Jean-Michel Bayle

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Jean-Michel Bayle
Jean-Michel Bayle
Nationality	French

Grand Prix motorcycle racing career
Active years	1992 - 1999, 2002
Teams	Aprilia, Yamaha, Modenas
Grands Prix	82
Championships
Wins	0
Podium finishes	0
Career points	336
Pole positions	3
Fastest laps	0
First Grand Prix	1992 250cc French Grand Prix
Last Grand Prix	2002 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix

Jean-Michel Bayle ( born April 1, 1969 in Manosque, France) is a former French professional motorcycle racer. He was one of the most talented riders of his era, achieving success at the highest levels in both motocross and road racing.

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 one of few Europeans to win the AMA 250cc and 500cc Outdoor National Championships. Having won all 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-Modenas team. He scored points twice in 1999 [1]. 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 endurance race. Bayle suffered serious injuries during the 2002 season and retired from road racing competition.