The Supercross specialist
6 victories at the SX de Bercy, 4 successes at the SX du Stade de France, Winner of the MX des Nations 2001
David Vuillemin is a French motocross rider born October 18, 1977 in Bouches-du-Rhône.
Under the leadership of his father, David started motorcycling at just 8 years old and began competing three years later by entering the 60 cm3 Provence Championship where he immediately won the title before doing the same thing in Minivert 80 cm3 in 1989. He logically continued his path towards the national level in Cadet where he crossed paths with other drivers whom he faced for many years such as Stéphane Roncada and Sébastien Torelli. Minivert 80 Minime Champion, he finished 3rd in the Cadet championship. A place that he also occupied in 1991 where he demonstrated his talent.
A pronounced taste for SX
In 1992, “Cobra” entered the French Junior Championship riding a 125 cm3 and gradually gained in competitiveness. 12th in the championship his first year, he went 7th in 1993 and also tried Supercross. In 1994, Vuillemin achieved his first success in the French championship at the Metz Supercross and confirmed his hopeful status with a 4th place in the junior championship, a 5th place in SX 125 and an 11th place in 125 Elite.
From 1995, everything accelerated, notably with his Grand Prix debut, but the experience proved complicated. Conversely, in addition to his 6th place in the French Elite 125 championship, he excelled in Supercross by finishing vice-champion of France and Europe 125 and winning one of the evenings of the Bercy 125 Supercross. The following year , David Vuillemin won his first titles in SX 125 with the European Championship, the French Championship and the SX de Bercy. In GP MX125 he finished 16th while Tortelli won the title.
Comfortable in Supercross, David continued his successes in France and Europe and also attempted the adventure in the United States with the support of FMF Racing where he notably won the Seattle SX in AMA SX125 and finished second in Minneapolis. He also confirmed his progress in the Grand Prix with 6th place overall. 1998 marked his time as an official Yamaha rider. No longer present in the USA, he finished vice-champion of the West Coast. In GP, it is also the second place that he obtains. However, he won the MX Elite 125 and won the SX at the Stade de France.
The Sirens of the New World
Then came the move to the higher category in 1999. Vuillemin’s debut in 250 cm3 was rather successful since the driver established himself directly among the contenders for the Grand Prix title, finishing 3rd in the MX 250, winning the title of French champion Open and accumulated victories at the SX of Bercy and Stade de France, two events that he loved and which he would win several more times.
He then leaves for the United States where he intends to compete in all of the American Supercrosses with the local Yamaha official team. On his YZ250, Vuillemin won 4 times, but conceded the title to Jeremy McGrath. The following season, he had more difficulty in the United States, but he ended the year in style with Luigi Séguy and Yves Demaria by winning the first victory for the France team during the Motocross des Nations in Belgium.
Again runner-up in the AMA SX250 in 2002, this time behind Ricky Carmichael, David Vuillemin was forced to have shoulder surgery and missed part of the 2003 season. He was also limited in 2004 and 2005 due to injuries, but managed to finish 4th in the AMA 250 before returning to the final podium in 2006.
Return and retraining
More discreet thereafter, he made his return to the world and the French MX1 championship in 2009. Although he struggled in Grand Prix, he concluded with a national title before hanging up his helmet to turn to a career as a coach and team manager, particularly with drivers like Marvin Musquin or Dylan Ferrandis.
Having come very close to the Supercross title across the Atlantic on two occasions, David Vuillemin ultimately failed to achieve his goal. He nonetheless left a lasting mark on French motorcycle sport by being six times winner of the SX de Bercy (twice in 125, four times in 250), four times winner of the SX du Stade de France and winner of the MX des Nations in 2001.
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2023-09-27 21:24:55
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