announce the venue of the team HBomb with Caleb Moore and Rafa Munoz for several freestyle shows with backflip, the first time in France. The whole riders have chosen the OUTLAW 525 S, whatever it is race or freestyle.
SAV
The Suzuki LTR 450 N°70 is not an after sale service but well the Suzuki ATV Velocity Team under the colours of Suzuki France. The two riders are Xavier Boutiton Boss of Motobox, Suzuki dealer in Marmande (47) and Maxime Pajot. The first one is twice Hill Climb champion of France whereas the other one is leader of the ATV championship of Aquitaine and is well noticed in several off roads national races. They will be overseen by Dominique Pichot and Yan Buse Suzuki France rider. They have taken part to several 24 h of Le Mans Moto for mechanic support, belonging to the SERT of Dominique Méliand as for Dominique Pichot.
Trivimon
As every year, Trivimon, the Spanish team is entering Pont de Vaux with strong hopes. The Yamaha 450 YZF, well prepared thanks to the experience the team has from Pont de Vaux, will be riden by strong pilots. David Planella, only 23, has finished in 2007 at the 4th place of the Quad cross championship of Spain, category Q1 Pro. For 2008 he's at the 2nd temporary place of this championship. He will be with Jordi Farres Rovira, 2nd of the 2006 and 2007 ATV endurance and superquader championships of Spain. He won the "9 hours Ravos del Terri" in 2006 and 2007 with David Planella Vila and he's now at the 2nd place of the Superquader championship of Spain. The third rider will be Francisco David Diaz Rodriguez who even if he starts quad this year is leader of the temporary Quad Cross championship of Spain (quad serie category) Arriba !
Don't forget this number !
Marc Gobert is more than one regular rider of Pont de Vaux since 2008 will be the 20th time he enters the greatest ATV race of the world ! His team will be "Génération Quad Ile de France" and his teammates will be his son Gavin and Etienne Hopin on a Suzuki LTR. Etienne had the idea to ask the organisers to give them the 111 since Marc was "Number One" 3 times (1990, 1994, and 1997) and this year Grégory Lassaigne can't have his favourite number as he has joined the team Piron/ Yamaha Motor France, naturally n°1. Of course, Maurice Maingret who has granted his wish, answers with some sense of humor : "20 participations for Marc, that's exceptionnal. It may be hard for me for Gavin's 20th".
KTM USA
The USA KTM team won't play walk on parts on the meadow of Bresse, imagine. Former Honda official, Tim Farr is one of the best riders of USA ATV (13 titles !) whereas Taylor Kiser and Adam McGill who have signed this year with the Austrian factory, belong to the rising generation. Taylor has been ranked at the 5th of the Pro-Am (XC-2) last year whereas Adam has been elected best amateur of the USA in 2005. In partnership with the KTM race manager, Kurt Nicoll, Tim Farr, also team manager, has chosen his two teammates who are friends. They will race with the new XC 525.
Scandinavian air experience
With the ex freestyler Jesper Rosling, the new Swedish riders, Roger Astrom and Christian Andreasson will be on the start line with the 525 Polaris Outlaw of the Team Polaris Scandinavia.
They, the men "came from cold", are among the best Swedish riders, they will discover PDV but Jesper's experience, who's regular to the race, will be a good asset for their race strategy !
Paul Holmes
At only 22, the young British hope, new winner at the Foxholes circuit (UK), at present 3rd at the Quad Cross British championship, has just been recruited by the Official W-tec Factory Team for PDV !
Paul will be in the n°1 team of the Dutch maker, with Davy Brems winner in France at the circuit of Montgueux (51) and Jan Vlaeymans who's regular to the "fight" with the 3 first of the France championship to which the team W-Tec www.w-tec.nl fights in full.
At the start of PDV with the 2009 series of the Eraser Evo, new front wheel axle, new brakes, new suspensions (Ohlins), are the Belgium and French importers with the teams Planet Quad and Quad Deal. All are good riders ! www.planetquad.be
At opposite extremes Operation
The Art Honda has decided to launch the "At opposite extreme Operation" for the Mondial du Quad. The reason is that Julien Armabessaire supported by Honda Europe will be with Pierre Yves Deneault from Canada and the South African Kyle-James Holburn. The Quebecois is professionnal since one year and has finished at the 2nd place of la Tuque in 2007. As for Kyle James Holburn last year he won 7 Quad MX races in his country all are coming to Pont de Vaux to learn as the French came only once and the two others will discover the site.
No stress
With a very confidential preparation made in Belgium, the foreign medias have had the opportunity to discover the Yamaha of the Piron Team on the circuit of Hellecine (Bruxelles)
Very discreet concerning the orientation chosen during the Winter, the Piron family is now in good spirits.The team is now finalising the last technical choices concerning the 450 YZF which are the most usual and tested solutions. With a frame made by Laeger's, "endurance" is evident throughout equipments, components and props which have been tested for several month by the team.
As Greg Lassaigne, the official pilot (winner in 1999/2002/2003) and José Piron, the team manager crowned with two victories in 2006 and 2007, like to say the race is won in the paddocks. His team with the colours of Alpinestars-Scott-Goldspeed will be in the most coveted pit : the n°1!
Height to height !
Eichner such as Kristensen ? At Le Mans the Audi rider has just won for the 8th times.
At every event, the comparisons are made between both endurance races they are paradoxically and very logically light years away from each other, at the worldwide scale each one is the leader in its own field. This year once again it's proved by the number of victories of two big professional riders at a same event.
On one side, came from El Cajon where he lives Doug Eichner (7 times winner), Polaris official rider since 2007, laid his card on the table : the first US quad maker and himself are coming for the title.
With a 100% American team, for his 14th start (!) at PDV, the "Emperor" of the event will race with 2 top riders. Indeed Polaris on that occasion has recruited Keith Little, who knows the event very well as he has raced several times and Daryl Raft.
With no less than 4 official machines at the start, Polaris Europa will enter the race with the professionalism they are used to and the rigour already seen in Pont de Vaux at the various participations of the (Dream) Anglo-merican team ATV World/Duncan Racing, Doug Eichner's former boss.
Conveyor of strong images for the identity of the brand, PDV is now receiving all particular attentions, all the more than Polaris is also on the front line with the Freestyler of the Bombsquad, of whom it is also the support.
Beware
Sergio Gilli the more americanized Italian rider lays his card on the table for PDV08 with the confirmation of his two teammates.
To ride with him, he has selected once again Josh Frederichs from the USA who he's a regular and experienced rider, with Justin Reid (N.Irl) another regular rider who has been missing the race during some time.
According to the very discreet but efficient "manager, rider, fitter", the machine would be the very new 450 Can-Am.
With his results at the Mondial 2007 and with a very nice 3rd place ! let's bet that the Canadian company will take good care of the three pilots to take them to the highest step on August 24th.
Ethan the bio quad is back !
Last year we saw this special Suzuki LTR 450 under the n°29, special as it is refuelled with ethanol. This year is back and it looks very well fitted thanks to the 2007 great experience since it finished at the 22nd place of the final ranking. Everything is new in this concept as the 2008 model will ride with €uro85 (85 cts per liter) with as a main target next year big races at a World scale, two riders Alexis Robin and Alexis Maublanc both 16, will ride with Sylvain Gonod, the specific preparation of fuel injection is left to Thorn Bikes who has already entered a "bio"bike at the Bol d'Or and the marketing is planned. Ethanol is simply denatured alcool (available in pharmacy) just a little modified : a still is enough ! For 2008 the target is to finish within the 15. Dominique Maingret, one of the project founder is open to any non oil bearing energy. You could visit Ethan's work on www.quad-ethan.com
Tempo latino
Our neighbours coming from South Europa : Spain, Canaria Islands, Portugal are coming to Pont de Vaux for years now and proved their talents (Team Quad Competition,with Ricardo Escudero 2nd at the final ranking in 2005) Thanks to the arrival of the Spanish teams and to the media coverages in Spanish language, the 12 Hours fame is known as far as South America.
In 2008, for the 22nd edition of the Mondial, a new nation will be present on the start grid : Argentina. One Argentinian team, who raced at the Enduro del Verano, will cross the Atlantic to take part to the Mondial.
The Enduro del Verano is a race organised in Villa Gesell in Argentina. In French we will talk about a “Touquet Argentin” this year, several French bike and quad riders took part to this race.
Grégory Lassaigne joins the team Piron
On Monday June 2nd, José Piron, team manager of the Belgian team, winner in 2006 and 2007 has announced the news. The "performer" they were looking for to ride will be Grégory Lassaigne the official Yamaha Motor France : 3 times winner of the race in 1999, 2002 and 2003.
Experienced and ready to fight, Greg Lassaigne is joining the two cousins Stéphane and Alexandre Piron within a team which is running well and which is well prepared.
Exceptionnally unlucky at the previous Mondial, four times winner of the France' championship Quad Cross, Endurance and Superquad, the rider native from Champagne will start with the n°1 for the longest round the clock of the year.
We wish them good luck.
Follow the 6
Trivimon the Catalan team, is regularly ranked in the top 10 with their Yamaha YZF. Thanks to a very rigourous preparation and a very good knowledge of the race, they are at the steps of the podium. Maybe for this year they will be lucky.
RIDERS
The Piron team
Great winner in 2006 and 2007 !! They first went through the jet ski circle and were unknown 3 years ago in the little quad world, very quickly they became famous with two consecutive victories.
The french riders
Since more than 20 years many French riders are coming to Pont de Vaux, some of them are amateurs others reknown professionals and undisputed champions in their sport (quad, bike, jet ski...) such as Joël Bontoux, Grégory Lassaigne, Romain Couprie, Jérémy Warnia... Don’t forget the local riders Vincent Broyer, the Mazarico/Monin team 8th in 2007... Others who are great champions such as Luc Alphand (Alpine skiing, rallye), Stéphane Peterhansel (bike, rallye), Jean Luc Crétier (Alpine skiing), Isabelle Patissier (twice climb champion) and many other ones who took part to this event.
Hereafter some interviews :
Grégory Lassaigne
"For me Pont de Vaux is the mythical race in France. It gathers all the riders coming from the entire World on a unique track where legendary races are taking place. It’s a very hard race as well as for logistics, technical and physical levels. ."
Vincent Broyer
"This race is the one which gives the most coverage in the World, it is very hard for the machines and the riders. To win you need to train very well, to have an exceptional machine and lot of luck.
"
Romain Couprie
"PDV, you have to be steady during 12 hours until the last minute. In 2007, we broke only one hour before the end while we were leading.
"
Marc Cazorla
Manager of the Team Race Comas Motos, 2nd at the general ranking and 2nd women in 2007..
" Our team Bonnard Morin Ciclet hopes to be better than in 2007, our 3 riders are training and all our efforts are concentrated on the preparation of this magical event. It’s a great international event, one of the few we can see during the sport season. "
International riders
In 1988 the arrival of foreign teams with the first British teams, followed by the US riders. Today more than 20 countries are represented each year (USA, UK, Germany, Scandinavia, Portugal, Spain, Italy, South Africa, New Zealand...)
The Mondial has its own champion such as Doug Eichner (USA, 7 times winner), Harold Goodman (USA), John Mitchell (Ireland) Paul Winrow (UK) and also famous riders coming from all over the world: John Natalie, (one of the best American rider), Sergio Gilli, David Planella, Jordi Melich, Ricardo Escudero, Juan Antonio Guzman... Some of these pilots have commented the 2007 race :
Doug Eichner (USA)
"The 12-Hours of Pont de Vaux is unlike any other ATV competition I have ever experienced and a podium finish is most definitely a notable accomplishment to any racer who achieves this honor. With the high speeds of approximately 120 quality machines and capable pilots on the track together, there is a race going on in front and in back of you at all times.
The night session is especially thrilling and is a favorite part of the race for me personally. What I can’t see can’t slow me down and I usually find my best lap times at this point of the competition. It makes for an exciting adventure for pilots, race teams and spectators alike.
The 12-Hours of Pont de Vaux offers an international race experience that allows top racers from all over the world the chance to compete against one another which adds to the adrenaline rush of racing. This race also encourages teamwork and strategy that can make or break a run for a podium finish.
Having participated in the 12-Hours of Pont de Vaux many times, I especially appreciate how the entire city comes alive with excitement for this competition. I was honored to have been presented with the key to the city after one of my winning rides and it is certainly one of my most memorable racing experiences to date.
Any ATV racer who has not had the opportunity to compete in the famous 12-Hours of Pont de Vaux is missing the experience of a lifetime. I commend the efforts of all those who put together this premiere race and I am grateful to be a small part of its history. "
John Natalie (USA)
"Pont de Vaux it’s riding, be lucky and don’t look at the difference until Sunday, the last hours... if you are getting on. "
Juan Antonio Guzman (Spain)
"It’s hard for me to explain what I felt in Pont de Vaux. I liked very much the night session when you realize that the pilots are riding as fast as during the day. "
Sergio Gilli (Italy)
"I think the race of PDV has only one characteristic “it’s so hard and so incredible” because you can lead the race for 11 hours and lose it at the last hour or you can training all year and make only one lap after the start... You can imagine how you feel when you are able to finish the race most of the time the small thing make the difference and the result... But I’m still love race PDV... It’s something like speed and use brain all the time. "
Women
In this rough people world, the motor sport circle, there is a few number of women. However every year the 12 Hours of Pont de Vaux are welcoming several women teams (6 in 2007). Of course their goal is not the victory but to participate, have a strategy and have a staying power during 12 hours.
For them, taking part is a great honour and a challenge. The other riders are welcoming the women with a deep respect before, during and after the race.
