Page Four

Chris Preston, from Port St Mary, continues to build up contacts with our continental members …. Jean-Michel Prudon is absolutely fanatical about the TT Races, so much so, that he has volunteered to be an extra contact for members in France [information on page 51], mans a stand for the Club at the 'Mille Roues' [Thousand Wheels], one of France's busiest motorcycle shows with 27,000 visitors in 2000, and, along with seasoned TT campaigner, Marc Granie, is making moves to persuade the TT Organisers to bring the French Police Acrobatic Team over to the Island in the future - an idea apparently not lost on the Organisers. Prudon and Granie would also like a French police presence at the TT, similar to that of the Germans - so far, inroads have not yet been made with this idea.

Meanwhile, Marc Granie's preparations for what will be his 14th year of TT racing are well under way. He will be Yamaha R1 mounted for the TTF1 and should be seen on a Bimota and a Suzuki in the Singles and Production TTs respectively.

Jean-Michel Prudon tells us that several French road racers would welcome the challenge of the Mountain Course, but one such racer definitely to make a return this summer is Marc Dufour from the Lyon region of Central France - the country of, as Jean-Michel proudly says, both good wine [the Morgon, the finest Beaujolais] and excellent food! Born in 1952, Dufour has worked for the last six years for Gauthier, a French sport motorcycle maker, relatively unknown outside the country. Gauthier's motorcycles were actually made from the nine years - '72 to '81 - during which time they were in the road racing, moto-cross and hill climb spotlight, making about 1000 machines.

L-R Serge Doublier (Mechanic), Jean Marc
Katzuny (Sponsor), Marc Dufour (On bike),
at Ledenon (Southern France)

Marc began racing in 1976 with Gauthier Promosports [beginners class with stock bikes] 125cc and then 250cc. He proved to be so versatile that he was soon competing in endurance, road, moto-cross and hill climb events and became a principal organiser of the Beaujolais Rally, representing the riders within the Federation Francaise Motocycliste. His passion for demanding events led him to develop an interest in the world's most prestigious road race, the Isle of Man TT. Jean-Michel tells us that many Frenchmen dream about this mythical race, but only a few dare doing it as it means fifteen days in the Island, coping with a strange language and then, ofcourse, there is the cost! In 1996 Marc decided to make his dream come true and take up the challenge …… he did himself justice, finishing a credible 45th on his 748 Ducati in the Formula One. He returned in 2000, this time with a Kawasaki 600 ZX6R for the Junior TT, again completing the distance with a 43rd placing.

Now completely smitten with racing on the Island, Marc tackles four events in 2001. He will ride a 996 Ducati in the TTF1 and Production races under the Team Kalu Racing colours [one of his friends, Jean-Marc Kaluzny will lend him equipment] and a Kawasaki in the Junior TT. However, it will be Marc's entry in the Singles Race …. a completely new machine, a 650cc Gauthier M1 with a Rotax engine, especially built for the TT, that will grab the interest.

The bike is a 650cc Rotax water-cooled monocylinder with 4 valves per cylinder, a 38mm carburettor and a wet clutch 5-speed gearbox. The tubular steel frame with aluminium inserts has been made by Marc, himself. The front fork is from a 750cc Suzuki GSXR with TT adjustments. Rear brakes are Brembo 4 piston callipers with those at the front, Tokiko with 6 piston callipers. Front tyres are 120 x 17, rear 160 x 17. The overall weight is 130kg.

Marc is adopting a thoroughly professional approach to his third racing visit to the Island bringing with him a team of five to help him achieve the highest possible finishing places in all four of his races. Serge Doublier will be acting as his mechanic, with the others being Jean Marc Kaluzny [sponsor], Jacky Grolet [from Morgon Beaujolais Wine], Michel Thomas [photographer] and Jean-Michel Prudon, who will handle press relations.

The Club wishes Marc well and thanks Jean-Michel for compiling the information for this article.

Marc Dufour finishing the Junior TT (2000)