Only the 2nd event in 2020, after the 1st of July at Le Vigeant track. The driving season of Team 18 will be short …and busy! Indeed, like all organizers of driving days, the Team 18 has necessarily suffered from the postponement of the 2020 season. Even if the Team’s approach is not for profit, the organisation of the JSR, Road Safety Days, remains a key source of funding for the sporting season in the FIM Endurance World Championship, and this has been the case for almost 20 years.
A short and busy season
And so, the solidarity between organisers also works. For this reason, these JSRs were not 100% Team 18, but gave the opportunity for a partnership with First on Track, also driving organizer and official HRC partner.
The fact that Team 18 members were present was dictated by the need for the Team to be here for the Team’s customers. The aim was mainly a safety mission: checking the equipment of all the participants in the driving event before launching them on the Magny-Cours track. Of course, also a representation in order to answer the questions that arise during the two days on the track. Looking for a little immersion? Come on, I’ll take you!
Track flair!
Safety mission on the track, and what about the road?
So, how useful is this little check-up? Even if it’s meant to be non-intrusive – it’s not a pre-competition tech’ check, even less a police control- it proved to be quite useful. Not to mention that it is also a brief moment of sharing with some participants.
The result over 2 days, 3 helmets not attached (it is not about the straps left hanging in the wind!, It is a matter of open or unadjusted helmets) and an airbag not attached as far as I am concerned. As much for my colleague of the weekend, Annick.
Far from being moralistic, it’s just a little reminder. Of course, every biker who takes the road like that – and it’s also my experience…-, comes to notice it and stops to fix it, it’s just a pity to put oneself in danger for such a little detail.
These details to underline that Team 18 has a priority, and that is the spirit of these JSR, born shortly after the creation of Team 18, which celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Bol d’Or race in Le Castellet on September 18-19-20, 2020.
National Holiday or Personal Highlight: Fan – Partner – Member of Team 18, all 3 at the same time!
These JSRs were set for July 14th: handy to block the weekend in France!
Personally, these days are red-letter days. The unconditional fan since the very beginning, who became a marshal 5 years later with an even more attentive eye on the » Belle Rouge « , while still remaining objective, and who became a partner with Nova Moto almost 9 years ago, is now writing a new story: Isabelle is from now on a member of this emblematic Team 18 Sapeurs-Pompiers team, a kind of « Patrouille de France » in endurance racing! Or should I rather say a team that closely shares the same values and safety objectives?
This Team is so much a pillar of my motorcycle story, that I’m very happy, honoured by the trust given, touched by the welcome offered, and …as impressed as impatient of what will happen 😉
It will be necessary, in all humility, to be able to meet the requirements of the team’s ambitious project: to come back to World Endurance after a break season, in the context that we know, to position ourselves as the team to count with in Superstock ranking from the 2021 season on.
Indeed, the Bol d’Or 2020 is a test race for machine / team and drivers, out of championship for Team 18, due to the changes in the FIM calendar this year.
I would just like to thank the new President of Team 18 Sapeurs-Pompiers, who is also responsible for the JSR, track days, Ludovic Le Moal, as well as Yannick Bureau, Team Manager, for their trust, as well as Annick and Jordane for their warm welcome on this first edition that I have been able to experience as a member of Team 18.
Text and pictures: Isabelle Maillet
Banner « Gift for Nova » : Team 18 Sapeurs-Pompiers, picture by Grégory Doye
