Jean-Michel Bayle


Jean-Michel Bayle 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 first rider to win all three major AMA motocross championships in the same year. 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.
He 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 twice 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. In 2002, he teamed with Sébastien Gimbert and Nicolas Dussauge to win the Bol d'or and the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance races. Bayle suffered serious injuries during the 2002 season and retired from road racing competition.
He still competes in motocross 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

YearClassBike12345678910111213141516Pts
1992250ccHondaJPNAUSMALSPAITAEURGERNEDHUNFRA
24
GBRBRARSANC0
1993250ccApriliaAUS
19
MAL
16
JPN
21
SPA
14
AUT
17
GER
14
NED
16
EUR
18
RSM
18
GBR
8
CZE
Ret
ITA
19
USA
Ret
FIM
12
22nd16
1994250ccApriliaAUS
10
MAL
7
JPN
11
SPA
8
AUT
11
GER
11
NED
6
ITA
8
FRA
5
GBR
5
CZE
6
USA
Ret
ARG
7
EUR
8
8th105
1995250ccApriliaAUS
Ret
MAL
6
JPN
Ret
SPA
9
GER
6
ITA
Ret
NED
Ret
FRA
11
GBR
Ret
CZE
11
BRA
Ret
ARG
DNS
EUR
Ret
15th37
1996500ccYamahaMAL
6
INA
8
JPN
8
SPA
7
ITA
5
FRA
Ret
NED
8
GER
10
GBR
Ret
AUT
9
CZE
6
IMO
4
CAT
Ret
BRA
7
AUS
5
9th110
1997500ccModenasMAL
Ret
JPN
14
SPA
13
ITA
8
AUT
14
FRA
Ret
NED
Ret
IMO
8
GER
Ret
BRA
8
GBR
DNS
CZE
Ret
CAT
Ret
INA
Ret
AUS
16
18th31
500ccYamahaJPNMALSPAITAFRAMADNEDGBRGERCZE
8
IMO
5
CAT
Ret
AUSARG
7
16th28
1999500ccModenasMAL
12
JPN
Ret
SPAFRA
Ret
ITA
Ret
CAT
Ret
NEDGBRGERCZEIMOVALAUSRSABRAARG28th4
2002MotoGPYamahaJPNRSASPAFRA
14
ITA
13
CATNEDGBRGERCZEPORBRAPACMALAUSVAL24th5