OFFICIAL PROGRAMME looked to something where I could ride for some years , and 600s was the first class that came to mind . Even now many young riders move up to this class because it is easy to see a programme for some years . I feel as a rider you can have an accessible dream and goal . With a few sponsors in France you can go into this class and ride at the top , if you prepare the bike properly . Rear suspension , front fork cartridge , an exhaust and it is done . I think , in the market in France , you can see a lot more 600s on the streets than 1000s . Even now , where I live in the south of France .” French Journalist for Sport-Bikes Magazine , Maxime Pontreau , has been asking himself for some time the same question I asked him at the recent round in Navarra - why are the French so good in WorldSSP in particular ? Like me and many other journalists , he is not completely sure , as the road to WorldSSP success has been different for even some top names of the past and present . “ It is a mystery … but I think it may be because a lot of French riders had a long career in WorldSSP . That is the only thing a bit logical for me ,” said Maxime . That opinion gives credence to the glass ceiling theory , that it has been relatively difficult for a French rider to go from WorldSSP up to WorldSBK , so they remain - like Cluzel , Chambon , Foret and many others - as Supersport riders for a long time . Top talent , plus long WorldSSP career , equals many podium successes and race wins . Pontreau continued , “ Foret and Mahias were French champions in Supersport , but the others … Jules came in from GPs . He didn ’ t do a lot of seasons in France . For Mahias it is a bit different , because it is a pure talent for Lucas . The guy started to ride in competition a bit late , but he always wanted to be a WorldSSP champion . It was his only goal . When he wants something he wants it . Charpentier was a good rider in the Honda 500 Cup in France . I think it was in those years , it was a very intense category in France , a lot of riders of a high level and maybe the fact that he won this championship helped him to be on the front in WorldSSP .” So there you have it . The reason why there are so many good WorldSSP riders from France is …. Not one single reason , although opportunities , budgets and accessibilities have all been nominated as probable suspects . The reasons why may be debatable even now , but the statistics prove over and over that the French in general have the most to be proud of since WorldSSP racing came into full FIM World Championship status in 1999 . Vive Les French , right enough
55