Jean-Michel Bayle

Jean-Michel Bayle (born 1 April 1969) is a French former professional motorcycle racer. He was one of the most successful riders of his era, achieving success at the highest levels in both motocross and road racing.

Biography Born in Manosque, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Bayle won the FIM 125cc motocross world championship in 1988, and the 250cc motocross world championship a year later. He competed in the United States in 1991, becoming the only rider ever to win all three major AMA motocross championships in the same year (Supercross, 250cc and 500cc). Having won many of the major motocross championships, Bayle became one of the few riders to switch motorcycling disciplines, going from dirt track motocross events to pavement based road race events.

Bayle competed in the 250cc road racing world championship for the Aprilia factory racing team during the 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, and in 1996 moved up to the 500cc class for the Kenny Roberts-Yamaha team. He scored points once in 1999. He managed one pole position in the 250cc class and 2 poles in the 500cc division but, never managed to finish on the podium. events and campaigned in the French observed trials national championship. Bayle was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.

Career statistics

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

Races by year (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts 1992 250cc Honda JPN AUS MAL SPA ITA EUR GER NED HUN FRA24 GBR BRA RSA NC 0 1993 250cc Aprilia AUS19 MAL16 JPN21 SPA14 AUT17 GER14 NED16 EUR18 RSM18 GBR8 CZERet ITA19 USARet FIM12 22nd 16 1994 250cc Aprilia AUS10 MAL7 JPN11 SPA8 AUT11 GER11 NED6 ITA8 FRA5 GBR5 CZE6 USARet ARG7 EUR8 8th 105 1995 250cc Aprilia AUSRet MAL6 JPNRet SPA9 GER6 ITARet NEDRet FRA11 GBRRet CZE11 BRARet ARGDNS EURRet 15th 37 1996 500cc Yamaha MAL6 INA8 JPN8 SPA7 ITA5 FRARet NED8 GER10 GBRRet AUT9 CZE6 IMO4 CATRet BRA7 AUS5 9th 110 1997 500cc Modenas MALRet JPN14 SPA13 ITA8 AUT14 FRARet NEDRet IMO8 GERRet BRA8 GBRDNS CZERet CATRet INARet AUS16 18th 31 500cc Yamaha JPN MAL SPA ITA FRA MAD NED GBR GER CZE8 IMO5 CATRet AUS ARG7 16th 28 1999 500cc Modenas MAL12 JPNRet SPA FRARet ITARet CATRet NED GBR GER CZE IMO VAL AUS RSA BRA ARG 28th 4 2002 MotoGP Yamaha JPN RSA SPA FRA14 ITA13 CAT NED GBR GER CZE POR BRA PAC MAL AUS VAL 24th 5