Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127794
Sebastien Tortelli I By Alex Hodgkinson 36 hen he clinched the 125cc World MX title at Maribor in Slovenia on July 14, Frenchman Sebastien Tortelli was just 17 years a,nd 329 days old, making him the youngest person ever to win a world motocross title. The previous rider to hold that record was current 250cc World Champion Stefan Everts, who accomplished the fea t in 1991 at the age of 18 years and 265 days. And there's more. This year, Tortelli broke the previous all-class record for consecutive GP victories when he won his sixth straight Cussac in his native France. Since then he has extended that run to nine and could stretch the streak out to 10 before it's all over. I caught up with Tortelli and his mentors Jacky Vimond, a former 250cc World Champion, and TorteIli's Kawasaki race team manager Jan De Groot just a few days before he clinched the crown. I believe you go to a rather specia"i school in Paris? Yes, it's a boarding school for boys who show sporting ability. As far as the lessons are concerned it is perfectly normal with a six-hour day of lessons as well as two hours physical training each day, while the two afternoons which would be devoted to general sports in normal schools are directed to specific training in each pupil's specialized sport. The timetable is also arranged around the sporting commitments, so that, in my case for example I will always have Friday afternoon free when I need to travel. How many do you have in a cla·ss? I am the only one. Most of the other groups have ~7 or 18 pupils, but I am the only one left in my age group in the subjects I study. I am in the final stage before university and there is a choice between three grou ps of subjects - the humanities, technical studies or the sciences. I am studying the latter - math, physics, biology. Is this a private school or is it finan.ced by the state? It is a state-run school. Although it is a school specifically for pupils who show sporting ability, it is also necessary· to have good grades. No matter how good you are at sport, you must continue to show good academic ability. How long have you been at the school? Three years now. How were you introduced to this school? The French federation arranged everything. It was at the time when Jacky Vimond was the trainer of the French team. There were five of us originally; but I am the only one left. Are your studies important to you? Yes, very much. I do not want to find myself without any.qualifications when I am older. I will continue with my studies until I have the diploma necessary for entering university, then I will take a break from studies. When I have finished to play motocross (Sebastien used the word "play" in the sense that all sports are "played" - Editor), then I want to con- tinue my studies to become a chiropractor. Erom which region of France do you come? From Bordeaux in the southwest. . Do you miss not living at home? It was hard at first. Before I went to Paris, my school was 100 meters (330 feet) from my home. I could go home for my meals and everything. But I have been here for nearly three years now. I know that if I want to be better at my sport, then this is the only way. When did you first start to ride motorcycles? When I was four. My father is a farmer and he had a bike to get around the farm. The first bike I rode was his, and