Sarron: "Rossi is ahead now, but th

Sarron: "Rossi is ahead now, but the season is not over..."

Former French World Champion Christian Sarron chats to motogp.com about his 1984 title, Zarco’s chances and riding with the greats.
Sarron won the 1984 250cc World Championship and also was the only European rider to be able to mix it with the greats during the unforgettable 90’s era that saw American and Australian riders dominate the 500cc class. Now, 20 years after he his retirement, he continues to work in the sport he loves as a commentator on MotoGP™ for Eurosport.

Sarron is still one of the most loved and respected riders by fans not just for the tremendous courage he showed on track, but the character he showed off track as well:

In 1984 you won the 250cc World Championship with Yamaha against rivals such as Wayne Rainey, Anton Mang, Sito Pons and Carlos Lavado. What did you enjoy more, the fight for the title, or finally winning it?
“In 1983 I was runner-up and the following year I had to switch to a production racer Yamaha, as there were no factory bikes available that season. Kawasaki were no longer competing, and we still have a year until the arrival of Honda and Freddie Spencer. During the season my bike worked quite well and I had some pretty good battles with Manfred Herweh, Sito Pons, Anton Mang, Carlos Lavado and Martin Wimmer; all of who are still good friends today. There were also a lot of French riders on the grid at the time as well. The atmosphere between us was great and we had some incredibly tight battles for victory.

I remember in Anderstop, Sweden, I had the chance to become World Champion before the end of the season in Misano. I had to finish in the top eight to take the title, but there was a huge fight during the race with more than 8 riders for victory, so I could not relax. In a battle with that many riders, anything can happen, so it was quite stressful. Fortunately, I managed to finish in second and got to lift the title. It was lucky, because in my last race at Misano, my engine seized.

During the previous years I had lost many friends; Oliver Chevallier, Patrick Pons and other French riders who lost their lives in fatal accidents. I feel lucky to have survived, because we lost some very good French riders.

The first thing I did when I won the title in Sweden was dedicate it to Patrick. When I stopped the bike the first to come and congratulate me was my good friend Barry Sheene and then Jean Claude Oliver, who was the head of Yamaha in France and had helped us a lot. Then a camera appeared and I simply dedicated the title to my friend that I had lost.”

After winning the title you moved up to the 500cc class and won in Germany against Freddie Spencer in a memorable race in the rain. What was it like back then fighting for the podium against that generation of Australian and American riders?
“In 1985 I wanted to return to 500cc because I had the opportunity to get my hands on a Factory bike with Yamaha France. Although we did not have the latest equipment, we got regular updates from the factory and also had the support of Michelin.

I feel very proud and fortunate to have been able to race against such riders as Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey and Wayne Gardner amongst others. To me they were great riders. I learned a lot from everyone and completely changed my riding style. I didn’t have a manager or a coach, so I had to teach myself.

Achieving victory in the third race of the year and going on to finish third in the championship was indeed a great success; especially considering that I only got my hands on the Yamaha YZR500 at the first race of the season at Kyalami. Still, I approached the season positively and things started well…”

How do you rate Johann Zarco’s season, and how good would it be to see a French rider win the intermediate title for the first time in 15 years?
“The first thing I want to say is that is an honour for me to be able to commentate on Zarco’s amazing season. It is a great season, and something that I am enjoying as a journalist along with the whole of France. I am very impressed by how he has ridden. Mentally ha has shown great determination, and is technically very attuned to his bike. He has not made a single mistake.

So far it has been a perfect season, so I hope he can win the title in Aragon. I think he has a great opportunity and it would be something I would be delighted to see and commentate on. I think Johann is a great rider and a great person and to have a French World Champion again would be fantastic. I have been waiting for it to happen since Olivier Jacque in 2000.”

As one of the few riders to fight for the podium until you left the 500cc class in 1990, how do you see the title battle between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo?
“I must admit they have both impressed me a lot. After all these years and the titles he has won, Valentino still maintains a huge desire. The drive to change his riding style and show incredible improvement over the last two seasons is amazing. He has worked very hard. If he wins the championship he will deserve it.

Lorenzo has also impressed me. The style in which he won the four consecutive races, especially at Mugello in front of the Rossi fans, has been amazing. He was riding very close to perfection. I have been so impressed with his effectiveness on track; it would be shame to see him lose the title due to some problems he had with his helmet at the beginning of the season. It is not a battle you want to see settled on a problem with a helmet. Although Rossi is ahead now, the season is not over. I think we will see a great and dramatic end to the championship battle.”

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Sarron: "Rossi berada di depan sekarang, tetapi musim ini belum berakhir..."Mantan Perancis dunia Champion Christian Sarron chatting dengan motogp.com tentang gelar 1984, kemungkinan Zarco's dan berkuda dengan hebat.Sarron memenangkan kejuaraan dunia 250cc 1984 dan juga pengendara hanya Eropa untuk dapat mencampurnya dengan hebat selama era 90 tak terlupakan yang melihat pengendara Amerika dan Australia mendominasi kelas 500cc. Sekarang, 20 tahun setelah dia pensiun, ia terus bekerja di olahraga dia mencintai sebagai komentator di MotoGP ™ untuk Eurosport.Sarron adalah masih salah satu paling dicintai dan dihormati pengendara oleh fans tidak hanya untuk keberanian yang luar biasa ia menunjukkan pada lagu, tapi karakter yang ia memamerkan lagu juga:Pada tahun 1984, Anda memenangkan kejuaraan dunia 250cc Yamaha melawan saingan seperti Wayne Rainey, Anton Mang, Sito Pons dan Carlos Lavado. Apa Apakah Anda menikmati lebih, berjuang untuk judul, atau akhirnya menang itu? "Pada tahun 1983 aku adalah runner-up dan pada tahun berikutnya yang saya harus beralih ke produksi pembalap Yamaha, karena tidak ada pabrik sepeda tersedia musim itu. Kawasaki tidak lagi bersaing, dan kami masih memiliki satu tahun sampai kedatangan Honda dan Freddie Spencer. Selama musim sepeda saya bekerja cukup baik dan saya punya beberapa pertempuran cukup baik dengan Manfred Herweh, Sito Pons, Anton Mang, Carlos Lavado dan Martin Wimmer; Semua yang masih teman baik hari ini. Ada juga banyak Perancis pengendara di grid saat itu juga. Suasana antara kami hebat dan kami memiliki beberapa pertempuran yang sangat ketat untuk kemenangan.I remember in Anderstop, Sweden, I had the chance to become World Champion before the end of the season in Misano. I had to finish in the top eight to take the title, but there was a huge fight during the race with more than 8 riders for victory, so I could not relax. In a battle with that many riders, anything can happen, so it was quite stressful. Fortunately, I managed to finish in second and got to lift the title. It was lucky, because in my last race at Misano, my engine seized.During the previous years I had lost many friends; Oliver Chevallier, Patrick Pons and other French riders who lost their lives in fatal accidents. I feel lucky to have survived, because we lost some very good French riders.The first thing I did when I won the title in Sweden was dedicate it to Patrick. When I stopped the bike the first to come and congratulate me was my good friend Barry Sheene and then Jean Claude Oliver, who was the head of Yamaha in France and had helped us a lot. Then a camera appeared and I simply dedicated the title to my friend that I had lost.”After winning the title you moved up to the 500cc class and won in Germany against Freddie Spencer in a memorable race in the rain. What was it like back then fighting for the podium against that generation of Australian and American riders?“In 1985 I wanted to return to 500cc because I had the opportunity to get my hands on a Factory bike with Yamaha France. Although we did not have the latest equipment, we got regular updates from the factory and also had the support of Michelin.I feel very proud and fortunate to have been able to race against such riders as Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey and Wayne Gardner amongst others. To me they were great riders. I learned a lot from everyone and completely changed my riding style. I didn’t have a manager or a coach, so I had to teach myself.Achieving victory in the third race of the year and going on to finish third in the championship was indeed a great success; especially considering that I only got my hands on the Yamaha YZR500 at the first race of the season at Kyalami. Still, I approached the season positively and things started well…”How do you rate Johann Zarco’s season, and how good would it be to see a French rider win the intermediate title for the first time in 15 years?“The first thing I want to say is that is an honour for me to be able to commentate on Zarco’s amazing season. It is a great season, and something that I am enjoying as a journalist along with the whole of France. I am very impressed by how he has ridden. Mentally ha has shown great determination, and is technically very attuned to his bike. He has not made a single mistake.So far it has been a perfect season, so I hope he can win the title in Aragon. I think he has a great opportunity and it would be something I would be delighted to see and commentate on. I think Johann is a great rider and a great person and to have a French World Champion again would be fantastic. I have been waiting for it to happen since Olivier Jacque in 2000.”As one of the few riders to fight for the podium until you left the 500cc class in 1990, how do you see the title battle between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo?“I must admit they have both impressed me a lot. After all these years and the titles he has won, Valentino still maintains a huge desire. The drive to change his riding style and show incredible improvement over the last two seasons is amazing. He has worked very hard. If he wins the championship he will deserve it.Lorenzo has also impressed me. The style in which he won the four consecutive races, especially at Mugello in front of the Rossi fans, has been amazing. He was riding very close to perfection. I have been so impressed with his effectiveness on track; it would be shame to see him lose the title due to some problems he had with his helmet at the beginning of the season. It is not a battle you want to see settled on a problem with a helmet. Although Rossi is ahead now, the season is not over. I think we will see a great and dramatic end to the championship battle.”

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 2:

Sarron: "Rossi berada di depan sekarang, tapi musim belum berakhir ...". Mantan Perancis Juara Dunia Kristen Sarron chatting untuk motogp.com tentang judul 1984 nya, kemungkinan Zarco dan naik dengan hebat Sarron memenangkan 250cc Kejuaraan Dunia 1984 dan juga adalah satu-satunya pembalap Eropa untuk dapat mencampurnya dengan hebat selama tak terlupakan 90-an era yang melihat pengendara Amerika dan Australia mendominasi kelas 500cc. Sekarang, 20 tahun setelah ia pensiun, ia terus bekerja dalam olahraga yang dicintainya sebagai komentator di MotoGP ™ untuk Eurosport. Sarron masih salah satu pembalap yang paling dicintai dan dihormati oleh fans tidak hanya untuk keberanian luar biasa ia menunjukkan di jalur , tetapi karakter dia menunjukkan keluar jalur juga: Pada tahun 1984 Anda memenangkan Kejuaraan Dunia 250cc dengan Yamaha melawan rival seperti Wayne Rainey, Anton Mang, Sito Pons dan Carlos Lavado. Apa yang Anda menikmati lebih, perjuangan untuk judul, atau akhirnya unggul itu? "Pada tahun 1983 saya menjadi runner-up dan tahun berikutnya saya harus beralih ke pembalap produksi Yamaha, karena tidak ada sepeda pabrik yang tersedia musim itu. Kawasaki tidak lagi bersaing, dan kami masih memiliki satu tahun sampai kedatangan Honda dan Freddie Spencer. Selama musim sepeda bekerja cukup baik dan saya memiliki beberapa pertempuran cukup baik dengan Manfred Herweh, Sito Pons, Anton Mang, Carlos Lavado dan Martin Wimmer; semua yang masih teman baik hari ini. Ada juga banyak pengendara Perancis di grid pada saat itu juga. Suasana antara kami hebat dan kami memiliki beberapa pertempuran sangat ketat untuk meraih kemenangan. Saya ingat di Anderstop, Swedia, saya memiliki kesempatan untuk menjadi Juara Dunia sebelum akhir musim di Misano. Aku harus menyelesaikan di atas delapan untuk mengambil judul, tapi ada pertarungan besar saat balapan dengan lebih dari 8 pengendara untuk kemenangan, jadi saya tidak bisa santai. Dalam pertempuran dengan banyak pengendara, apa pun bisa terjadi, jadi itu cukup menegangkan. Untungnya, saya berhasil finis di posisi kedua dan harus mengangkat judul. . Itu beruntung, karena di balapan terakhir saya di Misano, mesin saya disita Selama tahun-tahun sebelumnya saya telah kehilangan banyak teman; Oliver Chevallier, Patrick Pons dan pengendara lain Perancis yang kehilangan nyawa mereka dalam kecelakaan fatal. Saya merasa beruntung telah selamat, karena kami kehilangan beberapa pengendara Perancis yang sangat baik. Hal pertama yang saya lakukan ketika saya memenangkan gelar di Swedia adalah mendedikasikan untuk Patrick. Ketika saya berhenti sepeda yang pertama datang dan mengucapkan selamat kepada saya adalah teman baik saya Barry Sheene dan kemudian Jean Claude Oliver, yang adalah kepala Yamaha di Perancis dan telah banyak membantu kami. Kemudian kamera muncul dan saya hanya didedikasikan judul ke teman saya bahwa saya telah kehilangan. "Setelah memenangkan gelar Anda pindah ke kelas 500cc dan menang di Jerman melawan Freddie Spencer dalam lomba mengesankan dalam hujan. Apa rasanya saat itu berjuang untuk podium terhadap bahwa generasi Australia dan Amerika pengendara? "Pada tahun 1985 saya ingin kembali ke 500cc karena saya memiliki kesempatan untuk mendapatkan tangan saya pada sepeda Pabrik dengan Yamaha Perancis. Meskipun kami tidak memiliki peralatan terbaru, kami mendapat update reguler dari pabrik dan juga memiliki dukungan dari Michelin. Saya merasa sangat bangga dan beruntung telah mampu berpacu dengan pengendara seperti Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey dan Wayne Gardner antara lain. Bagi saya mereka adalah pengendara besar. Saya belajar banyak dari semua orang dan benar-benar mengubah gaya saya naik. Saya tidak memiliki manajer atau pelatih, jadi saya harus mengajar diri sendiri. Mencapai kemenangan di balapan ketiga tahun ini dan terjadi untuk menyelesaikan ketiga dalam kejuaraan itu memang sukses besar; terutama mengingat bahwa saya hanya punya tangan saya di Yamaha YZR500 pada balapan pertama musim di Kyalami. Namun, saya mendekati musim positif dan hal-hal mulai dengan baik ... "Bagaimana Anda menilai musim Johann Zarco, dan bagaimana yang baik itu akan melihat seorang pengendara Perancis memenangkan gelar menengah untuk pertama kalinya dalam 15 tahun?" Hal pertama yang saya ingin katakan adalah bahwa merupakan suatu kehormatan bagi saya untuk dapat mengomentari pada musim menakjubkan Zarco ini. Ini adalah musim yang hebat, dan sesuatu yang saya menikmati sebagai wartawan bersama dengan seluruh Perancis. Saya sangat terkesan dengan bagaimana dia telah ditunggangi. Mental ha telah menunjukkan tekad yang besar, dan secara teknis sangat selaras dengan sepedanya. Dia tidak membuat kesalahan tunggal. Sejauh ini telah menjadi musim sempurna, jadi saya berharap dia bisa memenangkan gelar di Aragon. Saya pikir dia memiliki kesempatan besar dan itu akan menjadi sesuatu yang aku akan senang untuk melihat dan mengomentari tentang. Saya pikir Johann adalah pembalap yang hebat dan orang besar dan memiliki Juara Dunia Perancis lagi akan fantastis. Saya telah menunggu hal itu terjadi karena Olivier Jacque di tahun 2000. "Sebagai salah satu dari sedikit pengendara untuk memperjuangkan podium sampai Anda meninggalkan kelas 500cc pada tahun 1990, bagaimana Anda melihat pertempuran judul antara Valentino Rossi dan Jorge Lorenzo?" Aku harus mengakui mereka memiliki keduanya terkesan saya banyak. Setelah bertahun-tahun dan gelar ia telah memenangkan, Valentino masih mempertahankan keinginan besar. Dorongan untuk mengubah gaya naik dan menunjukkan peningkatan yang luar biasa selama dua musim terakhir adalah menakjubkan. Dia telah bekerja sangat keras. Jika ia menang kejuaraan ia akan pantas mendapatkannya. Lorenzo juga telah membuat saya terkesan. Gaya di mana ia memenangkan empat balapan berturut-turut, terutama di Mugello di depan fans Rossi, telah menakjubkan. Dia mengendarai sangat dekat dengan kesempurnaan. Saya telah begitu terkesan dengan efektivitas nya di jalur; itu akan menjadi malu untuk melihat dia kehilangan gelar karena beberapa masalah dia dengan helmnya di awal musim. Ini bukan pertempuran Anda ingin lihat menetap pada masalah dengan helm. Meskipun Rossi berada di depan sekarang, musim belum berakhir. Saya pikir kita akan melihat akhir yang besar dan dramatis untuk pertempuran kejuaraan. "